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Spring Festival Words
) G! L- C# t7 Y3 Z$ `5 q Greeting Season: S5 ]% `& f* {2 l
春节 The Spring Festival
. \: r; A5 J, d. m% m: l 农历 lunar calendar
$ R- X9 M! r" E. M8 H& v, Q 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar ! H( J n4 L/ \- E: f1 j7 O1 f
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year # I- K4 A3 _2 B8 A; J& K( V, U
初一 the beginning of New Year 5 |) x, e; l1 c
元宵节 The Lantern Festival
8 y/ C% O; X# b Customs:
; \* |# M& ?( B3 U7 q 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival 0 b' ]& n% h( q, E
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry u/ x- L- Q' m- V) n
春联 Spring Festival couplets , x2 Y' u/ U. _
剪纸 paper-cuts
2 B& D6 F+ }8 M- e/ G7 B7 c) @ 年画 New Year paintings
; ^# `! G: |% C2 P" g& @( P 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping " O( P3 c6 E/ N& q3 T1 w
敬酒 propose a toast 7 t* v, U. j& e# R
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
# C. N) C$ v1 u n7 H0 r% \: ^; } 烟花 fireworks
L& J3 u, y6 Q& U5 B& F Y 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) % ] {( V* O3 m: u- M% K+ M7 a
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) # h, Z! X/ i5 O2 J0 }
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
1 b9 K% d0 s# p& {0 T X& A 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
4 f4 l1 M0 [* v7 s* O 戏曲 traditional opera $ A% i' y# S& D) B* U
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville 1 {1 }" L$ z; \2 X( }( _0 @) {9 t. a
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
% ?3 j5 \$ o. w+ A8 d2 I9 @ 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
8 M" K6 g# l( `* @4 c5 d 守岁 staying-up
' K3 U$ F9 @) ?& _, w: U0 { 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
* a" m/ N9 K. ]& d5 |' G/ r 禁忌 taboo
' G( \2 T8 s7 h8 Q 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune 8 q* p w9 N* }6 T
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors 3 Q8 h/ n( x% Q: v( g5 _8 P X
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
1 Y K, |6 u( W" Z 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
) v; D" _$ D- u$ k3 Q+ B# ~% L/ L 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year 2 k i4 q" w1 L
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
$ [7 M: J6 G8 x% B, c Blessing:
+ o4 |! `) h5 J# F9 b' E; ` Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 9 D6 V2 [) c0 S
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
1 e: x: V3 S: A5 k Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
. b$ @* ~) n* Y, V& t9 K 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
7 g# m. Z) G0 s0 h9 |4 S 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! . L$ K$ i5 \8 k
Food names:
6 y& P9 ~& ~9 x3 e 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
P4 t) x9 a# i 团圆饭 family reunion dinner
& R3 Q. @1 X: K$ x 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve * D- _% k( B/ [+ T
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli 0 ?' K, |$ _" s" u8 Q
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
* v9 M% K' y# `9 E0 W4 y! ~* N 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding 6 B4 b3 U5 ~ T# ?6 n! ^
糖果盘 candy tray: " |4 _9 z0 C2 d4 j9 Y' E3 `
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune * D9 r. n, U! h+ X/ L
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
0 j$ E& e5 _+ ?, H3 t 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity 0 @+ a5 B: B, n7 L$ t! e
金桔 cumquat - prosperity 3 a* {8 T4 G" R3 h$ n
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
- ?( k$ }+ E G! N3 n 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship , a m- m& q4 E9 U( I7 e
红枣 red dates - prosperity " s& {: z8 g7 x; o4 p. f9 M
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00