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Spring Festival Words
4 D0 w/ C r) D/ V a Greeting Season:
% N1 l h, t0 c p% u9 z* n 春节 The Spring Festival , Z3 k% F8 U3 i
农历 lunar calendar
" ~3 d+ }2 z8 G _( g 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
, K6 Z5 l5 y5 [ 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
8 `* a$ T( Z$ m& \. Z 初一 the beginning of New Year
1 A# K9 n- h9 p$ {* l: q 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
7 G# K5 s: Z- g Customs: : a& z# N' r4 C9 p6 g4 T l4 e
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
" ?9 d; `# u, r5 b* C6 J1 Y+ l 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry 0 g+ A- t! g2 {6 Q' {" {
春联 Spring Festival couplets ' r2 _' p; ?! X/ A
剪纸 paper-cuts
7 R6 d6 O q+ {5 U _ 年画 New Year paintings
# {1 ~1 Y g9 y 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
( m. d M/ L: S; h! j 敬酒 propose a toast
% j% M/ Z' N/ d- h9 o( }" ?# n 灯笼 lantern: a portable light
+ F: b. o( n5 Y( Z" d {- x 烟花 fireworks V h; |+ w$ Y: H5 q
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
% b2 S; d+ g; ~6 J0 k 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) . d+ C' v' t- V, {6 Z
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
: n5 z B Q- I% N! S 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
3 S Z# c- f4 Q9 o, b4 B+ Y 戏曲 traditional opera * M3 c9 H4 ?! e7 o$ R( d/ K8 }9 `& K
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville / G! `! ? Q# b6 c0 b- K. [; _, m
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns 8 c$ `& p3 `9 |& Z: e8 g
灯会 exhibit of lanterns $ n# i' ^( h {. M8 X: [2 |, B
守岁 staying-up
% |4 j5 U& y, B& B 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit , m# |2 _, l t" j& `! d g+ T
禁忌 taboo 1 U' V/ t" i ?& O
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
) G5 _- Q" R5 d r+ g 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
6 a$ A& l+ w) h$ P% w' p 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
8 x' B4 w5 A! v5 D' C0 F+ z 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 0 b% v/ @" B4 V3 S5 v3 `
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
% E% F6 j. z7 k$ C# e5 j! d 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
: Z# E& r4 p& i s3 Z Blessing:
- @7 F. c7 b' a y" \* `+ Z Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
- c5 I4 [3 p2 Z2 p8 B7 v Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace ' |. Y" q: V1 j
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
" u2 Q% h* C. b r5 M 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
" O9 ~+ o7 U; a( W$ P4 ? 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
+ K4 D# ?) q4 }- I) a8 { Food names: * P. s' c5 I7 S7 ^" n$ Y
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake 4 W/ e, b0 W4 Y- [
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
: D. a4 n7 ^, ]# Q 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve , Z; ]' B: @+ ]
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli 1 T& [8 \' p; Y, p" W5 ?
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings 0 o! O+ Q; W, T( ^% @8 v5 z H2 R9 y
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding # r: W/ V, A, ]3 f) J. G
糖果盘 candy tray:
$ p+ y8 A3 P5 @ 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune & j4 X$ I. W' y
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health - \3 G+ Y6 g$ x4 y; Z
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity 5 S' O: a# P& G8 |/ T5 g
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
( T2 {& C( c( L1 L 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come # G" f. K/ C6 f
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship J T: _1 S9 e% u1 y% E& I; {
红枣 red dates - prosperity # ]# ?9 I: l; \8 w3 {6 b+ _
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00