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Spring Festival Words " N" g) X6 X1 K8 m
Greeting Season: 9 F8 w2 s6 `% t# S* C/ u
春节 The Spring Festival / [) _3 ?$ f, ]* c0 Y, F$ f \
农历 lunar calendar
7 F! t8 ^3 _# |3 V+ c1 _ i& ^2 x; g 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar & }# k, c2 a. l
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
1 _( I$ `6 Y/ _+ f$ r 初一 the beginning of New Year * v+ y6 U* O# j+ k. A3 y& R/ h
元宵节 The Lantern Festival * O6 P3 Q3 v- n/ ~' x
Customs: ; b3 N& ~8 R8 Z6 u- M+ M) ]' x
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival 8 M6 u; r/ u p; P& Z' i2 D" ~1 @9 k4 [
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
# o6 u4 V, N% _: ^ 春联 Spring Festival couplets
0 O* E3 I. q* C4 g' ~, y- c8 w 剪纸 paper-cuts , k7 G) {4 o' ?& n3 q
年画 New Year paintings
% J; i2 Q/ A' i4 `- C- l, n 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
3 b+ U P q/ t; K" j 敬酒 propose a toast
$ ]: {* j" t* r+ M 灯笼 lantern: a portable light 8 ~# j( K. b' m
烟花 fireworks
) t( p ? d0 L4 k 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
( y+ D0 g3 e# t 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
9 N* C4 l* F( @: |% X/ x6 t5 N 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
* Z* ?( {% `& Y( V; p 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) % ` j& h# s. ^
戏曲 traditional opera ! D- w' I1 E- @3 c3 J; _/ m
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
S. C8 g2 X, D( A+ i 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
% A# I {, R( m1 P5 ]+ G4 n 灯会 exhibit of lanterns 3 t9 o' H, S& L" e( x: y& C
守岁 staying-up 0 `# i) ~0 e! @7 j4 [& A
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit , J5 x' r$ Z& T* N+ j! g: x
禁忌 taboo ! |- O7 A: w' m% s5 A
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune ' ~! ?! B4 [% N6 O" V6 A* z
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors - `4 m# G3 s; `: c
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
2 {& r& P/ z2 b* w1 T 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- r3 A4 \* W 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year / U6 q% t" |0 ~) i; x2 z
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning % f+ o8 |2 w' G, I6 ]
Blessing:
7 }" `( U0 m: }% u& O% f3 b5 q5 M Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 3 ^" V6 R0 u, X2 K) `
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace . a+ P: V' u: Z, N3 @( y( ^$ ~
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go 1 r( U2 u3 c9 `& ]1 i1 g3 o5 z- A w
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
# p$ B9 X* S% \ 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! ! H3 D# W' K, _2 `
Food names:
! e1 K/ F5 H+ ?! z* s 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake ' I9 w6 `5 t1 T0 |; _& ~% B$ V
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
5 @) X+ D4 B8 ^, y9 v0 n' t( ^ 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
# M+ {6 M/ o i( [: x* X 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli : t: p' {% S9 [/ g+ M5 o! o
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings 0 V9 z1 Z! O, E% A9 A3 R# f
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
5 F: n: `1 p; C& G# ~, v 糖果盘 candy tray: 0 b+ x1 O) u9 J* j2 Z# i
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune , q- I. s9 x/ a8 F1 N' h2 h( `
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
5 y7 x/ }% [- U; |. L- b 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
( c3 K& B! A: R0 ?/ w0 P 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
& u: f( m" A; {) D6 R 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come % R4 I5 S5 b: A8 d
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
; E2 a5 `) Y5 O 红枣 red dates - prosperity ) D6 C8 x( t0 z/ D: d7 E
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00