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Spring Festival Words ( }8 Z+ ]( H2 J* Z1 D! f
Greeting Season: 6 @3 U: x' {) a W. g# |) E1 Y
春节 The Spring Festival
9 j* P5 X1 C5 W0 L( _ 农历 lunar calendar
5 k/ }: o) }4 O4 O- s 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar $ F: L& f9 b! H9 L5 ~) W
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
' [7 L7 S( `$ H) E" d' ^- s 初一 the beginning of New Year
) W1 l1 G2 a0 R' h5 t 元宵节 The Lantern Festival 6 i1 f& `+ }" R6 z2 M( C
Customs: / e) G6 }5 T ?' D6 w* Q; N
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival ) T: }; x* r) D2 i" y& y ]
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry . R$ N% f) _% |0 y! A
春联 Spring Festival couplets o4 h4 M8 D w' J0 H; q( s
剪纸 paper-cuts
8 e) Z9 u! O* l; B' b } 年画 New Year paintings . `9 p) i. t" a- \8 s) V; p1 X
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
8 Q1 [; j1 d3 G* t2 v1 w2 G. [ 敬酒 propose a toast
% v3 d" x$ O6 d, [) K 灯笼 lantern: a portable light - f* f3 J; x G* x$ Q
烟花 fireworks
$ q3 c+ G8 E" Y% J 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) ) Y0 Y8 S; t! z7 R
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
2 @( t3 r; M- i' j 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
4 S% q8 X- E2 Y) T J, H3 {/ E$ z 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) 2 ~+ G+ V. m) Z3 l5 U. c5 u
戏曲 traditional opera 6 v! @3 N9 I8 `* M
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville 2 r9 J$ [9 m3 f% Z: ~ P
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns B+ }' K) ^: w
灯会 exhibit of lanterns 7 A3 J" z- u% g* U
守岁 staying-up
( V" e3 m1 P& {( z# d5 ^0 ^ 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit ' x# \, R4 R4 l, l
禁忌 taboo 6 V% m* V2 ? P6 ^ [
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
0 z1 x# O6 j) L. f0 w d; C 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
3 z) D$ ~/ J. E) ~# D1 m# f 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
. y4 m; w/ v' s4 v0 Y7 k$ S* k 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
( s7 c1 V, `" A& _8 u% N& d 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year & T/ X9 x1 H6 v9 S* A U) t% t
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning " W, c" l* U+ K0 T& j, ? f) @( O
Blessing: 8 T5 z; v7 J+ @% O) }
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity - _5 p8 O0 Y, M: _* m S
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace $ ]/ z3 y9 w) P9 G y, O5 R- W
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go 3 R" A. E* }, f9 T$ l; M
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! , |! d# l" B* j# q3 h
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
0 |0 e' ?2 g; o* @! p* n Food names: 0 m0 A1 I0 b d
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake ) g, Q. F B& U( O; E
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
$ Y8 \( Y: _! J 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve , `# I& v- k- H, w; O: o$ ~% |
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
: ?6 f. D2 k. A% G 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings ( y. A. \# H* w
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
6 h1 U f7 m6 a! Z4 I# a( J4 O 糖果盘 candy tray:
7 P6 n/ {# O! E! Q* _% q. j 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune + l$ j- x' K7 r. K1 Q" z
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
$ z: f5 c# G; M3 C 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity @) l- _6 w2 c+ f c
金桔 cumquat - prosperity ! s. ^& A& u" o+ R! ?$ K# E
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come * P9 D( c4 b/ n8 I n
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship & A; n) X/ }/ K: m0 Q
红枣 red dates - prosperity
0 ?) i( v( A, b$ L+ V- Q 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00