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Spring Festival Words * q# a2 ?9 U8 D( Y2 i
Greeting Season:
4 b( w" R) B7 v1 U. a 春节 The Spring Festival
% n& W3 F" }/ k9 Y2 e' v8 @' g 农历 lunar calendar 8 T4 i; I$ ~ e1 l
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
% `& h& q- J# k, c# P; ? 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
4 y/ x! I2 @' `- K9 c' [ 初一 the beginning of New Year " y9 @8 ^% \% t$ u0 _& _$ | x
元宵节 The Lantern Festival 7 e0 G4 b4 [$ N
Customs: * x+ R$ `9 S$ N$ c" y5 h
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
2 E' G& m8 |" Y8 a4 j: v, v 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry - [3 k' h/ M( G) I
春联 Spring Festival couplets
& X; \( b( N6 V1 z6 l- M5 G 剪纸 paper-cuts 1 P/ S; a- ?6 h& x( P+ H
年画 New Year paintings 0 @' N& ?4 q v& D
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping : ^# B7 Q& _9 j) W
敬酒 propose a toast 9 ~1 @1 q) [2 D+ A& x
灯笼 lantern: a portable light ! Z+ D& G2 V# @) h$ ~$ v
烟花 fireworks w2 N: x" t' m( n. _
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) - x, _" g9 O% c* g( j
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) 4 R7 V; F. c4 ?& D- y4 p
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
" I9 z/ h, d5 V 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) 2 L" v' U: P; X6 `' y
戏曲 traditional opera 6 {: T& P- ~5 F$ {
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville 8 W& F2 P8 j1 ~( N/ {
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
9 ~( m) |' Q' P) X) J! ? 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
4 X9 P" Y# n c; d* P7 H- x- l5 A0 p 守岁 staying-up 7 w( {5 J, X# n# A3 q& x0 r
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
% `( ?" Z/ i$ L4 s2 h 禁忌 taboo ) \# V/ j4 j D- r; V& \5 k
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune % i$ c1 C: |4 q# E$ Y
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
4 z+ M o% L& G V7 [4 r 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
9 f" x8 W$ q7 G, d 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 8 T7 _' y0 ?' m# j0 x9 B" D" q
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year ) o7 Z% f8 r: A9 S/ }
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning 9 R6 @9 M% G; y( M
Blessing: : e v+ F5 O& W' Q- |* R) q
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
" ~ W3 R: d. x6 E) J Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
3 \, H1 K3 T: ?3 b Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go 5 r- s! @( t4 R2 m. a
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! 2 L- m6 D! Y, |- v8 k
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
+ K" E( x& l: H* s% _" a Food names: 5 k" r" h% t) j* z
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake - _/ ]" H. t8 R' U% K
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
, Y" ]' u2 f8 m# x" p8 ~5 n, K8 A+ M 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve ; {* a; j/ [6 v$ A
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli m" C) v! Z4 {3 H7 T. e V1 Z* o
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings 8 n/ p" C$ _9 d; n8 L1 B
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding : c* w. \. V9 |8 t* A
糖果盘 candy tray:
* \; X# \0 k) P; ~ 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune 1 K# A0 T5 v* x( t0 g+ X% I' f
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health $ D6 i7 {+ B$ j
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity 3 N: J$ x3 O% H& n/ \( |8 G% x2 o
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
( _6 F: y2 W8 |/ z 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come 8 w$ d. f3 c' Q! v$ m
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship ! C* I6 R3 Y% y% A
红枣 red dates - prosperity
- W R3 T1 U/ Y* w2 a 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00