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Spring Festival Words $ d% u& k% X; ^5 f. {1 Y) O; n3 |
Greeting Season:
/ U3 _9 E. H7 S/ P% X( T 春节 The Spring Festival
* ]9 a- H% m2 O& k+ \3 h 农历 lunar calendar
0 F, R8 m9 P3 e/ q5 b 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar $ o; k2 s9 X9 i, f% P! p
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year 0 i; P6 m9 a2 B2 t0 t: _
初一 the beginning of New Year 4 k) t5 Y, z) I4 J" U; P- N
元宵节 The Lantern Festival
3 x8 i7 o% W3 u6 \* W" q Customs:
$ a* [4 r, g# K$ W/ R 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
6 g/ J- |3 X' [" L! h% K 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
4 D' |/ ^+ J" _1 e0 | 春联 Spring Festival couplets
4 H# J5 S$ \+ ~9 ?6 F/ b 剪纸 paper-cuts
N8 F# S( o p* d. U 年画 New Year paintings / o: }) L1 g, @; J
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping 5 e% R, p& x, F3 c% K& ^" d3 z C1 m
敬酒 propose a toast
& K; j" V; q [0 b 灯笼 lantern: a portable light : R2 r7 e" X% }* Q; w4 I
烟花 fireworks : A, M! }4 p; O
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) + H2 G1 G8 S5 [% L: l. e% l0 b
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) - F; z0 S: q' Z0 {3 c
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) & A/ Y4 t- j/ v+ H* K
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) 6 q6 V3 ^, x9 E7 L! E M
戏曲 traditional opera
+ d1 |* j) j1 v7 l' O3 s+ Z 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
7 [' S. A" A+ x1 N 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns ! K5 A9 I# d+ q/ T ]: g; i8 R+ f
灯会 exhibit of lanterns
- L; t" z* b5 O6 q' j 守岁 staying-up ' a0 `1 k, ` A% g
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit 9 X) ?2 f' o( {% f* `' u
禁忌 taboo ! A4 D8 A b& n) ~2 j
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
" U0 e7 @8 p b 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
7 m& l3 M U( P7 q; w& y 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
, w: g, E p6 X$ E1 B# R 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 t9 f" D! \2 T* l" P* V- ~( e
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year . v$ L0 v# B9 Q( x v8 N
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
# B, _) Y9 M1 P, J- G, v Blessing:
) q) z. U" ~' M7 P! ~/ B Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
4 o# V! F5 n/ z1 x Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace ; B2 O p3 z; J6 d0 z! \5 i
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go ' e; Q* {% f9 ?' p4 f
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
8 f: u' U6 O) ^! i0 |8 J: \ 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! 3 a. m( _5 v6 \3 |( F8 w
Food names:
; D* P; c) i. w9 r$ ~6 Y 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake 7 F3 A7 A9 P# i2 @* C
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
/ X. J- N/ U" h7 y6 K 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve 8 g+ b8 {/ c+ s, F9 z
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
$ S! X% {9 \1 w9 W* j 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings 7 m6 i6 u1 n% C( Z
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding 5 x4 [0 p" s: ^7 Y7 \( S/ S7 u
糖果盘 candy tray:
/ b% x" c4 ?2 g 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune # d: U* ~ O+ X3 ~$ e
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health 2 Z6 D5 \4 r. h
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity " N& S2 E7 O! l
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
. u8 }# \' B. ~8 `2 _ 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
/ R+ P! V+ @& z% S 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
4 R0 h; J$ ^+ d1 D* y6 a 红枣 red dates - prosperity ; H6 t0 p( a; p, y# y' P
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00