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Spring Festival Words 4 p1 |. V2 t+ U( H( T0 U1 k8 |
Greeting Season: 4 ?# o) b2 i% t, o" h) h
春节 The Spring Festival 2 K3 y3 l {. l' Q% H/ Z
农历 lunar calendar
4 t9 C4 H7 o7 S" {# D7 ^" W- t; H 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar 6 r# w- U+ |2 R& J$ p/ q
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
' x; v6 J+ M8 R& m 初一 the beginning of New Year
! H; O0 Q8 X7 K5 ?( D# o3 z 元宵节 The Lantern Festival & h: w" e9 H8 e! h6 V9 i
Customs: 5 f1 o; b, J% U- d
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival 8 C' P( r P9 o1 k/ U
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry 7 w: P7 v5 X3 B1 u6 ?& ~ I( [
春联 Spring Festival couplets
! D8 f# M Z3 _5 X) E, Z9 u- g 剪纸 paper-cuts ( l; p# ^; f% s# k" H( G6 ~1 G
年画 New Year paintings ' f+ K1 F' W8 x* Z5 R6 Z6 R
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping 9 c0 N4 n0 K4 [7 Z4 G I* H
敬酒 propose a toast
8 R; U. l- m5 w9 h" ]" A5 h 灯笼 lantern: a portable light
3 f/ E3 r5 ?. n. H 烟花 fireworks 5 u6 U: {' h+ }
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) 5 W" Q# @" ]" ~9 A
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) ( W8 L3 D6 Y4 C$ z; J' m3 I" e
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) * B9 @* y5 p* m8 p7 N1 Z+ T# F
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
$ D) }9 {# K7 k4 r0 v' D: C+ `4 J 戏曲 traditional opera ' n7 Q. P+ m+ u0 @6 { R- B
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
+ M' U6 R: W, ~ 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
- P( D/ b" K3 W7 Z+ Q" p 灯会 exhibit of lanterns 0 @1 T- o0 l; ]; E( ^2 T( ]2 y5 a
守岁 staying-up ' W* d: G) i2 t3 G- e
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
0 N/ l' \' D$ x 禁忌 taboo
6 ^4 b/ P; a/ j4 r& C- `* w$ ~) e 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune * I: v# w8 J6 F b
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors # A5 S% |: Z M" E" i4 J
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift # U6 E, N' E0 Z" Z! r
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
3 f& x: S4 x7 L' R$ X 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
8 S- `9 h4 Y, a. _4 r. l+ M 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
2 F, }2 E4 B2 } Blessing: $ G1 Q8 V0 ]1 O0 c
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity . Y7 \9 N. m) Q
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace 5 ~2 U4 K9 Y: u! _9 r
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go 5 q, t2 i; U( x* n _
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! % C& b0 _. K$ B7 t
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! , D5 Q2 @' t+ U9 ?( v7 Y* A# X" h
Food names:
' `9 X4 J9 ^+ u8 ` 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
" b7 e% |. h- y% \/ ? 团圆饭 family reunion dinner " O: V# m1 c, a' x1 E( Y
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve 8 N" t K7 z$ x& ~# Z
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli $ l* @( m3 `. A7 o
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
( k% x* K8 F) ] 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding , U' A; b# H2 H8 J- ?3 |- J
糖果盘 candy tray: c2 A+ P5 Y E- G" D4 u
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune 6 X6 c; M0 w2 m$ U" V
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
8 o f+ U. G, g8 t 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity . S% l3 R h5 _; e( g
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
( c: t" n& m. N 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come $ r- U/ H# G# N: N
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship $ W9 P; h3 u9 j3 Z
红枣 red dates - prosperity 5 k. X$ g6 |* `8 d' h5 ]6 P
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00