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Spring Festival Words
! T+ e0 Y6 g3 e$ M( ]) T# o Greeting Season: ! N/ g$ E3 F H4 h0 V6 f7 t* Q
春节 The Spring Festival
0 B S1 i3 i' H" d- N; y 农历 lunar calendar - `" A' o% b; W! |) Q' L, N
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
) A. w/ n+ U0 ^; ^ 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
, ]9 [4 C- F H6 n, x6 F T 初一 the beginning of New Year
5 S9 k$ V Q' T) R/ _ 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
2 T; {$ I4 v4 b% y6 h& {1 a- N: d g Customs: + l5 j9 w, Q( M/ J8 S% h. r9 W9 |
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
1 | _8 i1 e% Z/ ^0 x) j* Q 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry o2 D% s! \. ^' f( c; g2 |. g4 F
春联 Spring Festival couplets 4 N3 C, S: G& S1 L5 Q/ r
剪纸 paper-cuts 2 E9 ~( h! \; ~9 z1 c* p3 \
年画 New Year paintings
9 W% P3 j1 F+ O0 A4 x9 c% B+ e 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
; C3 ~" X; [% o; O+ j 敬酒 propose a toast
; T8 Q, H2 x( X8 R. A8 ` U 灯笼 lantern: a portable light
( T8 g( p/ j" R9 G/ N; V 烟花 fireworks " ^4 E' T/ ?# k" k Q v
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) 6 j5 H V+ b i1 \% ]% j
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
6 J. ^8 U/ |) s w 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) 9 W }4 A2 E7 I' c; P/ Y9 `
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) . }5 ^4 D3 c3 l5 a) P' j3 v
戏曲 traditional opera
% }- x. ?6 o7 _0 \ 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
) N0 o0 d; O2 h, G 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns ) K) J1 S$ y& n
灯会 exhibit of lanterns
( f# p1 \! p% J" J. r5 q# v& F5 x 守岁 staying-up / q4 K2 O9 a. o: s" @9 F3 }
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
( N. z' K# N2 E: P$ Y 禁忌 taboo $ L \8 N& V+ N7 P
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune 3 |3 R$ q# i% E' Q2 {! R/ {' y4 b
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
/ G8 y b) E% H0 M3 n! M0 O 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift ' }3 z) X/ O! L5 N$ U
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 & y: p, y# |! U3 |
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
# t- x. U2 f6 U0 i. E1 S7 Y- o- h0 |6 m: `9 W 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
1 e3 ~ d# e/ o3 g! }: R; h& C Blessing: 2 x5 _) Q8 @$ E) L) Z1 K
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity % j: @6 B; y: V( W
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace % E3 ]8 O J) P- v
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go / n; K, r. \& u9 }! D0 [8 y
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
; }4 F K+ D8 u% j8 S2 k 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
8 A j8 H( p2 P. J Food names:
& S8 \% t+ a* H( ?* F 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
) o9 h: r7 _( j5 L+ M" K' x 团圆饭 family reunion dinner ) L' u) O L" S. V
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
8 X6 g8 j7 t$ A" K7 E# i 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli 9 _& W4 q8 z5 j3 l* D: M2 G- t) L
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings $ B; G" q' z" L
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
. m! ~0 M* `; `: j7 ] 糖果盘 candy tray:
. m$ a0 X% d( q% F& a; G6 x 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
. L8 b6 U, R/ A2 K. J 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health 1 A2 k6 W3 }: t$ ]% U3 J5 s
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity + e7 d+ G, d4 N. M5 p: T
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
0 |1 _ F( h8 I 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
2 c4 l) S, F# A 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship 2 f6 k+ p* u' R$ p. q
红枣 red dates - prosperity . p- f" j8 [# U- Z- H
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00