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Spring Festival Words 1 F. }& |% {* Z/ l- S: M
Greeting Season:
( p/ N. X* e( H: l 春节 The Spring Festival 7 `# g% L2 y5 T& c8 L
农历 lunar calendar 6 d) L0 g9 {9 p' F/ Z$ X
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar . x% F/ I9 r' J! X+ i/ E, m% Q7 `
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year % o+ W0 J+ H H! a
初一 the beginning of New Year
! a' E/ q$ ~3 _& \: T 元宵节 The Lantern Festival + L: U' {# h4 Y8 [1 M0 S
Customs: ) W2 ?# ?3 D6 a8 u# r) p/ H0 c
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
' B8 K. c; q: [! w& ^+ }$ `6 f 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
7 D; o- P* x$ j* U8 W+ r 春联 Spring Festival couplets 9 W. v9 ?, D. m
剪纸 paper-cuts ' a* T$ x5 Y: P; x
年画 New Year paintings
# o: l6 `; p0 r9 c$ @- s B 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
, t8 u+ L' f+ F; l- Z" a4 n 敬酒 propose a toast 0 |7 c% g3 K7 W
灯笼 lantern: a portable light , U3 v Q% _. i5 B5 `# r6 |3 x
烟花 fireworks 4 q# t; x6 y5 H/ _8 b! Q, j
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) . e; }+ Q! O* n1 W/ _
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
6 L) ]5 X' v+ w3 [- _$ v. s 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) : e8 ^) Y) o B* _" V
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
( Q6 o8 a; T$ a% A6 B 戏曲 traditional opera # _ C6 b! G0 ?/ v5 v
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
f" F0 d) S* o3 l' ~ 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns ) Y. Y, x# }' h( o1 J, T" F8 i3 h
灯会 exhibit of lanterns 9 n/ @! @: Q0 p+ ^, N( A+ K4 Q
守岁 staying-up . K( ~) x* _) ]1 d; D
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit ' N# r, T' H$ W1 j3 m( W7 M
禁忌 taboo
8 R: t" O& V- O2 ]2 D 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
* D% V9 ~/ m& q' n- f) A2 t4 i 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors $ z$ L. r' [0 |4 c
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
8 B. N8 g( s4 A7 v3 ?4 D Z& I. V$ B 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 ( Q, L- Q4 f# I d) y7 H5 k
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year / A( x$ P, q9 ~# p4 F2 o2 a
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
8 d# V4 o& _. R$ T4 b% ` Blessing: ' |5 r U0 c( ]& P
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity + Y4 `7 ?6 \" p; w
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace : T& b% [& x7 e5 g3 p6 u3 S1 _
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go - C2 _+ _. w1 K% {7 H3 K
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
: T. F, Z {9 k( I) |& V( Q 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! 4 ?8 U9 \. h- i' U f) R" e
Food names:
& R9 R+ i# O$ Q) u 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake " w) H- @. h/ S, k" b" ?& c+ S7 A
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
- d2 P" h( N7 q) V1 v) a 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
- \4 ~' a* T' J2 Q9 a2 b 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
# [% O; r6 U' l: X 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
# J. n* _, f% \ X% d 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
7 ~! o# s0 G7 W" E 糖果盘 candy tray:
. M/ I W( A4 g1 @& s* }; [- q 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
1 I' x ^2 d+ m4 @! n 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health * D3 U/ |# H3 @) ]3 C6 x! E
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity C. w/ q1 f/ [& M- ~
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
; [- c5 F3 y3 _( Q; `+ L 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
g. C8 _5 y* l" } 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
' Y0 f9 h% }7 a( Y( {- |& Z* m 红枣 red dates - prosperity 5 T4 s/ R( T2 u& z" D$ b- v
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00