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Spring Festival Words
% J# {' H% ~# H7 M4 E Greeting Season: $ M! b2 K/ R: g. W
春节 The Spring Festival / m) n7 D2 F b# }& Q5 m$ m$ ^* L
农历 lunar calendar / c6 f1 P6 g2 _. q. q5 S. b% v% s
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar # W, M) p7 l. ]8 O
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year , J" Q( L( y# s0 {) b% D" g D5 Y
初一 the beginning of New Year 3 k5 g! L& Z9 n7 [! U. h5 }3 y
元宵节 The Lantern Festival
: C3 W% y; l, S9 c, B- @+ i Customs:
, J. r" m3 U2 I0 N( b( v% F 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival & m* q' a x( e
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
; |" ^* M1 w; u! S 春联 Spring Festival couplets
* r# n7 V+ i/ `0 A' n- z3 g; O( V6 k9 U 剪纸 paper-cuts 1 y, d+ k. j/ f4 t5 Y2 u' m7 A
年画 New Year paintings
; Q: A; o0 e, C 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping 0 A+ ~% h; T. Q3 C: H
敬酒 propose a toast
" u8 ]/ }0 C+ c5 j) E% d; F7 D" o 灯笼 lantern: a portable light
# b/ Q2 O: T6 l# \- k 烟花 fireworks
. L0 m' B4 _: z9 d; F$ U 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
2 {3 L! M" D0 ~ 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
7 N, X/ ], c! K( I: d: g 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) $ }2 L+ s" M# c3 T
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) & \8 \. F1 t, o0 V5 ?
戏曲 traditional opera
$ M, H3 L( h8 d0 E9 B/ P: l5 Z 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
$ R: `1 y1 t6 ]* }& k5 n1 z# X8 S 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns ( Z0 \4 I! }: f0 e+ j' U0 I
灯会 exhibit of lanterns
2 F; l1 @( F& F L" A 守岁 staying-up
% |+ _% ?$ [' \$ M0 v 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit : ]' P2 B* @% `# e }) u
禁忌 taboo
" g% s' F3 V% _9 T- N 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
& O6 Y9 I" d2 D 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
+ Y. L7 l6 d* ~$ ~ 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
- z( B, n. m1 D4 Q0 `5 y8 Z2 I 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
. J" G' o5 t& W/ z& j 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
, M0 o% C, b# M& V# v) k 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning 4 f0 n+ s" T) @4 W0 m
Blessing: ; U, H) r( o8 x v- v
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 6 \. T8 q- F* X' b
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
2 S4 O5 o3 t- A2 N$ a Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
. q% k$ Z9 n( O( g1 J& q 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! * T6 i0 P) x! F/ S) a6 Z; m: x; h
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
4 j) c; \1 m2 U' ^' ?1 c4 \ J7 ] Food names:
' {9 E w* T1 J7 h7 N 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
$ P5 E5 Y$ \/ x 团圆饭 family reunion dinner
' h" X. |7 e5 R 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve 0 ^' {. |3 X7 k. V* l% U
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
9 v; X: R4 O o" {# k. w 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings 2 I& m9 t7 \3 r" t+ l. Y6 z' P) j
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
& K: ] k1 l% t9 k4 \' q7 q 糖果盘 candy tray: 2 K+ r( m, _6 R% Q3 P
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune 8 q" \% K1 y& X( E& j; l
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health 8 R* k5 g, _1 O4 Z4 n
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
( W5 T& t; u7 r1 Y; }8 N 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
: }2 W' @/ Z( i 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come 9 t# R, i1 N4 A; z' `& J m( w9 o
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
u* d3 n; L0 N- b1 @% M, C 红枣 red dates - prosperity 2 S X3 ?0 g3 P$ _/ N) N1 n& x
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00