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Spring Festival Words
+ B% e; O% u7 o% ~: V9 S Greeting Season: ; D; `' p8 V$ ?, F, [
春节 The Spring Festival
B9 `6 o$ ?! Y0 ~% e5 X 农历 lunar calendar
$ i1 R- h' h2 @) e% j 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
% M2 c) \1 M" h. v6 z* y0 @5 \3 g 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year : k, R( r, F& g9 V: r
初一 the beginning of New Year 8 z. |; F3 @. k: w" o
元宵节 The Lantern Festival - d" Y h- X) b
Customs: $ Y- H$ V/ I4 G5 Y0 S
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival % ~1 `6 _! M8 F+ V" x& Y. T
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry . c, |; K! x8 ^
春联 Spring Festival couplets 8 R5 d8 A) ~/ L
剪纸 paper-cuts ' L; A8 Y) `1 F6 E8 y- a7 _
年画 New Year paintings & H& P- F b4 E8 }0 x' G
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
3 }* ]: X, R6 r) |( X 敬酒 propose a toast ) M8 X: x7 l$ [* p+ U/ n7 l: W
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
( b, u5 o4 t7 T! { 烟花 fireworks * J" c8 J% M. R+ i$ Q& g3 R6 h
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
$ v; H9 ~7 l( M" v6 q 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
, c0 f# F+ f6 g. Y" f: S( h1 b 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
2 y! ~4 o0 f# {+ u- a3 c8 L 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
P: Z% B4 b! [; W 戏曲 traditional opera ) k* W. o+ y* U5 }& D( R
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
6 U& h& ?9 q3 B4 `7 z' G7 I' O. s" g 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns % Y6 w& S2 e1 H) F ?
灯会 exhibit of lanterns
1 r g% U$ ?& q( F" U$ g( E& y 守岁 staying-up
/ W% @6 d, t1 C5 \! F. z( P 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit % E; o. l. P! V3 H" K# N
禁忌 taboo
. A5 E# l- C3 @% @" c; h6 B 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune $ Z: ?: }$ R" |+ u( w. H; s
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
5 Z2 {4 W( C- }( O1 l 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift 6 Y6 m2 @! D5 C& T- `
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 2 o- {+ b% ^: l( v! ~3 C/ Q
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
* ^# L4 g7 [% }! y3 P 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning * F9 m$ Q& J# d. Z& T
Blessing:
; c9 K, L/ S( A2 E6 q6 `% p+ z Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 1 ]1 D, a& J4 Y
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace 8 Z( X; a2 |7 u
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
) j5 W! j6 \0 D2 K, v 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
" l$ ]1 n& l! h. X, X, b 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! 6 v, B# ~# t, M" T2 w) {) H% h9 }# ]
Food names:
6 G, y; {8 D+ n 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
4 {7 B! c0 a' T, B9 Z8 a' Q 团圆饭 family reunion dinner
/ q8 m: O& I6 N 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve : `. s# m- m; [
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli , L8 p( e# p1 ]$ M: W. P$ r
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings + o9 k% r9 h& v& ]* f5 W
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding b+ }" s. h* q
糖果盘 candy tray:
4 P, D1 t6 P5 N) ~& L0 o 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune $ X# Y) [6 }: Y7 x% ^
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health ( u. r+ ^' N& ^3 m8 d% U1 F2 l
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
; v; ^$ A! o, A, x 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
0 G0 T2 S: A5 ^0 I4 K* P, D 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
# W5 U. e |& C6 E7 q& a4 B! p' c* Y' S 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
, y) |! y# b- ]- g 红枣 red dates - prosperity + A9 Q" G o2 z( t% v0 W+ d: [
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00