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Spring Festival Words
5 C" N/ L$ i; r% ]( s% V$ c2 H Greeting Season: 5 F3 S8 n# U8 b E" h- g/ O
春节 The Spring Festival ! z: R6 \5 h* s! U. o
农历 lunar calendar * \- k. i6 d# t4 q; A7 ~8 s
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar 0 O2 J, i R" V+ \, V' ]9 I# m
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
4 [ t2 f2 q9 ?; W1 x4 B2 A2 W 初一 the beginning of New Year
: v( H% ~3 [& p8 a' c2 ? 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
5 W O! X- j' E/ N" j Customs: 7 E2 F( j' f1 W% y/ S, E6 N, M
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival ; {7 ?5 n' h/ u% y# r
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry 5 w' C9 S7 s% m5 j% K
春联 Spring Festival couplets # ?7 Z$ s% |( L' [9 Z
剪纸 paper-cuts ! `; x* D7 g. J' n; n+ G- T9 X5 H
年画 New Year paintings
, |7 T \- J9 S. d 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
3 G! k( ~! c% P 敬酒 propose a toast
4 h4 e5 |; J! V1 v- k! r 灯笼 lantern: a portable light 4 ]$ o9 I. r- L; W4 f* l
烟花 fireworks 9 }0 I) g/ e ?% n8 A
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
: M# @) v. ~# ^ 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) ( W/ m; Y. o+ s' ~
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) / x) u% `6 \' I) {
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) 8 C% Z8 a" U0 J& U8 V/ }
戏曲 traditional opera
) w; ^& L, l+ z" A 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville ; f* l( O/ n) H' T n
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
6 X4 B2 s. P$ d: [7 u/ Z" U) ] 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
* E) E% d3 R% Y4 y Y 守岁 staying-up
0 g% U6 i" ?) G0 f3 o; r 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
# v* b7 X0 f0 B, l" H: n 禁忌 taboo & R7 A0 r# F1 w6 e) T- Q+ @
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
* J- t- P3 Q# A$ }* F 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
$ ~- g: w7 o$ g8 l' o, |3 F7 E 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift $ e! `2 [6 S" P: T$ X! Y# y) z- R
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 ' K; x0 j. U3 C1 t, x9 m
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year " N) h, J/ R; k; C& Q
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
h7 I; A4 D# i& U A) B& m* G. T Blessing: 7 w& z# u. q: C" o. s, t4 M
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 0 Q2 P% P6 X1 {
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
, E8 S) U" e8 y* b7 Q Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
+ W8 u5 G9 c6 |( u- B( n 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
/ W: U, R2 i) }: w/ i) L/ G8 r 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
3 Z, J/ K; u D% L7 M Food names:
( ?" d' U- p; |9 G 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
' `2 [) m2 x1 }) _! w3 x 团圆饭 family reunion dinner
! A2 v" w4 O+ M 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve 1 e5 N: n5 D6 z. S* X
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
% g+ [" j% D, {/ B9 O# W- r' S 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings & D. `6 J+ R9 D+ J9 S
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding ; A# ~- Y$ X$ k5 S5 ], f$ e
糖果盘 candy tray: ; }8 i) c/ R0 f2 Y9 O
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
& H8 G' M/ s8 v0 d# ? 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health ; D+ l- J4 k* o+ t5 e
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
" G7 V; p1 j, o$ T 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
& _8 R% d5 [6 O0 H4 w6 o/ u) d2 y 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come % ]6 q" N( v7 k1 s8 `
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
: `5 ~" m+ p! Y7 l' r( c, v 红枣 red dates - prosperity
[! E* f6 ]0 h# E, Z 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00