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Spring Festival Words
/ m e' n+ Z. ? Greeting Season:
7 C E& @7 f9 }) H, a 春节 The Spring Festival
7 |& g- f! H- t7 i 农历 lunar calendar ; N$ A" j/ ~6 l$ g9 w1 w$ j k
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
6 r* F4 J% b' o 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
% f `8 ~. |$ S* [2 c9 A- y 初一 the beginning of New Year
" U+ ], J) M! e! g0 z' K 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
9 u, t6 N( D$ L# q Customs: f7 s& R. I5 q- C. F- B0 V( J
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival - V0 ~! G9 r4 a% E7 U
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry 1 u5 w- ?% F! |0 `7 t' \
春联 Spring Festival couplets
: c/ Y, S& ~6 p2 H% E' o 剪纸 paper-cuts
& y; r3 a6 i. g2 D1 s% u 年画 New Year paintings 4 a+ x$ r2 @, ^& E- a2 P& G* S, r
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
" B( x4 { p+ A* S% H8 G6 R% r 敬酒 propose a toast
8 I+ V! K5 c2 O8 a! W 灯笼 lantern: a portable light
+ X; G) L8 k$ f% f! o ]' Z+ D 烟花 fireworks / C& O9 |& T. t- x
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
* l7 O: h0 N4 S- y& p4 W 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
: j# p* _( a1 ^6 U" f 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
& K( ^9 g4 J8 v. Y 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
A: r* w& H; H) K 戏曲 traditional opera
3 y" L* M) C! t/ L6 Z 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville " r' K- K4 Z9 e5 n
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns + t( o7 a4 q- p5 ]; M1 m) P
灯会 exhibit of lanterns / ]: b ^: R; t; y2 s
守岁 staying-up - [* F: V- n+ a' a& X: W, M; H
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit ! G( @. o2 d* ^6 L" d0 z, i4 v
禁忌 taboo 7 J3 Q. ?8 c$ X$ {( h& H- z
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune * P2 Y5 h7 k! x1 P% u5 S0 `$ o! R- d
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors 6 r2 y7 }6 X8 l; Z8 G
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
' s- o8 b/ g; [- q) {. ~6 t) q 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 5 m. K- y# e; @2 c ] ]: ~6 L
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
! ?: \$ j6 j; ?5 j3 h8 }- j 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
; E, k9 q9 Z) O: l Blessing: 6 B C5 }1 [! N+ J
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 5 B! Q. _: n( q
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace ( }' g& q* Y% J
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go / M* U* b& t; L: A, E" ?, x9 ~
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! - k. _# r a- d; R( t4 |! X$ }4 o
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! 0 ]# N: h% a0 O- e1 P, b
Food names: , P! j& F( Y4 c" c' i: F, ]9 P6 {. E
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
! Z0 @3 o6 o1 q, Z9 u 团圆饭 family reunion dinner 5 P3 W* c. d. d( l; {
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve 8 X0 n) [0 F$ R2 M' T4 [( N2 S
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli " C( c% L- E$ N* d% w: N! K
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
/ |% G. L% Q, L0 g# L/ _, N1 } 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
) V5 U! H1 K' k$ ~1 t: M 糖果盘 candy tray:
5 q8 L! y- R( B. a6 I# X) Z6 U: G' s* O 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
3 @' v) N3 `0 X5 Z3 m 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
q7 K$ H9 E! Z1 p 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity 1 K% Q$ W* I/ I
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
0 @1 @2 Z% q4 H* I4 f [* {* J 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come + r# f# t0 A& m9 q6 ]! m5 v
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
* {4 X$ r0 m, w 红枣 red dates - prosperity
$ l, o# o+ ]. \* D, m- B 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00