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Spring Festival Words 7 W! w6 ^3 u7 O6 d, c: \) @0 V1 B
Greeting Season: 4 n' E# ]7 N2 O, I: V# n# t
春节 The Spring Festival * t7 u) v5 |0 h6 N7 t; h' r
农历 lunar calendar
+ h3 B# D3 X5 I9 l' n8 N 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
) ^" J0 ~* E) i 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year $ o) }/ S* v% h; V3 e
初一 the beginning of New Year
1 s! E. a, k7 k- C% w9 T 元宵节 The Lantern Festival 9 g( u/ {; b/ }% Z# _3 U
Customs:
& T9 `- y0 q. W+ I, [; }" ?2 J# e7 M 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival 9 x5 q1 ]+ F9 c) _2 h7 H Z$ e9 c1 \( U
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry 2 @) `: t# P; H
春联 Spring Festival couplets
7 V7 j8 i) e9 t7 x3 Z 剪纸 paper-cuts
- H+ H6 S3 i) M0 X% T9 ` 年画 New Year paintings
/ J/ l' X2 K$ {; c 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping 6 I: A) w' q1 d
敬酒 propose a toast 8 r9 t9 J1 V0 X, \2 w# }
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
' x9 K( S( w# _" ^1 B 烟花 fireworks $ M, x' C" n" J; d! }; Z
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) $ z; E. c2 S3 s
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
6 T6 o v: X5 t# ^) R 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) # y f* z W& M/ y! I9 [
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
) P+ F9 ~( W4 Q* M* Q0 P$ d 戏曲 traditional opera * I: R# c2 S& S% ^" `1 `+ L2 _. ^0 o
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville 8 q! Z& I6 C0 z4 |: ]8 }
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
9 ]$ z5 D4 P7 G( Q" d 灯会 exhibit of lanterns 4 a- C' p& p0 v
守岁 staying-up # N' ?; H- \ L2 [; r" a7 N
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit ( Y; A5 |0 s ?
禁忌 taboo
. z2 o) m! F# ~' f& ^' U 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune " z; A( g+ z6 ?1 R5 ^" C! v5 R
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
3 q% P0 g C6 H2 M- ^0 U& d! @ 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift " E+ p$ I- g0 U9 N4 }9 |
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
) U( i" X' V$ T9 B, O( @9 K 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year / ^5 [0 @5 U o+ Z% K$ T# W
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
+ d; E& ~/ y T, y% p Blessing: ( B9 H& Z. I5 _
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
( Y& K" P9 }9 f! c7 n* q Z Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace 3 x( }0 H' `# q m: w9 `% k) X
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
) N3 `" O! c0 S ?* e; g, }2 ` 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
8 m0 d: |1 e% ~3 ? 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! # z7 L' R7 {) H$ V
Food names: 1 I9 M8 j+ ?: |6 F9 B2 l- k/ z; R
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake 1 j0 b6 {; {, D& q0 ?0 l
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
; [' n k w- ^& q9 f. T; u0 p 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
% D) Z2 J& n4 G" J) W3 U& M 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli ) U% V3 `! b, G( @# Y* U9 H/ b" n
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
, c* m: Q. e! j! ] 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
2 ^/ t7 S* p ]3 ~/ V9 c 糖果盘 candy tray: % H8 C0 d5 z4 P/ r, o# s, Z
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune & O% E8 ^% o3 j, G! u! E
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
' C5 W3 ]9 A6 r t 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
0 u3 X2 I, S% B, D. B0 E 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
; D! W+ u; o8 B: |+ Q 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
+ \) c2 C& K H; [- g9 Y4 ] 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship u$ V) F3 ]+ ~$ C/ n# |
红枣 red dates - prosperity
5 T4 k: m {2 W$ v7 I; |9 T 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00