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Spring Festival Words
8 b. l6 ]9 d! U$ j Greeting Season:
% W& k9 A0 m2 C; l( c) P) T5 Q* l 春节 The Spring Festival
- |. m- X0 _. m9 `, [: g 农历 lunar calendar
" x u% L' j0 H7 h( h1 J 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
% c/ @+ U4 v3 e 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
- F1 j' }5 y7 I, [5 S 初一 the beginning of New Year
- } P) ^8 e/ @( u0 n 元宵节 The Lantern Festival & y# b3 C* K7 W3 r6 e) C
Customs: 1 C9 v+ Z m/ I$ X& `/ `; X
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival $ J+ ?" `3 l; j5 N
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
s9 E) ], U6 t 春联 Spring Festival couplets
3 h: d2 c: ]7 j* r" I- S* R 剪纸 paper-cuts ) o% D/ ^+ I3 B, c) D1 H
年画 New Year paintings 1 Q5 B3 X$ S$ Y& N3 A
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping & U) J, M! Y1 D+ Z! m- V K1 i
敬酒 propose a toast
) U; E4 N; ]- s! i6 s3 w& c 灯笼 lantern: a portable light - J! D2 v ~) {3 [: o7 H/ L# O
烟花 fireworks & M0 e, `/ B, m0 f: g, i
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) " c9 H2 q" ]0 ]7 s1 ]
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
5 E) g, _( W$ C 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
: C& T; v2 m$ k; t! S8 R 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
2 n% b+ [8 h: i) y0 i 戏曲 traditional opera
. a% r+ c+ {( @- ` 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
5 w S- N% |6 a% [: Z 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
/ f; O$ S8 f8 u' _' {& x) | 灯会 exhibit of lanterns * ?. e" o% D: B2 {* C& T# h
守岁 staying-up
' C: `, g$ t& c: q( T7 w5 B" t% ` 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit 5 x' x; B5 `7 `0 D# m% i
禁忌 taboo ) v) x* C* ]! E& v2 D
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
6 H! g) |& @( ` 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
7 i% t( y0 K5 ^& Y& o 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift ' i0 B" A& S+ V, Y6 C( R' C9 t! 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
% X* `% `: A1 q! f% [1 o 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
1 \8 J/ l2 _/ |) k( a 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
' B8 q! |8 ?; B, p' p Blessing: 0 V1 E8 ^$ I( B" s, x2 e$ p1 M2 I
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
7 C2 i8 m6 r% S) p( ] Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace # M/ c$ Z. c: C* H4 c& l8 Z
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
2 C; w/ M8 B" L 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
4 V& y7 z2 F: K* \ 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! * Y) A" w" @! f
Food names: 0 r( |: T5 U0 G1 e2 f4 C
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
+ P5 a0 Y. `" ?7 l( _) B 团圆饭 family reunion dinner
: x* f2 w" [ [ 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
: o# a" m# {* R" u3 q" \1 @$ G 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli * l1 F/ R' Q' G& a6 }: l% g f
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings 8 G. b: H& c, Y. Z
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding & T; e3 a+ ~- c" N+ d( ?; f6 n5 ~
糖果盘 candy tray:
# y0 N# o2 W2 T6 w: d! P8 D9 d 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune + p% ~- _" c$ Y( x B5 h
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health 6 T" ~- s4 ~4 X! a0 V
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
% b8 g- Z" d5 e. ] z. w* Q 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
9 L ?4 `+ l5 [: G 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come , J0 T b$ l$ W+ J
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship " O/ s0 N% X# o, U S! m; x9 s
红枣 red dates - prosperity
2 C' x4 S( D( ?, U# u5 u# ?2 |* e 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00