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Spring Festival Words 0 ~5 A2 W; o& E. F3 {1 n( ~8 u
Greeting Season:
; R- R8 e- p, O4 |3 y* N 春节 The Spring Festival 1 {- H0 v- O( h& K* W5 F
农历 lunar calendar 8 d' r5 z* r) m3 K" ~
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar ( P3 F; w$ S8 F1 k" S
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
6 s j# l. j' H- K& O$ E! T 初一 the beginning of New Year
$ P- c$ j# Q+ C5 h3 A5 Q, ? 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
' L+ h- K" S" ]; o/ ~7 X Customs: 4 f* M/ [, R3 C: Y
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
9 ^- ]8 j {4 c' W n! A1 x' a 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry . j/ P6 q6 O8 u$ T$ z0 s
春联 Spring Festival couplets
, A ^+ T/ d) [& y 剪纸 paper-cuts $ O9 Q" |, v6 h
年画 New Year paintings - Y$ e9 ~! a3 K/ [) e% Q$ F
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
) k, i) N) [& _8 P$ W 敬酒 propose a toast
' r4 s$ E3 D( P4 N3 \2 f" q 灯笼 lantern: a portable light ' W( _$ x; ], K: ?$ j8 d; O
烟花 fireworks
6 z) J* ]. _ p7 v! q0 q% V 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) 5 Z! H2 a) h" i4 k
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) 8 e2 e& G. _1 C( [) a, j2 P
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
, w! s$ U( R1 d* x6 Z 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) - f& I8 ~6 ]9 b+ S+ J
戏曲 traditional opera
) Q4 g$ @4 O( Q2 l 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
- }% Z9 J U, w3 T m 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns - c+ R# E7 F+ O: s
灯会 exhibit of lanterns
8 W6 h& b) Z K8 C* C& s* v 守岁 staying-up $ \- B& Q2 D* x& j( X
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit & f2 h2 d" z3 c$ E: T% F1 q
禁忌 taboo
3 D/ Q! `, T0 n6 j5 q& Z* s 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
, k0 l. V1 T) J' g 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors - a; S9 B. `6 l& E" f
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift 0 B4 _- n1 V' z$ h( t: y
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 % L3 c: K1 t: X" W/ b! `0 P* A
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
$ G: r1 ?, ?* C% T5 l 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning ) \& b8 H( R& W! b" Y
Blessing:
7 f( u# Z! s- f* @3 X+ L6 S Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
2 X4 O6 j# D- L! A' @# F- @/ ~ Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace 6 l+ ?- N) w9 G0 {# i
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
1 _4 [# q7 Y1 i4 y+ W+ t d 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
1 G! @) H6 k) V" r ? 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
0 [* y z& r8 `0 P8 ] Food names: L# n4 w0 C+ e% |7 n: H+ v( O: W
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake 6 m P+ v$ }& R) W
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
+ H* X ^7 C2 c% W8 a 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
; t) Q: t9 {6 O' S, W! h6 O+ y 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
6 a) A1 m4 b* s0 I 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings " p8 z5 Q1 l! w) X% W% y( M
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding 1 p9 a/ ?5 L; Z; a; c% j
糖果盘 candy tray:
4 g/ O3 c" Y1 h V4 [4 W8 N, i! f 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune 0 M9 a5 M( C$ g" Q1 m
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
t, F, P8 B. e; N4 ~ 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity 8 K }+ J% F* R' X
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
^# |% ^4 H8 S) G 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
' K' X5 K" @$ ` T 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
) P1 V/ ^7 C I& M# } 红枣 red dates - prosperity 8 ^8 \- J/ U& P, Y T3 ?8 l' a4 f
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00