|
Spring Festival Words
' I g' r9 d& O# G Greeting Season:
5 W, F- N8 R/ r" l2 h8 \ 春节 The Spring Festival
4 I" }+ F. W5 Q* g 农历 lunar calendar
/ a' ]8 H: u9 I+ i6 D- ] 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
' P( p5 _! m5 w# Q 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year / Q( C. T( _- ]) H4 s+ f3 y
初一 the beginning of New Year
. O( ?1 H# G, \: T 元宵节 The Lantern Festival 4 Q: |- {. I8 `7 ~2 o o
Customs:
# e# I, R! i2 X+ K 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
' O7 I9 z: U$ c6 ^ v4 _5 w 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry ' ^& K$ \* L9 {. j
春联 Spring Festival couplets
; z+ m% i, z; c 剪纸 paper-cuts 6 U y. I x, Z) O0 C
年画 New Year paintings
, t* I* C8 P; L 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping ; l& y8 i5 r( v- \) }8 p4 g
敬酒 propose a toast
+ l5 {0 |8 a% L' G/ x% M; v- s. @ 灯笼 lantern: a portable light ' g2 B. d+ |3 J
烟花 fireworks
4 ~# v1 c4 A6 \; b. h 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
9 Q" r! _" c: B" Y' w 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
3 c+ c! Z) M6 u; C& W6 Q 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
; Q0 Y3 _, V2 o6 a9 e 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) + U- @3 ?5 Y j! m9 @
戏曲 traditional opera 4 k. X6 c8 m# y a! o0 j' ~
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville , U- J* d" V7 D$ {
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns , J& q8 ~. d# M# I) R/ a; c
灯会 exhibit of lanterns
: A5 i( l1 c3 g 守岁 staying-up / E/ n" i8 K# b2 W# ~$ k6 [* E
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit 1 H1 F0 A( }7 m8 k' b
禁忌 taboo
" `% V5 B* w _ 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
: s6 J( P4 [7 J1 J/ i5 b 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors 8 q N4 ?6 X0 r
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift ! O+ e0 C1 ^7 e' Y+ 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 9 N' M0 u, H0 D
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
# O; }8 G# O I2 V3 l 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
j' R4 m4 ]* }2 r) U Blessing: 0 S" }% ~! r' f. v4 d) |2 }: p
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
/ m2 m8 D+ f, g Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace 6 A1 t8 U1 H2 d# b! g) w
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
3 M1 n0 m/ F+ O4 s6 K 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! + _' M* L( T' L$ w1 s) E
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
( N( I8 p7 K: w& S. a Y: P$ ? Food names:
; \$ ]' ]8 k2 L1 m7 ?0 z 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
4 |. |3 g; j, H- M. A$ L1 O* Q$ m! y 团圆饭 family reunion dinner , ]" S6 X$ u3 n& T+ j! L
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
; j, ~3 _( m6 N9 M- T8 I0 X1 ], W0 b" ] 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli ' j& @ x6 b+ }, C( s b1 k; v9 `
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings 4 O4 [" |# W3 F2 \) V2 V0 a
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding / D/ E1 x r- c
糖果盘 candy tray:
& o* j0 ?, y C( P6 D 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune 7 d- `7 o3 G" ^3 a2 v+ I
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health 4 q( x4 S" a% q1 e
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
+ q- C( M5 p7 d 金桔 cumquat - prosperity 8 S% `) d8 m0 `( h
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
: d) h0 Y) W x5 d 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
8 ?/ ~9 P. M+ S4 ^3 O. ^/ ` 红枣 red dates - prosperity
3 z. y# R) U% {" j* }& I. _ 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00
