|
Spring Festival Words ( P/ g7 b/ @* \/ c2 K: P5 t5 e
Greeting Season: 6 `4 U( {$ _. Q: n. M8 o
春节 The Spring Festival " L# [: {5 e1 k6 q
农历 lunar calendar , l7 W5 v$ U. F# X4 u9 n
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar % h8 G7 S4 }, b7 Y+ V, r
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
" T9 y, V6 W7 ? 初一 the beginning of New Year
% v2 H5 h$ N! Z8 F 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
% `, n; p2 O3 W Customs: 7 z+ w& }8 g7 }
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
$ K8 s; {! S, a3 ]% m( J 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
y0 a* R R+ h) D. p- ~# @0 W$ m 春联 Spring Festival couplets 1 |/ W- ?0 w9 E" s" s6 d
剪纸 paper-cuts
$ m9 l+ S$ X0 c, k( o 年画 New Year paintings ) |3 y& I. T3 X
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
1 m; f" i- ^) r8 p' J 敬酒 propose a toast
- K4 S9 M' U$ v. Y! S; O0 O 灯笼 lantern: a portable light . @6 ~5 A2 S3 N+ ?
烟花 fireworks
7 m1 ~( D5 E2 ]3 y# ?8 V1 i1 P 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) # z: m3 t$ b5 u, Y
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
, b# P. t9 k7 c2 e 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
; W9 _( D/ c* i/ \9 s 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
% q, b6 V* X/ B+ b. Z w 戏曲 traditional opera % N3 Z, I- w# J
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville 1 T& q/ a3 E) V$ B8 R0 c7 W
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
8 \ n* p; n9 X 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
8 v6 R/ x0 {8 x! e& ]4 j+ D) j 守岁 staying-up
' ?: ? p ^+ m1 `" o 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
8 r# z& o; F$ y7 g0 A5 V 禁忌 taboo " J7 Y& N- M! ]6 q5 V: a
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
: z2 u. {/ C! w* l, L 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
0 @' I8 @; X( }+ i; y0 w. ^0 | 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
8 l, h M7 {" |% {% _" m1 ^ 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 . K8 Z7 i. T( i) g
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
* K$ p& s; z$ |" Y2 I! E: J 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
# M) h. [3 W7 D' k0 M Blessing:
* A1 h) _$ q, P! ^; z' ~ w' d, @6 ~ Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 2 W8 D1 T3 T! A& n7 {( P
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
! R6 f& r4 u% i5 V9 i Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go 8 w- i- Y3 k% \2 M; b1 x' N
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! 5 _# R6 f' k4 s. e$ A
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
0 G$ q% J& ?1 T2 Y Food names: 8 q4 O& i+ N- I& X
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake ' D: ?4 N4 Y- u6 l
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
3 F- t0 x3 W3 L+ h" R 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve 8 p1 K7 o2 W: ]6 T+ C
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
* @( X$ y% D' q- q6 x6 w4 U 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
5 k6 i- u9 \% q; `9 \% V- U 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
3 h& P3 x# ?( z! D. ` 糖果盘 candy tray:
* J$ i" Z- d$ ?- c) o' B- ]0 U: x 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune , X9 O& Y- P/ N! k3 h# `
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
! ?+ [6 i- h# @; m8 f 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity 1 P" Q# Y. ~3 U
金桔 cumquat - prosperity 5 ~ n: P* h7 n
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come 3 l9 w% u, V! |2 D. T7 [: t _
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
! Y7 W6 _9 a( P3 Y t 红枣 red dates - prosperity 4 n2 I( ^; I% M" S
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00