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Spring Festival Words 1 N" b% d9 Y1 D5 J
Greeting Season:
+ g# I( z+ W! d# s. W3 a 春节 The Spring Festival
* ~5 f9 N' p% w 农历 lunar calendar
$ _! W3 K7 ^0 g7 l8 e3 N$ Y 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
: c: j- b* W9 J$ {8 t& I 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year . T @0 p$ {8 Y3 o+ r" t
初一 the beginning of New Year
2 m4 z$ y4 P# C8 ]2 Q# {: f 元宵节 The Lantern Festival - O$ V, w! u0 k2 o
Customs: : o7 L/ z+ ]- L% w1 A7 [8 g. l q
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival r# {* X* \! c ~- u. R
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
. u) W2 o0 ~) G* X- a, Z9 C. r D, U 春联 Spring Festival couplets - K* A8 J' e, F+ k
剪纸 paper-cuts , p% O2 ^; F- U, C) B! {7 O% N, q
年画 New Year paintings
% k# T/ H& A. I5 ^4 j. ~ 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
* K5 e. d( B- X1 e$ E+ P 敬酒 propose a toast 1 @% @8 i* }1 r5 D+ }8 ~$ I
灯笼 lantern: a portable light & X5 L, Q' a; F. ?
烟花 fireworks
+ C8 O4 _% F1 c+ E 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
+ j: O+ `" Z, i1 S2 @ 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) 6 |% {! y! A O. P
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) 1 F8 G/ v: J4 Y, F/ s) z6 W4 y
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
" v g3 }" u0 d 戏曲 traditional opera $ D3 I& x' Q) o9 g
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville # v# I( e7 B$ i% o
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
, \+ v1 u) D# m1 o+ v 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
+ g% W: s( }: M7 x% y 守岁 staying-up / O+ z& W2 Y& d. ?/ @6 O3 c
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit V& v# H& x5 S# @0 j4 q& G
禁忌 taboo
6 b( F$ P- a5 g6 Z+ Y! u0 q5 Q 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
9 s! B0 u1 A7 ]" V+ v 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
7 {! r$ E7 T- \$ T+ `3 r/ C( Z 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
/ a( a. H0 b/ Y/ M& 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 # V$ L4 B+ ]7 N( F/ d
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
& p8 _7 e" T$ G' i* P 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning : i2 I9 O V% d" F
Blessing:
2 Y. v+ J% W9 j Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
2 a' n0 O6 T* _* o8 a Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace 3 `3 V/ \& _5 D4 t# f# s* C
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go 2 _* B1 G' l% n4 h" F$ A# `! q$ K
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! q9 l% D" w8 T" w
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! 2 ?3 z7 Z6 W% V6 j
Food names:
5 p6 |; D2 Q7 R: X" v5 i: y( ^ 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
' w5 V( A" z+ [6 N3 r9 m 团圆饭 family reunion dinner * y# |: P1 J* g& n$ i
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
( [/ I* a, e: I# U 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli 2 Y* y4 K- L, ^) W( a
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings $ D: ?+ t' f0 `! Q& Z+ o" ~
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding 4 h9 v+ z7 O& t
糖果盘 candy tray: f0 d# @: n/ H1 l6 V# h" l# g
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune ! U: e4 O/ x* G& f; X, p/ S
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health ' \: ]( d: B8 _. x2 V
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity , j$ {6 V& w2 Y) f) b
金桔 cumquat - prosperity : j: Y/ F5 E/ E% f" z9 ?" u# t
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
1 u* ~5 @) V7 L3 g0 E1 F- | 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
8 f S7 B+ H5 S @2 b6 O" }7 z1 e 红枣 red dates - prosperity : k4 K: D9 } r! J( ?; V7 Y( N9 v
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00