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Spring Festival Words * A3 R& y9 C3 Z5 t' r0 `; L
Greeting Season:
3 s& @. J, h8 O0 v8 \, d f; T 春节 The Spring Festival
+ L7 Q0 ?* d5 G* F1 X 农历 lunar calendar
r. Q1 I; z Z n' p3 P 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar ( b1 k" e8 f+ O: q6 x S7 V3 Y% e
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
e0 z2 V2 M6 M( y 初一 the beginning of New Year 8 E6 B" q: T6 o0 Z8 \9 |4 G
元宵节 The Lantern Festival ) V: f! V5 e( N+ x' M/ A8 n/ S
Customs: * g$ L/ x4 a6 @6 I7 x
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival / x( A' W! Y5 O! t: b) s
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry 2 X3 l4 O. s# L! d0 s% L" r
春联 Spring Festival couplets + J# C" Q- \ v
剪纸 paper-cuts
/ | l% `% C& s# N! B 年画 New Year paintings 6 L; ^& R [. x0 M0 h
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping 4 L+ `" ?% K+ v
敬酒 propose a toast 1 f# H9 @! i W
灯笼 lantern: a portable light 7 J' T Z/ o5 ]3 ^% k S: G
烟花 fireworks 9 C, [' F' T# x, D* w4 Z# {$ r
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
; X' w) W. E/ D( l8 r O 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
2 w- e4 `! ?9 ]: C6 ? 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) 8 |' |- C. t" z( p$ i
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) 2 g1 z) o( o+ [8 w" c
戏曲 traditional opera ' z- ] O; |6 W( T7 E
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
/ y4 ^0 u3 J3 @% @- F; d4 ? 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns - O* U6 Z8 D+ ]" G& O+ F4 P, Z
灯会 exhibit of lanterns
" C$ L5 M% N. v' U; ~' J) B 守岁 staying-up K" ~1 {' b) g7 f# c
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit . i# h) G& t+ j" E/ u4 ]
禁忌 taboo 2 {8 x, z. q- D
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
% c4 Q: u! J4 i% z, x# i! q; S 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
5 X- K9 `9 T0 g8 ] 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift ) l( K# X. L0 `$ N
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 # B' p" C6 |6 i5 w8 F$ G' a
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
) }7 D1 m3 R. T1 Z: c 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning ) h+ P2 N b( \- Q& C
Blessing:
( L; @% x7 B1 m! P% E; B1 M Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity `" R# } G# K+ h( U
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
9 g% Q% W/ Q) U* ? Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
; Y, S1 f( G% j 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
# n4 ~# F) t$ o3 j8 U% @# u. b8 J 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! 7 ^$ g2 B, e3 u4 _- t: d( r2 B
Food names:
0 n- S' i, \/ O7 S; e 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
* {3 ]0 F2 u6 ]7 p 团圆饭 family reunion dinner E0 L, d& r. z' f- W/ H& H- F
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
: v6 ?, U; o J0 F$ L 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli % l( Z% u+ B |. n
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
( T5 N; b3 l& u" z4 X, e( v 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
/ {1 K6 ?& \; v$ E5 B 糖果盘 candy tray:
6 m' g9 i6 h) [( O5 w 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
' w& K& R! |% E& D8 D3 n* D" w+ u 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
+ I2 g; o, B! b4 C5 | 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity ' o/ c. C1 r0 {. J9 [
金桔 cumquat - prosperity - u! B1 E5 ^: h7 }, M: T8 `9 g
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come ; d" Z& ~. w3 f8 T. p8 ~- N6 ?
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
0 j5 x9 D$ t. @7 O. P* H' ? 红枣 red dates - prosperity
- e- m% d) }# r6 @! D2 S 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00