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Spring Festival Words
: q& t5 D1 e) \+ X Greeting Season:
1 l3 e; N- o" ] 春节 The Spring Festival ) ^/ U3 Z/ H0 } U* @* R) ^
农历 lunar calendar
1 h; m [' j6 r9 W( M 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
3 z A9 D: m0 g1 M8 c' v+ k; Y% H* j" K 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
, _0 e' U. ~7 }4 B7 @# F# N9 j( h 初一 the beginning of New Year * Z ]9 y' b7 n8 o
元宵节 The Lantern Festival 6 y5 F8 g _( y/ Z0 \ Q7 m
Customs:
) z; \" o7 o+ O; m5 @% z9 C 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
" b F3 g$ c9 k7 C4 |! \* _ 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
* Z! ~0 r5 H' |4 X9 g 春联 Spring Festival couplets
; u( |- V3 g( n8 L* V 剪纸 paper-cuts - f8 y4 |8 Z; r7 P5 p F
年画 New Year paintings ! B! D0 K% C9 h! V
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
9 i: A4 `% S3 ]$ k3 A 敬酒 propose a toast
" |3 P! u; s5 Z( h# r8 x 灯笼 lantern: a portable light $ k0 Y5 B( _ [: s+ r8 |
烟花 fireworks
* B# b4 S- V0 ]! |7 s) t; ^( G" y 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
. F" V* d ^: A2 D8 |6 T' ^ 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
$ w) y+ G4 ^( M& U, } 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) / Z3 l3 Z/ V$ |9 P9 ]
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
1 [; S2 t+ q2 ?5 D9 N 戏曲 traditional opera
) Q7 `- a7 \& k7 a% y' `- B. l 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
: C+ Y+ Z0 O- f) [ 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
' g( n) `$ A' z& H# | 灯会 exhibit of lanterns k3 }5 L5 Z: J1 r+ l( u
守岁 staying-up . `8 ~- e# l9 r4 m5 o
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit ! [( l" e. g# x! G8 L7 W
禁忌 taboo
4 \+ Q2 s7 A5 c. w L 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune : e( S$ x. y, C2 Q/ F: T5 j( N
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
% x0 C: g- _7 e1 K. z6 N2 ~) m 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
# h. {9 Z; j: L' s 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 ) Y$ X0 ~1 X" m( D: c" ~
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year " R- L; i0 E, p& ]( B, U
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
% [% p( X7 ]* k Blessing:
" E, k& g6 D3 X1 Z Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity ) i6 N& E' @" f7 u3 N
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
& d9 M/ |7 b7 Y# Q& K Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
" a4 g& k- q+ { 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! : n8 M! }/ N6 j& o* ?
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! 9 L+ R" A- g, D
Food names:
p% X- P* O9 K 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake 9 W% _+ h6 }+ R- h
团圆饭 family reunion dinner $ P, Y# r" |( G4 L2 ^# i" w) F
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
: b* p1 J( A6 x 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
, l% G. ]& P; j! |; r 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
4 Q, b" n; R5 s6 h7 q$ r7 I0 ~ 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
( N& T6 m }9 O2 B( ~/ a' U 糖果盘 candy tray:
9 N9 B; R7 H# L 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune 8 q2 l. e% v; m
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
6 j6 A. I8 c Q$ k% ~/ S 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
& t+ q! M3 j" K5 O3 d; Q5 C) v2 x 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
1 o& P) q% O; }1 l2 _5 D8 q 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
1 B3 a* F% G* q0 H" d6 T) { 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship ' |- v5 H! y8 ~ E; L$ x4 p
红枣 red dates - prosperity ; b/ `+ u+ K1 j" k" J
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00