|
Spring Festival Words
# y ?3 v8 W( {) F$ o0 g+ S1 J/ } Greeting Season: & @+ i( m" {3 l* \5 w0 P+ l/ E! P
春节 The Spring Festival
, L$ x: @+ T8 x" ] 农历 lunar calendar
V6 F" j1 {& i8 D/ A 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar ( y3 Y8 G- |1 [( S
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
6 Y; G8 s( L g9 f4 u! B& d7 e4 w 初一 the beginning of New Year 8 R0 B" X. ^7 Z2 [
元宵节 The Lantern Festival * c+ F7 [( a- [+ E1 z9 s
Customs:
+ [, g1 x2 q* I! c 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival " L9 c) o0 P, J" y5 a6 y. i
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry 8 Q% D- Z2 o3 d9 S; S( @
春联 Spring Festival couplets / E. {2 H4 l- a( N+ F( C& x
剪纸 paper-cuts
5 o8 R5 t1 E) N+ r& H 年画 New Year paintings ) ?- D7 z! ~, {& x* O4 ^2 M. C
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping 2 ~7 A9 D* i' a# q" O2 S- B0 x* g
敬酒 propose a toast 2 T2 x" B' Z7 n" d
灯笼 lantern: a portable light 4 A5 F C4 m/ _' Z
烟花 fireworks
( Q) Y3 [6 w# E8 j* B 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
3 g" t- n1 y" k" N; h& q' R 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) ! ~' G1 e* d' a
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) 9 S0 x" j/ O6 T+ p( U) d8 q
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) 2 U, U; E, |; g1 \. b. K
戏曲 traditional opera
. c& H4 q. G/ X 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville & H! z- T0 t' [0 z2 g) k& R, S
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns 6 i* l8 L- L8 [( i& Q
灯会 exhibit of lanterns @" s \ m; ]
守岁 staying-up
, h3 ]2 X A4 w& l6 e( l 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit ! N5 w3 Y' ?% w
禁忌 taboo & F# K1 E0 T6 z
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
/ b1 c, ]: d* U7 x! z 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors # M- ~' {$ X1 Y* ~4 ^
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
, f1 U6 b" h5 i ?. E Culture Note: In the old days, New Year's money was given in the form of one hundred copper coins strung together on a red string and symbolized the hope that one would live to be a hundred years old. Today, money is placed inside red envelopes in denominations considered auspicious and given to represent luck and wealth
2 ^4 M) f6 s) b6 i/ Z5 m 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
9 ~/ q; |, y* a# W1 B/ F 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
# M0 H3 D/ C/ c Blessing:
. \7 b& `7 t' l3 I' J9 ?3 z Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity ' E. W- D4 O* j5 I
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
5 l2 P" e7 P$ P8 _ Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go 6 n; g+ A( h* j- j. s$ Z
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
- P. ^0 i- S4 ^% `" D- x+ j \ 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
" t8 R1 e2 w! {# ` Food names:
" @- b1 T+ N9 n. x$ O. a 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
4 P7 T" z7 ]) V1 ~. z9 I. H 团圆饭 family reunion dinner
- m3 `' S2 h9 f" }0 ]; G; s 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
" w0 B6 a6 E. s! w' a 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli ( k& x/ o" @: d# B+ R; a
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
" S4 }" {7 ]+ ? 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding $ F, w- }% p& @' }$ U2 N1 c/ `' W( O
糖果盘 candy tray: * _- O; g1 f4 L$ b7 Q( H
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
2 {; N z6 {/ a j 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
6 Q" \3 z7 e- c* o 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
6 U( Z5 n) N! m; n, E 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
6 ~! d" `8 ^* @; c 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come 7 M( x$ H9 [) D- O6 \. Y# m4 T- F
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship |! G# M1 W9 o
红枣 red dates - prosperity
$ m& o* k) h0 H/ i. S7 q& D 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00