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Spring Festival Words
/ e9 N) H" a; P. J Greeting Season:
# g3 g4 `4 _; l+ Q# q7 R P5 ^0 S 春节 The Spring Festival
* I" f- _) s- c' `3 U1 | d7 o# W# v; H 农历 lunar calendar
- O6 [) I% }1 \5 n0 X0 X! s1 V6 j) A 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar # @: Y+ x. @0 J; R+ I* N+ g2 Q
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
* X' N- v" t9 x4 h# {( E/ i, e 初一 the beginning of New Year
# L7 b; e, \. c, H3 y 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
2 u" L& S+ r" Q+ v1 }0 p/ T5 C, q U Customs:
$ \- I0 i4 w, T 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
7 x3 O7 L$ x# k9 B2 q) e 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
0 g' U. s' T' z% ?) g; b 春联 Spring Festival couplets
6 ~0 G7 ~% @2 }' T2 i3 Y. T 剪纸 paper-cuts 3 w: F9 W; }/ n4 g- c2 Y% h
年画 New Year paintings + j# a1 c. e" D; x7 [0 u
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
& A, X7 Y- ~" [ 敬酒 propose a toast 5 n; P. B4 J3 I
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
6 h+ x" x$ z) M4 ~+ H: c9 H" ` 烟花 fireworks
) P& _# K3 I) p, `$ d1 G 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
- P. v0 Q9 X5 l1 ?. H 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) & B- p0 C% s: X
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
, y. p; ~% a3 F0 V 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
; x+ J ^8 U( A. O: I 戏曲 traditional opera
% j# M) Q+ Z% } 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
$ y; w% @( w6 Z9 q$ n& ^ 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
3 p0 U0 H0 e) ~- N- _0 U 灯会 exhibit of lanterns % k, e& g, Y4 G2 t, X
守岁 staying-up
+ z+ J& t! f& y' G( {- x 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
0 @8 Y4 i9 I+ N+ @6 ]$ i 禁忌 taboo
6 N) P _+ W G# b" R' V% h; w 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
1 B( I8 _' A% ]0 o2 q 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors 1 a: U9 e( M7 i- B7 ^5 {0 |7 l
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
8 [" H! |" Q, o9 h' g/ |6 \% @: V 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 D0 A6 s; y2 S! v' F 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
- E4 K- k2 L- T1 o3 B( Q" ~ 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
* g4 X7 G$ n& S8 { Blessing:
& U: x# C1 E/ Z) f. T2 y Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity $ D# O' O1 Q& M- Y/ q
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
. o. h2 n9 e) ]8 j Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
5 s/ H5 E; x" ?" j; `. R 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
$ F! g8 F2 D9 c5 l 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! 9 |6 _, J0 _8 J
Food names:
( w/ l) M6 E4 I; u4 e2 r 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake , c( C: G1 Y/ x: ~# G
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
/ C% u- P) Z4 o 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
( h% x4 R' ~2 p4 p; q L 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
# \* |9 D a3 L 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
4 \& B& O+ k# j+ Z8 P( b 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
* T, y9 j1 i" X' o' { 糖果盘 candy tray:
5 ~1 x. {+ p: [' J( u" B% E4 N 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune % p$ K& q0 n, K
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
* |8 \: |- Z: ]) z 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
2 [8 ^6 J& p; s9 I1 m! F1 [- W6 R1 S 金桔 cumquat - prosperity 6 O0 ?3 H) \7 C1 O! L5 C. V
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come ?0 M2 y- r; S j( M
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
9 }+ y4 x" x8 V( v \- D ]4 T 红枣 red dates - prosperity
0 e* X' ~: d- \3 ?' \; Y) R 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00