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Spring Festival Words
4 g, U' u3 Y+ w Greeting Season: , P9 T" g7 _1 x5 M( K- X
春节 The Spring Festival % {3 a, T% G9 v. ?. J/ m7 S
农历 lunar calendar $ J; m( f/ C. B+ H
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
( w0 Q/ c: z5 _( _5 y/ I: z& s: ] 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year ! l& G6 O4 T$ ]3 x3 D# f" [" Q E
初一 the beginning of New Year % ~* x! _5 P# r/ r q
元宵节 The Lantern Festival
$ j" q# ^3 D& S' ^ Customs: " r. W9 v& v' q' }+ w9 k
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival 4 w& E8 q( A o4 O& h: T
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry - _" c3 q+ ]. U5 ^& e0 a7 R" b
春联 Spring Festival couplets * {% n' B* p, Q
剪纸 paper-cuts
, `7 r" N9 B4 J% |) _ 年画 New Year paintings
3 @5 u8 `, M0 r) t5 | 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping 2 X+ j4 @4 P( A, c
敬酒 propose a toast 1 n: ` f5 e3 I m+ J, A" D! j
灯笼 lantern: a portable light 3 A) a. s7 k$ I3 N# \
烟花 fireworks 7 N" O- y/ D! B% w- o" x
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) 2 {8 o- `, F# {5 y3 Y
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
4 J" l' x5 F* [ 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
" U8 ?" q/ J( d* G. E( Z 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
; J5 }& I, z/ h) } 戏曲 traditional opera - ~. x; }. ?( K4 ^( L
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
. z9 Z9 d4 N0 m3 m% {& F 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
5 c- J8 |" B1 H0 A9 ^' Y 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
( K; m6 h# w9 N 守岁 staying-up " G0 B- B8 Z, N
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
2 ?/ x8 s6 _5 q3 _8 h- A 禁忌 taboo + j5 l& i& @" E K
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune + ]2 X I, ` s0 K0 J" X0 ~* y
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors $ k( A9 I- P. Z
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift , ~2 _5 S$ O/ S3 o
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 9 `8 K) S2 p, N7 b; |& Z3 L0 \/ a H
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
+ ?2 d' h; S/ \. k" r7 A3 W' e 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
3 U# ?% p$ ^. t* v9 \: J Blessing:
; p* ]7 o9 A X& \" I! [2 }# x' t Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
7 v; Q) I6 o/ }* t Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
+ a( ~( q. O7 C3 v$ t6 c u- x Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
0 E# R! j4 l ^. O% R% u8 S/ M 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! , G( {+ e- O' q+ ?4 p7 v0 u, s, f
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
! P/ B8 ^6 |( a Food names: : {2 x& H5 I/ s2 i( }' y) |* P4 a
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
! n" @% A3 v! @3 q: w) D/ G# j 团圆饭 family reunion dinner
% Q: U. I" ]) `4 \; z! R5 A0 V! W 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve 5 n, S6 U# A, m; [7 L. u: k
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
4 R# r3 K. c1 c* B: {% G" ~5 o 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
+ D$ P3 Z6 l- r 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
' ?0 A% t1 t% w0 h 糖果盘 candy tray: : N6 Z. q: ], {$ R, A1 e, j
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune - w v4 K) j, W$ h* i* y3 e. s4 T/ N
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
- p% N' U0 y, j a8 V 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity c8 p+ ^, @; M
金桔 cumquat - prosperity ; t* w9 u6 ?4 X5 ^% I
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come ) L8 x. m; Q4 z8 U; E" ?
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship " D) O9 m5 u e3 z' `0 f
红枣 red dates - prosperity 1 R6 ]9 ~+ _2 S$ U" }, y7 h
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00