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Spring Festival Words 5 h3 M V% x$ Z! {* C
Greeting Season:
% N& F' c& y$ x 春节 The Spring Festival * R, X. v# v. Y9 X- T
农历 lunar calendar
1 |3 N; _, G, `1 } 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
% X: Q, e% A& z 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year 7 t: |: a" X- Q, y; d6 \. E
初一 the beginning of New Year 0 \; I( m) L: m3 c/ S
元宵节 The Lantern Festival
- x7 l# v; V( [7 l1 B7 m# M# Z8 E Customs:
( D* Z* V- L! l6 ~- ]8 F 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival F3 y- o6 q7 |0 t7 a! l% d7 B
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
* `: Q2 e# `) i7 i9 p 春联 Spring Festival couplets b( S) [8 a+ M; G4 k9 R( S% E
剪纸 paper-cuts b% I. z8 R' p8 b$ c5 o
年画 New Year paintings
; \2 v$ q( ] h& o2 \ 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
$ i' e3 h6 T) U 敬酒 propose a toast
3 ^4 m Y1 |0 I 灯笼 lantern: a portable light ( k; Z! e( q/ U! n8 c' `* L
烟花 fireworks
6 N, T( W" T$ c6 m# h$ v 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
. `* B8 N8 y; V0 s 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
; m% k- {: |" N; Z. c C' z 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) 9 `* p6 U+ N& h) p- l l
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) q# X; q& H# d- a# s$ y
戏曲 traditional opera 8 O5 U1 y, t. q! |& }& L; a
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
4 L1 _$ ?* q; F1 d. X: F+ R 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
3 p' u1 e/ V0 u5 M/ Z/ R% U 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
0 m+ X) r5 ]/ v% m6 D/ ] 守岁 staying-up " Y/ {5 z. p, d$ e1 h
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit 9 P3 F H4 Y5 i6 [$ l7 p
禁忌 taboo
/ _! f' {3 O6 n: |: e 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune * Q* ]2 U6 U6 f+ w
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors * h6 n% O( _* y. p. W
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift 4 D" J) n( X$ ]1 M2 I
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 6 F; M# |) _* ?. A$ l" x
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year 9 k, M% }& e! M. |) i
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning ) ?$ U* Q1 P3 R+ Z4 l3 _
Blessing: * r4 P4 R6 [- t" q* H5 t
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity * c: ]" p# [' [2 C
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
1 N. B: j: z% ]- w5 q& ^# n1 | Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
6 @& n4 e% E: V 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! " ?0 g+ T! ~7 o; B1 s, v
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! 6 V$ H9 `2 V" Q3 Z
Food names: / _# A# T3 \4 k5 G! o7 v/ ~6 h
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
8 \- k1 m. {9 g0 y) @5 k. B 团圆饭 family reunion dinner
& l) S% l+ U" c% f 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
& B1 G7 x: I* X( @1 u0 i 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
2 j& V4 c- G; G- l" I- ? 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
, K8 r `( L* M7 M 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
M! V; i# B( G 糖果盘 candy tray: 0 N. V' A7 v$ o
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune 4 b: l# y+ i% ^# {& j
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
' {! c# y' L" C; @ 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
5 d1 e8 F8 ~ d. Z 金桔 cumquat - prosperity * r% l" d* A0 h7 E9 Z% `6 ~
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
f* i7 G3 g$ q: h: C' T 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship / k+ r& _' o* a6 `! T' j, N
红枣 red dates - prosperity
- n ?# c' Z; v5 k) | 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00