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Spring Festival Words
& H, S5 b+ Z2 h( G. u Greeting Season: - t2 u9 Y/ I" d+ ^
春节 The Spring Festival
0 r. L5 P" L6 `7 R5 G' [, E; \ 农历 lunar calendar
% Y$ G. s2 m5 O/ c6 F1 t$ D 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar 0 n, H {, H9 ~) v
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
6 S% @. \. D, _1 v 初一 the beginning of New Year
6 ], B( v# A& j& e 元宵节 The Lantern Festival + } f" k! [: T- ~! _9 _8 E8 s% Z& P
Customs:
; ]% O" S, K" j$ w* h- z 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
$ G8 s1 g) l; I. F' _ 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry . C0 K' I' V D. P- g) u6 t
春联 Spring Festival couplets
% A3 G Z! B# Y& q6 a 剪纸 paper-cuts & u+ G6 B' w! [
年画 New Year paintings
; a- M9 E, _9 ?7 O+ {- ~6 C; S4 T 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping # ~, _8 A" W6 o; T' ]) }( ^0 K0 A
敬酒 propose a toast
, s2 G7 _( s' @ 灯笼 lantern: a portable light ( U9 z% _! K! J1 c
烟花 fireworks b0 N( q! k/ B
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) ( o7 E* n4 V0 x" o
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
, q, O4 w, V8 q2 i, f! A, ?% P4 f 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) : K* t1 f! o8 @8 |
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
4 `+ V- J1 p4 ]6 i+ h 戏曲 traditional opera 4 C1 n4 N/ ~+ g2 G! ^ k1 N
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
5 Q3 l x( j0 m# R7 H: k 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns ) M/ r0 \) F& a% B+ K4 R
灯会 exhibit of lanterns
" t+ {: I+ ~9 }! }% ^+ j. T 守岁 staying-up
- d( j# d) `! a2 s1 P, O a1 Y 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
0 M9 o# t0 B5 }: b# y 禁忌 taboo
* M& @ U' Z2 ^1 U. q& a 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune / ^7 ?8 Q+ B* @
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
5 U2 |( V/ G* o& Y9 O! ^ 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
- E1 X# n) u2 m 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 3 M) F# j/ i/ X, u9 o# J8 t
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year B9 C5 @( h' l& x- M/ H
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
. k$ `/ [' f X# o4 ^2 ^ Blessing: 0 g: u* o. r2 K3 d" Q" S
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
) C( z7 r' t7 k" W$ f Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace % E- _! W5 N9 x% W
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go 2 Z6 D+ G: Z4 ^& ^
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! 6 ? }6 z- D% ~: H
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! 2 \/ |7 Q& k) F) _" Y
Food names: - l: I6 \# ^$ h* V2 H6 ~$ f+ x/ f
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
% h1 m9 A: r' o& a P 团圆饭 family reunion dinner
6 h' ^; F0 f' {$ [9 l7 o4 l* ? 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
6 _4 V2 A# U, t: u 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli % t/ f- M/ _$ q5 V3 I, Y
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings $ Z6 i$ O- z! _6 b: ^' H
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
8 `3 J$ Q% V O8 U2 E 糖果盘 candy tray:
2 i0 ?9 {( r, _# f; O* m 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune 4 u& i6 y1 v: h6 C8 s3 {9 y
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health ) [! ]7 h: g8 q8 M* [* e5 y$ m
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
- a8 `" w7 X+ L0 C7 S# G 金桔 cumquat - prosperity 8 Y% {3 a; ]2 D$ l/ W: l
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come & e9 {/ K) e x) U% x$ H% r6 U
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship * `. h, o, W k7 r/ N
红枣 red dates - prosperity ; W! F' C; ^$ ~4 F, f$ b# u7 Z; d" L
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00