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Spring Festival Words
_4 T J3 `# @. q5 Y Greeting Season: 3 m, F& z0 E! P% G* J' J8 z
春节 The Spring Festival
! o/ L {/ _% Y$ l: H$ i2 c 农历 lunar calendar
+ r1 H, o Z }7 o) w# W' v 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
$ [1 i4 Y+ S: u; s; r 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year # x. l- ~) T0 U* b& u4 b
初一 the beginning of New Year ' [- n5 V; }& S8 a7 a9 f* h
元宵节 The Lantern Festival . n t0 g& V7 f& r, | C9 N
Customs:
$ d0 ~. c6 R8 k; F 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
# H# U7 E" @7 k- M$ O 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
! G% V. c) {" Z: Y 春联 Spring Festival couplets
6 w9 W+ Q: p' r0 l; ~; v5 K 剪纸 paper-cuts
! W* S' K3 L7 M6 w; l7 X 年画 New Year paintings
0 u) D0 d6 |/ X {0 D V+ w9 S 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
% w/ `1 f. D6 `2 p 敬酒 propose a toast & a. Q2 H- X" t. M5 b, P+ y
灯笼 lantern: a portable light 1 }6 o0 o8 |5 _9 y3 j
烟花 fireworks ' U1 b+ u8 _, B. B# I
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) ( I% Y8 B0 T& [5 M3 q9 _1 S
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
: s5 Z1 V9 o; @; z- T$ y 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) 3 t' I3 e: @& C! w
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
$ b: P' u6 l4 A3 K; G" M: B0 G. [ 戏曲 traditional opera
1 k/ H! L& ~# q2 F$ ^# R 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville 6 v1 j) I4 v5 c) v- o* G
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
" ]# _8 D) l- ^: s 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
& z' a* k7 I1 \' m 守岁 staying-up
! p9 Z: O0 \7 `' K `' j 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
! d/ {/ p/ g% ]% }4 j1 K0 Y* ^' [% p 禁忌 taboo
/ _0 f$ @+ @6 \1 e/ i7 V 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune K, I! B4 a$ E2 Z
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
7 U. P% D w. r 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
+ I4 N) b4 i3 x. ~2 @0 C* i/ b/ C 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
; h! s& H" p; r: E+ l3 @ 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year + V# `% `$ x& K2 h* L
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
5 Q0 M* f4 k( v9 r5 I$ c7 y Blessing:
# ?% F6 n- T9 d7 N; T Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 6 o7 L/ R8 n/ ~. y- t
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
, Y1 X9 q) a- ` Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go ) K9 x% o7 r3 Q2 Q- U! w
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
3 A0 n- T5 h& v6 N/ f; l; ? Q 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! : |0 O, H0 r, H0 s( u- q) j
Food names:
' Y6 h( u& R9 g 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake $ |! D+ h8 d* L f3 j, e
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
+ W" v7 j6 t {7 q5 H1 K) q 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve & J& T/ S1 A" E! e0 |
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
1 l/ Q0 E I9 G 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
6 R4 y' ]2 I2 v, e3 Q3 Y 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
: s( N! n! S0 T9 x: ?. x 糖果盘 candy tray:
& a. A7 y! i, W( n/ |4 X9 w 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune * U+ P- y8 {) p; G
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
$ ?* s$ g- a1 E' I 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity 9 q' A6 g& ^8 Q' ~" S
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
' q3 A6 B6 q B6 ` 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come , I [+ A8 I" y: d4 t/ `9 f
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship 0 {2 E1 G) p/ [3 u4 d
红枣 red dates - prosperity ; z! N+ U4 }) i* U F
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00