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Spring Festival Words
4 N- u/ t8 K0 x Greeting Season:
- J/ y( a0 `1 F2 s; K I% m7 X 春节 The Spring Festival
" p1 B+ P4 l0 ^, ^1 \! l* C 农历 lunar calendar 3 J0 G" z1 Z3 ^9 R- d
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar 4 ^. |: D5 d5 j% h
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
5 K/ @+ K, M2 F3 k. g. J% k9 g 初一 the beginning of New Year
( a3 |5 k6 u: G/ k) K 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
6 T6 l7 }$ I, C3 v4 f- l Customs: % o0 D: x4 S0 y3 b0 k
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival * L; E/ G1 s- Y( E6 t
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry ( b8 C; i$ U5 N
春联 Spring Festival couplets
7 l1 s h2 `# N4 N) t; I' j 剪纸 paper-cuts
! S0 ]9 y1 i0 j( B 年画 New Year paintings 8 A) \2 w5 Q# G6 h0 ?
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
- Y+ h" y" P" [+ n) l( {$ P 敬酒 propose a toast
; O' o; z3 h" y, {' a4 F) Q 灯笼 lantern: a portable light
7 H) @0 y4 P2 G 烟花 fireworks
% q8 Y& u" R9 Y+ n0 w4 c 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
! A# x! W6 ]/ Y! w; H0 Q 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
, V- J' g) K! `* N3 O5 _ 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) . ]: }. S8 d5 b. \! `
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) . @! x/ ?$ M k _8 H y5 ?
戏曲 traditional opera 2 l8 l0 w/ k# }# X1 ?
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville 0 T7 G5 K0 [) @5 P: t, J7 ?! V0 V
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
0 r2 z, B) F& @0 B; t 灯会 exhibit of lanterns . n) i2 c. q" _% \
守岁 staying-up
3 T$ `+ \; ^7 ^* }- u+ x 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
1 g; U0 W) Y3 ? Q: v 禁忌 taboo j; v0 Y- ]" ^: y, q. D8 R
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune ' D3 J7 U5 U$ d# I1 w" Q0 m# i3 A1 b
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
3 l3 z$ |5 ?: O: k% F( i' q 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
M- V8 T1 \! c8 i3 f 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 ; @3 q' \* a$ j9 N" K
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
, R% R- I. p- g0 T o7 t% N7 `. T9 F 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning : ]0 z& k. T. i8 B# z8 X/ w
Blessing: . ^- ~ b5 ^( T' y* ?- D
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity % g) |% T' L. c' z; D
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace 4 Z$ O( {) B% g8 `
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go ) y% V) |+ ^* A- f* U+ c
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
6 Y: P' m3 q* ~* l5 T. l7 D2 r) W 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
- U5 ~+ `0 A, [7 ?: \ Food names:
" I3 x9 o& n& A9 ~ 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake , }( |& y* K+ q4 F" R+ e& O
团圆饭 family reunion dinner 0 r, J x; v2 N; [% W; c2 X& ^
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
/ {# p5 Q! O& L% k 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli . O1 ]5 ]! u8 i8 v; y8 ]. n
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
# N5 E5 q# F4 g$ }+ R 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
" Y: {) G$ {6 \4 m 糖果盘 candy tray:
c" g; J9 Q) V1 q4 J/ }' A. y 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
$ E. y% h$ ?- h8 J# ?, ~ 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health & u' e7 |1 s6 E( }/ }
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
0 m; s5 U- k. u- N 金桔 cumquat - prosperity * j/ s" g7 k# A0 _
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
- ]% ^8 |$ \5 \( H3 Z' i% O2 @ 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship 5 C5 e& `2 L" k" W# o
红枣 red dates - prosperity " Y( J9 S1 B2 W# g. x
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00