|
Spring Festival Words
7 t; M1 ? Z( Y" t Greeting Season:
% t4 S% P6 i/ K- w 春节 The Spring Festival $ u: _$ ]2 c( ~
农历 lunar calendar
' _7 K3 r) |) z$ e0 o 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
9 j0 j @: H { 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year , [1 u4 V, v$ Z6 C0 P. {1 {
初一 the beginning of New Year
& g0 h' p! O) k; y2 Q6 h1 i 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
5 I, ~( f2 k' ]. ^4 I8 k Customs:
& e: C5 q3 U% m 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival ! w; }& z8 C! X m7 v
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry / b$ d8 \" v. @6 M; c
春联 Spring Festival couplets
7 M# h! Z0 A+ V! Z' H8 K+ E 剪纸 paper-cuts
: x+ R) c5 k# \% V0 p$ H( c/ ] 年画 New Year paintings ; ~9 ^' k$ @ Q9 b# z+ k2 ]
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
% ]9 n4 f, F: @2 {/ s; P 敬酒 propose a toast
9 `& U8 B- m% s9 J3 x 灯笼 lantern: a portable light 2 v7 |' o9 ]) X% [7 {
烟花 fireworks
- ]0 K \! N3 J9 L4 D1 w5 M( ` 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
8 f' G( X9 T4 q: w, g$ \ 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
2 u/ X( z; u! r8 F7 A+ W 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) + u5 {) Z$ i& E) F, o
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) e* Y. C" i1 D2 N
戏曲 traditional opera % O- x9 i* ], b. }4 m3 d; v
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
* Z0 r( K& L' W! W$ X 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
1 r% a' Q! {6 {/ P 灯会 exhibit of lanterns + `; d1 V9 _) A) s
守岁 staying-up
2 r* C8 j5 ~4 U+ r3 m 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
7 U5 M- x) ?$ C! D4 j 禁忌 taboo 0 ^. A- V3 Y% [% C R
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune , ~5 ~/ i5 C& a0 M
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
! J. n) t$ w4 T) o$ l, V% X8 J 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift 5 a7 p! s3 ]8 L0 h) J+ \/ O
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 1 Z& O# p! l0 |) t# ^$ H
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year 1 d7 O8 q8 }' C3 O1 A
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning 4 C+ o( a, D7 P# ^! ^
Blessing: 4 v- k% l; ^/ d5 P4 D
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 2 i& W3 s, V' C& g, F$ ]
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
, r3 g. S+ S4 A1 e/ J Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go ! H9 B" K1 [) k, h; b
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
+ a: z* e. u% _; A$ J6 c ] 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
. U" c* H# Q5 \. V Food names:
$ ~4 J& U0 _5 @0 z 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
0 [+ }( W8 z. Y3 x) s 团圆饭 family reunion dinner ; D ]0 c( k6 x; g" w
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve " w! w: ~4 l. ?
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli : ]6 x8 F y# R2 A) s
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings % h: ]& h; b7 H& _# V, y0 E2 s% _
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
3 o3 S' S9 C, e( |/ V, C 糖果盘 candy tray:
) F; W1 Q# `; j6 [7 V0 K& v 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
6 a: k9 h; q. \7 H; H' P# ~7 B 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
! m! E1 X& i+ O# C$ `( w6 U6 t 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
! h) g* V3 g' h( a. V+ V M F 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
/ d2 x9 D4 b# y& w2 e 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come * d ?5 C7 t: @6 h5 ?% m
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship : J. b' ?) L4 v; Q
红枣 red dates - prosperity ( h# u/ ~( i9 R. I- i1 v
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00