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Spring Festival Words
+ p/ S+ W! s! ]( ]" c& k) \8 n- L Greeting Season: / ]. Q6 q( M, l4 i; G8 n; m
春节 The Spring Festival % E& C* ]5 {% e7 c: g# Z
农历 lunar calendar
4 H8 p' R0 G" [! g4 G) r 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
3 Y2 p: B+ J8 f: H, Z7 R) h0 x" K 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year ' C6 W* D/ D$ [# i% U
初一 the beginning of New Year 6 ~! r! U( C& T4 p; b! O; M
元宵节 The Lantern Festival
) w5 E5 m5 |6 ]9 J9 |7 N Customs:
* }3 D4 @: \$ i4 P" f 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
4 E* i0 V, i* b) S% W$ H$ c. Y 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry ! N( [) w( Z8 b8 d
春联 Spring Festival couplets . r: T+ g1 f( H( G* U3 E
剪纸 paper-cuts 4 s- S/ A5 U2 Y6 W, ~
年画 New Year paintings ; E7 Y9 V, @; @- a
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
5 M/ |9 U8 h' V0 i 敬酒 propose a toast / N3 H. s: A% }8 H
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
% D" Z( L, @. |! i. w5 t7 u 烟花 fireworks
" g' _- b1 I4 O7 S 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) $ P6 v4 [8 ^! K
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
. X8 E8 Y1 J: h5 d7 p8 S 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) - _4 G4 E; s8 `) B7 ]8 B
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
0 B) N. h+ Z7 k; W1 [ 戏曲 traditional opera
* ?3 C! j0 C: H% L 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
& _4 b9 U' [& i2 } 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns [* ~0 E' p, S1 ~6 G2 U, A" f
灯会 exhibit of lanterns 9 G( _* C: b2 Z4 @
守岁 staying-up
/ Q' L0 o" p/ \" {+ c- l$ s 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit " V; n, K0 l. m2 R/ h& S6 k. z
禁忌 taboo % [. U6 M( c# F S: A
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune 2 K% [% i1 G2 l5 u; ?2 `8 h
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
9 G0 F* C& `% V7 @/ g+ N 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift 3 _! |' ^4 T. J9 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
$ f% g" S& ^ j, I 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
& x9 P$ u& C8 h 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning ' m1 s( A% A! I" ~" a# m
Blessing:
2 l8 m4 \ Z- e1 G6 \/ U Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 9 F( U$ e! j4 H/ Z5 I0 R
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
! Q- o6 r, N& L2 ~ Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go , Z4 u, D5 q1 |$ z) t
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! + c/ m) ~" ]& ?
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
/ D& O8 b8 e" i- ]" o Food names:
$ [3 C1 \' x6 e1 |; K 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
& w, ?/ g' ~9 S, t 团圆饭 family reunion dinner
* M' ^& R7 I, m. M$ [ 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
* z$ E' ?) y' U2 _. R/ U1 F 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
0 E/ H) C. o: c0 ]; X0 S' ]* ^" s 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings " a* {0 b+ }7 Z3 \8 u1 s- `
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding $ }8 Z; f* }) ?" U; I/ Z
糖果盘 candy tray:
+ ^# D# `* y' E1 Q( Z3 {& t" p 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
$ C. Q5 Y! ]: h4 e 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
# K' k. ]" ]& p/ k3 k+ t6 c 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity ; \& k) ]+ V6 @
金桔 cumquat - prosperity * H% O7 A; a/ Y' m2 w, o, c% D$ ?
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
' l8 W1 w4 `1 @( T. L 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
- |, T6 N6 ~! W/ [6 R1 @0 U 红枣 red dates - prosperity 2 s0 [( K: K# z
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00