|
Spring Festival Words . ^* U4 x* h1 V1 Y
Greeting Season:
0 i9 I0 e; I8 i7 ]* ? 春节 The Spring Festival
6 a7 }! O5 K9 o$ f O! z) O3 x& X: p 农历 lunar calendar
5 C0 v) D# O2 \, a 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar + q& @$ s0 X; v7 h/ M+ ?
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year / k, c7 v; c% }6 J- `) Z
初一 the beginning of New Year 0 T4 z/ b) [6 S) k3 f0 @7 C
元宵节 The Lantern Festival # [1 [' {* j4 x+ v, B
Customs:
7 r: T1 h% A% Z! l$ G 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
2 J3 O" u2 {$ Z; L 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
- i9 s% ^$ _) q 春联 Spring Festival couplets
9 K; O- ?( u1 W! V7 g1 o 剪纸 paper-cuts 6 h2 C9 s7 u) d0 l& i9 v3 W
年画 New Year paintings ( J4 [7 `2 O- N5 K! ]
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping & q0 C" N9 g4 u7 C z
敬酒 propose a toast
* p$ d8 B. }5 p6 i, y 灯笼 lantern: a portable light 1 m% |: f Q7 z9 v% M
烟花 fireworks
3 z- r& @7 D& H* f; C 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) 9 F: i7 _- y5 R8 P8 r9 f" n& a% d, B
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
1 y8 m \; R7 c" y9 @5 B 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
2 b& L Y2 T$ [- a6 T g" e; ? 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
6 U; e0 V( u' j1 L7 |1 L- I( A 戏曲 traditional opera " h! }7 G! h5 u3 a( I
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville / H, I& N/ l! L) O# z2 S
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
$ N3 e0 u" B0 c' ` 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
; K5 _5 u$ T" u D# a" V: e 守岁 staying-up
$ ^# [8 Y+ c9 g" V 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
3 g8 T R1 E+ a! J. f 禁忌 taboo
- X. o# H% \ X6 Z 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
/ T: a- T* i% T8 R8 ^' m- a 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
. k7 s3 m4 N+ r 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift 0 t+ n1 R& u9 x
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 4 a5 p$ k! g* e+ j6 Q" i/ S
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year 0 X& U* Z: p/ ` Z
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning " p1 ]$ O) S9 B0 \
Blessing: ) z. b# V* \& k' J& k* `
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 3 x' z# ^" ^! ^" k- z
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace 2 b2 \! B; x; Q
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
- |& b# u+ o& O# c! Q4 n& I 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! : a" C( G7 p& G: m# h# H
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! & U; k- I9 G" k( q
Food names:
# X: w4 t. p, Z9 r& i2 C- O 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
+ P M4 B$ O/ y3 J' ~ 团圆饭 family reunion dinner ; J1 l9 T# t; C
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
0 q% o' t; n' t8 A 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli / i4 L z% d. B. [
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
% q* M2 w$ S% A: ]& } 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
- U. K! ^3 ?# d! A" Y 糖果盘 candy tray:
) O3 S0 Y7 {6 b 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune E6 }# }) T) [0 M. |6 W- x
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health 9 x3 n* n) \% v! K+ i
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity ( M! G% l+ f7 S5 h& T& F; B
金桔 cumquat - prosperity $ ]' K+ ?% d6 S$ b2 f G6 @& r3 j; n
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
2 k& }# n V% X) `# q 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
; R5 b% w7 q; k& Z: f+ W$ R 红枣 red dates - prosperity
* ?( `2 _8 m9 S. @5 G: D 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00