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Spring Festival Words " r4 Y9 d) U7 {) C
Greeting Season:
5 z; @7 I6 k: C" a. T0 `: j/ K7 j 春节 The Spring Festival
3 h) [8 M* |# d+ L# q 农历 lunar calendar
7 A2 j2 u4 y. B 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
2 w& o- j1 l* z6 s/ t( _ 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year 5 n7 X D$ y x' f/ l
初一 the beginning of New Year
0 M1 O' C1 b. q/ u 元宵节 The Lantern Festival % y! g) Z; o& f& J; a/ V
Customs:
/ M7 a0 Y4 ~0 q3 B+ B+ [8 Z 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
8 W0 I# H, v G: _! I- j 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry 1 @. [7 c7 T6 F
春联 Spring Festival couplets
m" V7 b8 f C 剪纸 paper-cuts
" L" F4 h5 G% Q1 W" L 年画 New Year paintings
z0 M; G0 H, q8 c 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
9 m2 O/ M D" C7 ^$ i3 ? 敬酒 propose a toast
# Y; N7 M" R4 f( R9 q2 q 灯笼 lantern: a portable light $ O# W& o8 x9 F* p, U
烟花 fireworks
6 C5 k8 g" L h! a 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) % d( B4 I, ?, [0 ]! |, `5 d
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
3 Q" r4 E+ _3 I- Z% R 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) * M+ J3 l& \6 }! ]: ]8 G
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
$ l' C7 f8 l- K( i. Y- j& ^ 戏曲 traditional opera $ B; {9 _% x: T' s" G; Q+ c3 z
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
3 Q- {: c$ ` E# \8 F- ]) z 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns ( K% ^/ k, J% Q- U5 X! f' J
灯会 exhibit of lanterns & {7 d0 `- {+ i# c/ \% v
守岁 staying-up / q/ e0 ?1 I" b0 K+ N
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit | ^5 x5 B2 S- p) z* f
禁忌 taboo
: K; N7 B$ o8 ~& a* H3 c! a u" q 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune / ]0 J/ A% i2 s8 {3 H
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
: Z4 X0 U4 s4 t1 E0 D 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift # P) E. n: z) Q, p( ?# ]- b
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
% |5 o& |# R1 H6 @ 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year . i5 b: p+ n+ k1 L! n# P
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
- V8 A- r) h& B }0 p Blessing:
2 Q& \1 _- i+ u- @$ t3 m Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 6 O9 O5 s# g1 \% s: n
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
$ F; \% T, @ o% p0 x& U Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go 7 w6 ]( O" a8 l- _6 i
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! : f. W t. V. M) m" H& \" l7 P
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! $ ]1 w9 v" L# E% h( g c
Food names:
& ~4 Z1 G( j0 i, h% s- Z! } 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
, E8 _$ s1 V9 e% y3 O 团圆饭 family reunion dinner - M1 S, M, ^: d- M
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve 5 O( f2 C) s( r* L8 v
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli 3 a0 Y5 d4 _# [' S9 N/ E
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
) _. J) C) k' j# x. g% ~ D6 I 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
# W) J" {( R) E" ~" F" U 糖果盘 candy tray:
4 ?" Z- A& m9 T6 A/ i5 G' _ 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
5 ~$ P. I3 {0 @ 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health 5 _; \: K: B3 ~. r
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
! L: p8 P! F9 L 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
6 e0 e. W9 U) F" l) Y9 c3 N 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come 4 v- K- [! W- o' [
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
, a" t$ p. K) R- ]) ` 红枣 red dates - prosperity
6 u# T& k+ N/ z- s3 F! C$ r9 E6 B9 U 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00
