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Spring Festival Words 1 m2 ?; {2 B/ L. y+ C. X
Greeting Season:
H& N8 t, F! p% y 春节 The Spring Festival
1 v2 v* [* a' _/ A2 c0 l' w9 V/ Q1 s( R- k 农历 lunar calendar
- g2 i' Q- T }. W5 J8 n4 w# r 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar . V" q) Q% T5 X
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year . H. M+ j" J; {8 d* c+ w
初一 the beginning of New Year $ Z) S4 E5 s: e& i% { H
元宵节 The Lantern Festival
/ a3 Y" W: [6 h; ?1 m. E+ C Customs: : `' D6 M; L0 D' S! p5 p: I
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
* _% B! z* w- U* Y) l5 X1 z 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry 4 i5 @2 Z2 \' F" V7 t" u. n) O' g/ a
春联 Spring Festival couplets
' |# N$ z5 m& @; Z4 s- _5 Q* b 剪纸 paper-cuts # U1 n0 R1 e: H3 A
年画 New Year paintings " B: z0 A$ f$ z/ h+ m: c
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping ( W) C+ T" e! H) O2 j" N
敬酒 propose a toast $ G; W( `6 j6 _3 e& H2 T$ \
灯笼 lantern: a portable light 3 m" s D( B1 p; D: |
烟花 fireworks
+ w' [0 A1 B% b- z 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) $ f( N. t% U4 S0 ~7 O' Z+ \0 K7 T
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) |- ]. i9 U1 M
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
: G' c/ e% L. e# [ 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) 4 x1 s" y+ D5 \' i7 T( V9 H* k8 ^8 w
戏曲 traditional opera ; b& G0 j0 l! \
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
: R Q7 p+ C% t$ m- ^6 p4 L- y 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
# N4 @# s/ R* q7 q" d 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
6 \% V0 X; a5 T3 [ 守岁 staying-up
/ d8 f. l C [" ~0 E* ?% H' ~' Q 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
; J+ ]- B2 L; x$ n 禁忌 taboo 4 A, L* I: }# }9 S# i U
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
0 T g5 G& A# M* c8 ~( E 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
' A9 U4 Z8 q. Z3 w# [0 ^3 g' X 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
) P. L e' w6 I- p. h& g7 y 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
% G2 F2 }6 |5 h1 W2 i9 S8 {, Z# Q 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
+ Q4 A/ G* B5 K 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
; ~9 J) d% p( L0 i Blessing: 6 M0 J7 i" @- [+ ~) J
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity " k b6 d* \: z: M2 y: t1 A
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
& c: T4 I& z) B5 o% \, Q Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go & p6 A9 N# ?: Q, x! ?: w
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! % a- N8 P* z- |* V3 j9 l# O
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! 5 e& F! U6 t; @4 I$ O' V6 l
Food names:
|9 ^: p; K5 P' v7 x) N& T1 a 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake / n$ e$ a, M) w8 S) K. Y7 O
团圆饭 family reunion dinner 2 J, l; n& k# p7 E. H& p; E: G* P& D! \
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve ! K( T. Q }' n1 [0 z+ |
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli 8 E, g+ F& [' _% [7 P
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
1 }3 ^, t! L U4 Q' f) C" G5 V 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding ; Z C2 j8 `+ H6 _
糖果盘 candy tray: 5 R0 N7 b1 M" z% c. Q; k/ S
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune & c; D! l$ W0 m2 L, l4 }" H9 R
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
" _. m( B6 K3 \% k' _ 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity . c4 c _) g; s, p! `1 A/ e
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
+ v$ j& m U9 v/ Y 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come ( e8 H3 @5 N' b
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
! ~5 [; p, g, t 红枣 red dates - prosperity
5 o9 g9 q4 V/ T4 j( `5 n/ W# r 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00