|
Spring Festival Words
2 ~( H: w: v% C) P" D/ c& D Greeting Season:
- J: x. n! W) o& X" { 春节 The Spring Festival
1 L9 D: l( `7 I% \8 Y 农历 lunar calendar
0 u7 G; U/ m) ]% z* C) G 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
. T; O; [3 h$ `+ Y 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
7 E5 K; M! `/ }/ q/ E6 t 初一 the beginning of New Year R' x5 }+ c& ?5 N, N! \4 U
元宵节 The Lantern Festival
' d' r2 Y6 B" o9 M4 i- m+ M. V Customs:
m, F" N7 d! y( ]/ R 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
- P+ m! d% {9 ~ 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
, S; k6 E# c2 ~6 c5 y 春联 Spring Festival couplets
; s, h* w2 C0 \6 M4 f 剪纸 paper-cuts - l7 d' `+ u0 ~3 r7 }7 i( Y0 O
年画 New Year paintings 8 p+ R& }% m! s8 W0 g2 N" W+ E' Z- Y
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping 4 R% z& |' \6 s
敬酒 propose a toast + F, C+ E" k2 M' X+ Z* A N0 |5 n
灯笼 lantern: a portable light $ l9 T& I( r( Y
烟花 fireworks ( m7 v) P& h9 _5 C
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) 3 b9 |9 i; {, L. s& M I
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) 9 b: t" A' l) `. ?
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
* C' s5 k d" z 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) 6 K9 K4 @- x! |% Q
戏曲 traditional opera / b* o8 h: ]4 C' Z5 W
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
, U" U' ]& _, [' Y6 d4 ?; x 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
$ w- {0 g- c5 ?3 L- ? 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
# I6 U6 P. e4 y 守岁 staying-up & j* v5 e% u( o# ?
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
8 H- o4 ^+ m6 `2 L3 F- y: t, J 禁忌 taboo
4 L0 _( U6 @3 v! d+ o3 v* r6 E 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune 6 Q g4 W) g1 Q% T3 g) I
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
" B8 b5 ^& h# `% P: H, w) y 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift - H4 F6 C* q: u
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
& l0 s4 Q2 B, ]! j, W3 L8 S 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year ) E( t4 h0 M* ?6 y( R" s: E2 `. W
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
6 _. y2 G- R5 m4 L5 g Blessing:
' R# Z k( H6 T0 w& g7 ? Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 7 ?; b- u% J3 j% b& c" m& C
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
# o) l) c' m# r6 v2 N Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
5 m+ Z. p7 o+ X$ e* b7 {9 t 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! % G) o! \9 I- C) w2 l
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
6 a j i8 q( f Food names: * u8 i0 G) Q% L6 H0 X" F/ A0 T0 l! m& N# S
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
6 \0 ?* p7 J( X, g( f3 W# C7 e* d 团圆饭 family reunion dinner
3 G& @7 l7 p1 \5 g, g1 C 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve ! X. c1 ] g8 `9 J* z
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
5 K) z( w8 m. {3 k 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
$ _; x* G/ o9 i+ E' ]: T$ Y$ b 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
t* r9 q& G1 f* d# e' h( I7 q 糖果盘 candy tray: ! |% b K1 { H9 n) M4 [4 z: u: L
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune 4 u7 h9 _! w0 v$ D
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
9 l U, o. H+ B1 I 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
8 Z3 P2 [5 W- I& y3 |9 V 金桔 cumquat - prosperity * y9 L1 n6 F; |+ J W
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come 9 k# q0 P8 D: L1 t3 v
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
. Z# ]; M9 }5 D c) f3 ?4 C 红枣 red dates - prosperity 7 S( }/ H; { ~0 q
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00