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Spring Festival Words 6 ~, l; @2 R2 |8 b/ f
Greeting Season:
: k3 T3 Z' s/ W% B 春节 The Spring Festival
6 {; s7 u: u- g 农历 lunar calendar 0 h& |7 I6 a3 R9 X3 |7 E
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
' [4 q6 e: V. B4 H+ W* ^ 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
, t- I: Z& L$ E& [2 ~. d+ n* f, M' R 初一 the beginning of New Year
7 c W: i. R& u# ` 元宵节 The Lantern Festival G' j' Q% z' h
Customs: 4 S9 J! Q; {: W, o- q3 x/ _* R
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival 7 @( f0 _/ i. ^0 B8 m& l4 s
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry 5 z% a) `1 K N, ]) ^0 j
春联 Spring Festival couplets e1 n/ L6 {6 J- R3 j
剪纸 paper-cuts
, G- L- B& Y# P& \; A 年画 New Year paintings
! v, L6 i6 V) D2 ^ 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
: _! |: s5 d$ U7 ^, P, b" G 敬酒 propose a toast 9 {7 ]8 P; D; L- H: k3 @
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
! y# I j5 ^- W2 A: q1 E' E! Q 烟花 fireworks
. {+ S% | L# j; |. y0 X6 Q 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
) g% L0 [# v* P+ M 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
4 n) N/ M. k! n# X1 ~; O 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
' F {) d) B7 `" V+ A4 ]! }, ] 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
( w, }' |/ y7 G+ j) d% E6 w 戏曲 traditional opera
1 t |. U# r& j; ~6 e3 {7 K 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville ' i" h3 t d6 e. k$ g( ]5 {
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns : y' q8 a) `( l) p
灯会 exhibit of lanterns ! k4 T8 b8 [* Y6 Q) p; }; T$ q$ E
守岁 staying-up ( J+ v- o4 u8 n: y2 a
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
, V( b0 D: |" l5 z6 D) z9 | 禁忌 taboo
2 n! r. r1 ^! }0 T& s 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune ! C1 ^) {! F, `+ o) m2 U9 k
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors & t. ^- M5 Z2 }! y- P6 v8 _) c, S
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
# m6 I' k& {$ J% j; a$ H4 h 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 $ D% n7 \ g6 _. f+ ?, E+ _5 ^! n
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
+ e, |5 u6 D. r V$ o 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning 3 W' W. e( F* f
Blessing: + ^; t3 K4 k7 ]" Z( z0 D
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity % c6 V$ c" c, W9 ^2 \0 A* n" t
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace 1 U/ r" u s, t2 C. [
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
" B- P8 b, j" [% Q+ A+ i 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! ( p& Q. C# U, x" M z# ~0 ]
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
$ V$ p7 t$ \2 F- n' J; g6 P Food names:
4 L' j. i" h& ] 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake H1 P" H7 B7 h, f7 N$ l# ]2 F( d
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
( _* Q/ B7 E6 j( j H7 T 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve # |, _/ A; O2 b+ e. _) T
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli ) Q0 k [1 `7 E* S1 _
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
8 m. h, ^! ^8 i: l- _ 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
' c8 U+ A! x% R7 \ 糖果盘 candy tray:
1 n1 ?. A# K! R' P3 T 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
$ i1 f; y) y3 A9 r1 o8 _( E 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health 4 a0 w5 Y* B$ S3 W4 T# C
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity \7 W, x3 Q$ j3 m
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
) W: C' { ~6 u2 {+ R+ f 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come 0 D) {1 F4 F9 t& H% ?4 M. q [
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
0 Z0 A* e: G+ V; n 红枣 red dates - prosperity # T" b$ e# u+ H; {: D! H0 D: j) H
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00