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Spring Festival Words
( m$ u0 W4 w; B Greeting Season:
4 P3 Q2 n/ N# r4 h; n0 ] 春节 The Spring Festival
7 T* M( E7 z# R' u" X6 U. D3 n 农历 lunar calendar
# g1 M1 V5 ] `4 p6 r9 l$ k& V$ a 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar # p( Y' t S/ b
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year 5 V' S$ N: I3 q" z
初一 the beginning of New Year
- Z+ g# y1 a0 K1 M7 r1 S5 u$ y 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
% A1 u# V: \+ j Customs: q4 I, }) m' L; j3 n* N
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival # T- X0 z, M* W
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
* U/ c4 g0 o$ k( ?4 k# a# s2 F$ \+ ^6 S 春联 Spring Festival couplets
5 F2 N1 C" V+ }- Y 剪纸 paper-cuts 0 h# }! _8 i: m1 I* H
年画 New Year paintings - y$ d8 Q% w) Q3 Q4 o
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping % ^( J; Q& c1 X/ E1 ?# L9 i
敬酒 propose a toast
8 b: v% }: R6 H5 i3 O/ |3 V# Z } 灯笼 lantern: a portable light 9 L( D1 ^" g/ Y9 S
烟花 fireworks ; x3 d; h( X# d7 f8 T5 v% m2 G# Y1 Z
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) 9 X* s( j* |" q% g8 L3 M& ]
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) # ?$ J6 |! ?3 ]; [" V% R
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
0 D0 | j9 m7 [ r/ W8 \ \ 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
: J( r9 I* v3 D 戏曲 traditional opera + ?( h8 S: D7 k+ K' F9 p
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
8 s/ n! Y4 E6 ~6 a2 L; q6 ]2 M 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns ( ^, q. Z; G/ L; ^/ s1 Y
灯会 exhibit of lanterns 2 b8 y2 N/ G' t9 i( ^8 \* B: F m4 L
守岁 staying-up
) R" E. G: W( L* v1 V( X% w 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
3 O' C6 r% D. X1 n& _ 禁忌 taboo
$ W" ?/ {+ k) @4 D0 @ 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune , y. Q& L9 l* P+ V
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors 1 M+ |4 j- I% c
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift 1 c; x, U5 F* J Z7 t: v( D
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 4 b0 m0 w1 V6 m% Q8 I1 m: l
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
& S( F& y3 W" K: a: s d) A1 W 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning & v( s+ x! p% e! l* M: x) h5 F) V
Blessing:
: w4 z% `4 a) q2 s- d9 C$ I: p Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity " ?- Q8 t4 Z) p. U4 A. m
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
* v& H; i$ e3 M. [& a Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
6 ?& ~) G- Z# ~- x5 }1 x3 P7 v, ^8 t 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! * y5 i3 B# \) L& [' g0 T( w& }" r
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! ' ^% g: k& n# X$ l
Food names: ; u+ A+ [3 e! P) @2 s4 Z& O8 {
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
/ i7 V0 G+ i( ~8 } 团圆饭 family reunion dinner # t$ o9 F+ Z% _1 |4 ]1 Y4 D# g4 H
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve % W2 a1 D) o7 W7 P# O# {
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli 1 n" d! c, y$ {
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
% B6 B# }( m4 A4 I$ u- N 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding * B8 J5 u$ U1 D* {
糖果盘 candy tray: 7 m) D0 o+ H( b% l. z: L
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
+ ]- s3 d) r, T. T; }' @8 m 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
8 s% z8 l9 c) r9 r2 y* Q 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity ! ~% k- i6 V6 r5 V5 Q
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
( ^% d0 ?4 R% U) u0 u 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come : Q% W3 \! c' X5 o3 y; a' j
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship " `5 e* U) M' u
红枣 red dates - prosperity - T' o- i h# {1 l6 p
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00