|
Spring Festival Words ; F$ R* n3 `% J
Greeting Season: 8 J6 h/ L2 {5 Z6 H! ?" N" O; Y
春节 The Spring Festival
7 A! l9 t& L' {8 x \/ n 农历 lunar calendar
5 b* j5 y5 i, ^+ w0 k" H: p 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar I+ V; T1 ]1 p, x- F# H
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year + T; J; A+ }8 S
初一 the beginning of New Year 5 j C' _# H6 l6 v
元宵节 The Lantern Festival
/ {0 l+ z1 [; V T Customs: & d4 i2 r+ d n7 B( q% G
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
. r8 q0 j0 Z7 Q7 S" K3 o: D2 x) O2 u 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry : L" z% y( u4 O0 y
春联 Spring Festival couplets
; S% T: W/ [9 f, K6 e1 M5 ~7 G 剪纸 paper-cuts & @: r5 {$ x1 t
年画 New Year paintings + |9 ^+ L1 S; p2 d/ y0 y
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping / W- Q, J! O3 _4 A7 E$ h
敬酒 propose a toast
J8 Z E% I* J: R 灯笼 lantern: a portable light
1 E) k% \ Z/ U( o' k! B 烟花 fireworks
' E, N s0 i4 ]% A- [ 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) $ X: P" g: q' f4 I# i: b) s3 D
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
+ c" ^) o8 e6 k- [7 [3 [ 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) 4 @9 H* w# m4 D0 J, `/ i. o2 {0 z
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) * ]2 ]7 v4 \( t- s
戏曲 traditional opera
3 B2 ?4 _5 E1 Q! ] 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville 7 O6 z, c/ s4 U) g' \: W3 a" {6 T
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns 6 D8 D X7 c- _. |% n# C; j0 N
灯会 exhibit of lanterns 0 j* h2 t) A$ _3 O
守岁 staying-up : E" n$ V# h' l1 p0 N/ {1 a
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
1 R; H Q. ~, \& y( s. f 禁忌 taboo
+ e8 `- F+ A1 t g 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
' i9 a7 X. Z7 Q, H4 a 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
* Y* Z9 F; B" g* S) v; Q% F2 U& B 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift ! S- F: Y7 Y& \9 U. O) }5 ?8 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
# l7 o* X# i9 O( ?0 |/ P$ S 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
! C$ _& C$ r3 d @0 ^3 A5 S& K 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
V" B! G0 i8 ^3 `5 ~, K1 v- D Blessing:
% ]+ S" g- f) @0 ~! x) d Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
; j# y, j/ k& e7 p5 `3 q Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace ! U* s6 `* G7 y
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go 4 J% {0 ?! b) }4 a3 _9 [
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! 1 U" z# w+ Z: f/ `
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! 5 J% m. T) h" z) Y
Food names: 7 w8 B& U, ^, P
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
( z8 Y3 c* q: U- f4 ? 团圆饭 family reunion dinner
6 e R4 Y6 e/ y5 x# w 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve % b/ l9 z- ?! _+ v
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli J: w8 z% Y( E* L1 C+ m* L
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
# f. @4 H7 q% c" P& M4 }$ S6 C 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
; `" p+ j% k2 t 糖果盘 candy tray: k! j2 i( E0 ~+ f. O L
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
# p2 t) n5 Z& @8 h+ q% ^: x 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health ; L0 i( q( W- k4 Y
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
! e3 D( Z# `9 j1 F- m. K" w3 m 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
# W: Z) F8 I5 A- q& l 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
9 X& s3 @$ l/ p( Y2 K2 M( C( U 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship % ~5 [. z x3 J
红枣 red dates - prosperity
( M$ ~! _1 ^; N 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00