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Spring Festival Words # p) @! A0 K4 D' q* v) l1 L& m
Greeting Season:
: k; W0 t9 u, G3 j! I7 D 春节 The Spring Festival / O/ G7 G7 u( }' h0 v& x9 d- L
农历 lunar calendar % L# ?" l" `# y% t. ?4 p
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar 1 Q7 e, c: X; a0 D
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year * o4 M0 i2 Z5 r0 f5 {3 q- k; o
初一 the beginning of New Year
+ H0 r+ F& @1 F 元宵节 The Lantern Festival . G, B7 c0 Q& u( i
Customs: $ G; K) p; B2 @
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
/ H& h+ A8 q/ ~# t4 h K 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
0 T8 J$ S& C U3 i 春联 Spring Festival couplets
f$ [, Z. U1 k 剪纸 paper-cuts
! {; R5 v4 Q% x4 ? 年画 New Year paintings
4 m2 O8 y3 Q! x) [ 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping W, m, v$ n" Z6 |* G
敬酒 propose a toast
B# _2 y* m) V% u$ Z/ ~ 灯笼 lantern: a portable light
# g) Z: n/ j O& g8 {" m8 J. s 烟花 fireworks " R r; D: j: [% H2 g0 x# ~
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) , N; K: i W/ C$ w/ _2 K
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
5 ?" }! T/ U3 Y* e 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) 3 G$ \3 l; B! B. w7 @; h
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) / U/ ] s' z$ C( n v7 C3 E" M1 C
戏曲 traditional opera - ?4 \& `1 y( ~8 k
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
6 x9 c6 s- Y) I, X5 w8 c 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
5 J8 [ X, M& z$ t 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
1 d/ r+ L" M9 M6 O! g9 d 守岁 staying-up
" \; i& ~' o( e: u- x 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
; Z, R; R2 E! ~& ~. a' Z/ P 禁忌 taboo
2 s7 ]8 J( {' |4 N0 R, J 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune [# l+ F$ \3 F, n5 g
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors ' K; R" b& ?- o/ ]
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift 6 M+ N F) D+ s+ M" |4 b$ h
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
# i& _: C4 h' W( f: c 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
& [1 a7 B; T6 L5 W 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning - Q% o5 z, c6 \' o! b
Blessing:
, T( K' C3 e3 }: e Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
0 Z5 |; ~, E. A7 F Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
( }- e( R' b9 |. s, P8 p Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go 4 c" B( L# ^9 K3 ~5 n8 \
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
) T I9 A E5 {8 X 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
! |9 S# k% Q5 b Food names:
. B; Q3 y% x' { 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake ( {, d n; y6 O Y
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
# O% o8 t2 q; b* E9 n. G1 D8 Q 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
) {( ^' g/ i3 @8 _1 N' p+ a 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
# v$ o# R0 V% i! @ 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
* M* f! n# u8 z% V9 k# Y* J* A; a 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
& S" H4 a: U4 I2 u1 n 糖果盘 candy tray:
, Q7 ?* I e& \+ `8 ^ 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
, {( P& j7 z' B5 i1 B+ n 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
" E- z& x' t3 Y# T 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
1 F8 e. h- f# A( z0 T0 u4 X 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
* Q& ^# G- [! @% ~5 o+ O# Z6 @ 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come . A% [. X3 C1 P0 _
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
* L/ o+ P* N. m Y3 T0 W 红枣 red dates - prosperity * Y! R K0 H0 e
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00