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Spring Festival Words - p! @! s% o6 T: }& c- A& O% M
Greeting Season: ; n# W A8 a! M: X+ Z$ a. G" I
春节 The Spring Festival
; w' f, G; d# B# q 农历 lunar calendar
+ h0 _0 J$ ]& g2 } 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
+ N u( r" y9 \5 b8 ] 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
]# Y0 o. Y& P# I1 K1 R, V$ I 初一 the beginning of New Year ) y8 c& Y# V1 e! o/ Z6 G( i4 b+ q
元宵节 The Lantern Festival
: N; X0 C% d: W6 o5 E' o Customs: ! ?- D) W# o# j0 @. v a) f( f
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival 2 `8 c4 k4 K" Z' b) r7 C
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry 3 {& s8 d0 Z" @: Z9 P! y; v' L
春联 Spring Festival couplets ' i7 N9 T w* L. H T! E/ f4 z* F
剪纸 paper-cuts
; N1 V# H4 U. R1 @, U 年画 New Year paintings ( M8 N- ]7 B# ?
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping ) b1 Q$ u Z- W$ q! P- _5 j3 x
敬酒 propose a toast * T! Y6 z, r$ O9 i; `
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
7 P7 Z6 T2 M6 A+ Y! f; \, [; I 烟花 fireworks 6 {6 V$ s) X1 G8 _, [" j* ?
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) + A: ^1 ~8 R% ~+ Y$ |. H8 I; y8 W
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
' V- m: O# N# m" Z8 D) t: z$ a, ? 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
7 n6 d9 ~2 v2 u4 X b" L 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) 3 V/ S2 i# J& e" R/ m' o
戏曲 traditional opera
$ e9 h( m$ \! W: d( R" C3 r 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
# k0 `* a, N6 X9 ]( y) q' l0 l+ H( a 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
, Z( y8 H& S6 V$ c3 o& Q 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
! C# k% Y- B* l9 `; B1 K5 ?; J 守岁 staying-up 3 Q; e1 g+ S0 }
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit 0 T9 D Q& y5 k% M& \
禁忌 taboo
. O8 Q3 x e }" X 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
. s4 i! E3 O3 m9 k' x 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
: |" O6 @$ \" h% b3 s: Q 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
1 m! }6 _# X# A9 P' K* ~# E9 d 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 2 ?' f, Y. Q- O5 f2 i
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
# m4 J2 k# F: }1 \ 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
' P& N0 Y* ]: J/ M. |2 t Blessing:
. m$ p/ L8 X/ R2 \3 R$ L! q4 x Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity {: x d" a; X, b
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
- G( ~6 M. H( D; B4 `5 O Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go # E2 n: G. [% E( a5 I% L
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
9 J/ }& T3 L) l, ?/ }( H$ Q% r' F7 b 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! # k3 k% i) G+ J7 i, {4 L
Food names:
+ `* n" l, N. [) B( J* u2 \8 O 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
8 A$ \8 p" @ R! S, I# X 团圆饭 family reunion dinner
% Q; D: a E, B( Q- [) o 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve ( J" Y. }, E' F& Z
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli * d0 R3 m$ f) M1 W- R
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
z4 }* |% V/ q& P# J# F5 p 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
/ O% D" A0 t, t% `& R" X* C) N: ^) p 糖果盘 candy tray: h5 n5 {% a7 a; t F5 D% ~" n
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune # i9 g+ U; o- t9 [* v
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health % q% @$ F x) M: G. K: t
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity 9 H4 m! D1 d8 P9 u4 s
金桔 cumquat - prosperity ! B7 b1 D$ p P) V( D# [
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come ! u3 w' Q7 `* _% s( }
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
" @0 c( w* h9 M0 t, N# B' r% Y 红枣 red dates - prosperity - }$ K) ]$ q7 b
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00