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Spring Festival Words 9 O) @$ ^+ o4 w4 U }8 G+ L4 t
Greeting Season:
2 b. C/ F( C4 c( ?8 y 春节 The Spring Festival
7 q; `4 l% G* t+ j 农历 lunar calendar
$ t/ U- J6 L( `6 f, b, J 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
4 Y8 O& @* F1 S% \7 X: k3 ?" } 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year " v3 A+ q5 ?, v2 m1 G8 B- e
初一 the beginning of New Year , q- ?8 N- y, k) I; o
元宵节 The Lantern Festival
0 R3 M7 y, `1 n! s& k" f7 t Customs:
1 `: [8 T$ ^4 ?) J 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
! K9 l& g& q% E) G( s- S/ p" k 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry * v5 B, l) o. f! q+ f
春联 Spring Festival couplets - k6 X0 C0 X* ^! ^4 E2 }
剪纸 paper-cuts
4 t C7 W/ i6 d, q& M9 ~; o 年画 New Year paintings " \% P2 R7 T- S: H5 Z% }
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
3 E$ D, A8 q; x1 [ 敬酒 propose a toast
$ q, ^# ~* }! t0 v9 I, Q% o 灯笼 lantern: a portable light 0 N' j1 ]3 a$ ~* |4 N
烟花 fireworks 9 s6 B0 l7 h' o' V: J5 O( F/ i* K
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) " l4 {: p" I* t0 v7 O
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
+ H5 f) f, I# o2 Y U* J 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
2 M& R8 H" z# ?$ `; U 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) / q$ L8 ?7 s% L1 Y1 Z
戏曲 traditional opera + H, [4 S& T+ f
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
$ j6 M6 l' P1 {# ~; o 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
+ R8 L+ [! `' Q0 a, H( g; i" C: f& X& q 灯会 exhibit of lanterns 8 M M. \ t( e+ A8 m6 u$ x0 r& k: ~ o
守岁 staying-up ; K+ M- d4 g) Y N6 ]* k; N/ @
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit 9 t+ M( Y- d ]5 |; `
禁忌 taboo
2 R: w: M. S7 B% h3 H3 |" S# D 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
/ R+ P" D3 J; _ 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors ) c" u$ d) y8 @9 L$ m; [$ r
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift ( B: Y# {5 m) s/ r. v2 }
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
3 K6 [$ l1 D/ M# Z, ]$ d4 k 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year # L3 x7 A( `4 ^- k, i
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning / e( x5 P3 x8 R9 i5 E
Blessing:
3 l" K. P. P* J, Y Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
! h0 h( {! _, O0 j% B5 R Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
c' U) R3 u, J3 G: l Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
& s( C; M1 S8 X# x 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
# J2 d7 R7 J% Q) P 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! $ L0 V( O; e+ `; p% {: g5 ^
Food names: ; Q: ~6 h+ M, d, j7 O
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake - h* n# c7 A0 b, I3 n; W
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
2 n: {7 l+ d; [ K 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
# B: M1 K+ A- _3 X5 }9 N 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli 5 K# U2 S, ^$ A a: w
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings 4 V/ {% |% S2 o* m3 X8 O5 J" X6 L/ X
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding ) x. f! c$ `: a2 x/ q" f6 J: X
糖果盘 candy tray:
/ F9 a) U! k% @1 a/ \7 E2 t 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
$ `2 A( h/ c1 L+ G" j+ ^. L 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
( `0 N; f3 b8 Y; D& x 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity 1 o5 g, n! `; k9 `, b/ I# ~
金桔 cumquat - prosperity 2 S5 H2 X+ g1 K/ N) P: Z
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come 8 S1 c l6 O/ K9 x7 U& ?. w0 {6 u
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
5 b$ h7 z2 o0 e: F- O 红枣 red dates - prosperity
, j3 }! m8 T- C 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00