|
Spring Festival Words
I7 ^( ^- {! N4 k Greeting Season: ( }" |9 g' _' z; u+ F
春节 The Spring Festival & e/ { @5 V& d9 B$ L* Y
农历 lunar calendar * }, w8 Q( S4 p g6 l% g7 a
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar 7 D+ p& O) ^3 a
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year & K) ]4 {: F7 k0 v: n; k
初一 the beginning of New Year 5 z+ J1 h' V2 `- R- |" W2 s6 m; m
元宵节 The Lantern Festival
; s- w- \: ~" h( X( d9 ~. E Customs: ; Y* c6 a T1 A. T/ g
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
9 b! L) |% X9 h. F6 [7 {; s 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
' U+ v# ?0 k5 U7 x. I 春联 Spring Festival couplets - t4 m& z$ @/ u& k& p1 e
剪纸 paper-cuts
7 N- Z1 r/ }4 t/ X: _8 } 年画 New Year paintings
; T7 W1 {/ p, P, R, B 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
' n; o# A1 R! h8 g( K; {( K 敬酒 propose a toast ' v$ K" d+ w [
灯笼 lantern: a portable light / Z) o( x3 k% V9 U v
烟花 fireworks
. ]2 d; K3 o4 }& I 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
; N/ }: U; d- m0 L 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) * x: i5 J8 R5 |7 G) w. S
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
1 u' N/ @1 Q. T- V1 U 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
4 j4 A! W8 [ x! N5 A1 @ 戏曲 traditional opera
: {( v+ _5 f! J4 k 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
2 n* q$ _* F+ v9 \% s! y5 h 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
8 |" u$ n% j8 F 灯会 exhibit of lanterns n, r O u1 R: F1 g
守岁 staying-up
) Q) j/ h# Z `) Z' L) N: W 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit 0 r: X: Y$ ^ V! o* _: z
禁忌 taboo + z2 Z2 g- O' X: g( F
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
4 H- R) v) x2 v& O" a 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
6 |5 ^' K' P$ c, s; \8 f 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift 0 [. d. M; K0 {# d7 k9 N
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
7 E# u& R, v- }2 P' i) F' M 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year & I; f! \! O: r2 n1 ]+ \ R
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
/ Z; {' g# r* P$ b Blessing: ; Q1 ~8 F# k7 S. q2 }# x
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity b7 F& {/ p) {, e1 C, {4 X
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace 0 R% h. Q* L, M; F
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
) x; c$ |, s6 s/ J: @2 c% g# v9 S# Z 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
7 d; J4 u( @2 n4 M! ^" S: N9 P7 U 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! 9 _4 W0 b" A3 e+ n' N& I |
Food names: 0 H, \/ M" i7 D6 z
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake ) a) K) f5 }6 y4 K8 G3 j4 g
团圆饭 family reunion dinner ' b+ r4 [1 c! B6 k3 F
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve ; }# v+ y7 C; m7 y
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli % m* V( a9 b) B1 { ^
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
7 F, M: {. B; w m( }) ^$ A8 N 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding 3 K$ @& N$ Z/ r7 ~! h4 a4 ]
糖果盘 candy tray:
2 W" ]' w5 \" e; d' \4 K 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune * q7 n* g2 r) H- h8 v& G- P& s
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health 6 w% e' U3 G5 k$ f- h
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity i( C6 R. M3 ^+ Q0 `1 p2 Q
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
7 p1 W* Y% S+ d2 P 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
) s' w _3 M% d! b d: ?, t6 t/ W+ J9 R 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
/ r5 q9 Z0 c/ b) p- _: ` 红枣 red dates - prosperity 7 m% j& ]# R8 A, ~
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00
