|
Spring Festival Words / s" D0 k0 _& ^) J9 G1 Z. u
Greeting Season: / t. o9 E; X0 v/ r$ C" o+ D
春节 The Spring Festival
4 Y2 t& G: G3 Y U- x! S 农历 lunar calendar
) k2 N4 X) T$ k* S1 C 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
1 N7 k) O) v( k7 t3 W 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year 9 `9 {; N, t8 C/ e, O: y ~2 ?
初一 the beginning of New Year ) P8 n% s- _9 V4 ]2 x0 I- q( x
元宵节 The Lantern Festival
- X$ B- H0 M6 G Customs:
* T8 L9 t$ h9 ^- d 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
1 _# S' A6 x* j- m/ Q8 F A 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry ! ]5 f, W- {6 [! h* W; `! z* ^
春联 Spring Festival couplets
; \1 P6 X& h( A" @* ^) b8 H; z! R' ? 剪纸 paper-cuts
. {; X l! W7 R2 G: j# g 年画 New Year paintings 8 M2 f4 _8 Q, c* {9 L7 _
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping 3 q8 v4 d* k4 f! ~( l, y
敬酒 propose a toast
# _5 n; D# T. P* H$ P3 H3 s/ e 灯笼 lantern: a portable light / B& Z, z& q0 y
烟花 fireworks ( j0 o+ r: b0 B$ B6 j3 X
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) 7 f7 Z u. ~% ]
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
6 ^/ L1 }. X; P" u 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) + u5 ~' i! M: g& z6 [' l
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) : M6 d% _1 V4 o" C
戏曲 traditional opera
$ K6 k& F% i% M$ h) E- @ v 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville W) T9 Y' y. |$ j. e
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
% Z" u9 f. F$ U+ W9 g3 j% m2 N+ J* [ 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
! c' y4 K5 X' C% \+ N+ ], z5 l5 L 守岁 staying-up 5 S9 k$ x* s9 q- n+ c) R
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit ( b, K4 ?4 ]) W9 M+ B& {
禁忌 taboo 5 A1 B+ i' ?1 O8 ^' S9 O( T
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
7 u0 h; T# X# q g8 d G1 a 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
7 | H' h* b+ l9 ^ [3 a( Q3 f 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
: G/ H* O f/ K; F 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
; r$ v, z9 {: M3 \( o3 o5 V 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year 5 v& B9 r, I: s; Q6 k2 Q
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
7 X$ x* Y) a$ m Blessing: , i/ Z, b7 h% {( l. a
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity - x. h4 ?" v9 t+ v
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace ) _6 K9 \7 F2 H% ~) X
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
! N U+ X/ ?% } 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! . U3 t9 j1 |" f6 [3 g2 S
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! . c1 S% {0 |: s' H4 e
Food names: * {% ?$ x0 A7 f7 E/ @
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake ; z9 |' |( o# w& Q
团圆饭 family reunion dinner % k1 i& z, k. Z o" D
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve * I& s) `2 O! j' n. \% z4 C
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
4 _7 U# E) o: r+ ^# |, K5 X% y/ N 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings 5 Z( G7 u- u6 T" L+ Q$ D0 ]1 A9 h
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
" l# f' ^2 l( w 糖果盘 candy tray:
2 k6 f7 O# e% e2 g- l 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune 2 K4 b1 K6 C/ Q( ^5 B" G+ R
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
3 y+ }! v; U$ B$ a4 P) j2 e8 k c, x 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity u. c8 M+ x5 m5 k
金桔 cumquat - prosperity / l" s& ?# F9 F l( t
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
' C+ F2 K* _) i- V* y3 T 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
; B0 E7 x* [$ I+ h1 C6 } 红枣 red dates - prosperity 0 L7 s) Y H0 C1 h( x$ g7 x, E
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00