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Spring Festival Words 8 V2 H: c+ @7 }/ `% u
Greeting Season:
# D! b3 ?+ a& Z* |$ M/ {$ ~ 春节 The Spring Festival
% W3 Y+ K [/ Y* K- I$ N 农历 lunar calendar
6 W4 U4 ^6 q+ n( e+ k 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
8 y; ?* C' q$ e( z* A 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year ( P/ t5 S; i8 f4 Z* U
初一 the beginning of New Year
& ~4 V' C# k& ]8 \ 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
4 A6 a2 I# a5 ? Customs: ?. V+ g, P6 }0 [$ v
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival . y! m7 w! m& Q0 `* Y! ~
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
A8 _1 }4 ^) h- d/ B 春联 Spring Festival couplets 2 d7 M r( \: E/ t4 p
剪纸 paper-cuts ! i' P; [' s% w4 k
年画 New Year paintings ) z% x. F O4 Z2 h1 {- C1 r
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping # c. {% u! h( v; Q) ?! B
敬酒 propose a toast
5 c! w( g3 P( Y, r 灯笼 lantern: a portable light . \( X) {+ o# \) B' Y. I
烟花 fireworks
7 \: _ O; D1 o% c; ~) A 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
1 S& Y' a. S8 u- x% E6 [ 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
! C2 E' T! x' k( M. c& C+ X& ]2 g, v 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) . A% j6 @( K$ N/ ^( i0 T
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) * @1 K" `+ M/ g3 Z4 V
戏曲 traditional opera : `1 d, r0 e+ ]& Q5 K8 o
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
! Z" |: O6 M) w# }2 F$ D$ O 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns 2 Z$ V |; V6 |: {$ n! x
灯会 exhibit of lanterns
3 f! i w+ w/ r 守岁 staying-up
' E# k) l0 W0 X h( p 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
: {$ \1 U4 p- u. a2 @& H0 h 禁忌 taboo
c: x7 S& B1 P7 [( l! h 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune & A; T& Z G0 k" F$ g
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors . V- [3 F3 r/ c: M& {
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
+ ?/ F% u7 v2 g* b% T* S7 I 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
" `( U5 F& {, y" x 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
; g; t* z! ~( x# h 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning , v$ y1 z3 s0 \8 E8 r3 s& V3 L
Blessing: , x8 E. a- s7 s
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity & L8 e1 X2 ] d1 Z" Z
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
4 E% i4 D! w/ P& } Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go , C' L! i" l5 D" {/ m
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! - [ Y m! H' |3 w# Q" u
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! " [% _) Z. P0 r; d. }7 i7 p
Food names: 0 }) O) [* [$ m( N3 b
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake 4 D7 U$ n; h/ z- s C$ K
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
( }7 U% F8 T1 ^8 N2 i6 Y 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
" K3 v& u/ _+ j! c! j/ x+ l% ` 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
& K) S3 h: z' `) _2 [1 C6 U9 T 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings 9 J+ f' c/ A- Y8 `) D
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding - s' T/ H5 h' J! w- [8 M z
糖果盘 candy tray: 3 d' Y3 n+ a+ `& R
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
( l2 G \4 R4 q, n 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health 6 \2 Q# r! G0 e+ Y. L! I
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
6 q0 j5 R0 G. _ 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
# J1 ?% ] B: e& b/ U/ ]5 E 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
$ ~& Z9 d4 {/ N' a4 Z; E- D 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship + ?% j. i4 j) P, r6 Q3 n- l9 @
红枣 red dates - prosperity
8 A( o/ a# t$ i8 o 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00