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Spring Festival Words
2 r6 F5 s, q" E Greeting Season: . j, a/ Q9 m/ |+ S' I
春节 The Spring Festival
9 z1 ?# B& _# D9 d 农历 lunar calendar 2 N1 z% ]! [' Y6 n
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar - k. y; G: ?- q6 o" t0 ?
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year 6 s4 {6 m4 h8 p. w( i
初一 the beginning of New Year
9 D+ J+ `! @+ ]6 ]7 v n: X 元宵节 The Lantern Festival / |0 o/ y) k8 \6 W7 u4 h) v/ w
Customs: $ I! x! Y1 v$ c
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival 5 F U/ h" g4 P% v" @ O+ H
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
* M$ V8 q* n2 l3 x 春联 Spring Festival couplets
: c* V& i. L3 a3 m0 p 剪纸 paper-cuts
% f! s0 k) X5 G% ?& Y 年画 New Year paintings 6 s9 O" F$ f G1 ]
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping : c. j' w( M( n
敬酒 propose a toast
7 b X# I' V% V' n4 t6 @ 灯笼 lantern: a portable light
- ]+ p/ `2 B) D. {: s4 { 烟花 fireworks & {- L" C' s6 W
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) ( y4 u. U5 S& F- q- z" ~
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
0 \0 R0 V5 H) i$ T( S0 ?* S5 _! F 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
) f$ g1 L: C. y! B$ J+ U 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) # s$ g k' A% `/ _. J+ U1 V
戏曲 traditional opera / T1 }1 O8 c# T
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville ( V9 J* q ~0 a. R
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns ! u" e8 e/ G2 ~3 }: P
灯会 exhibit of lanterns & B* N7 t) T, n
守岁 staying-up
- U" P0 b2 E" u# d( H% N 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit ) a4 I/ d1 ^+ U4 }9 p
禁忌 taboo
9 [% K8 A7 v- j( E: y) ? 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune % W' i( S" G$ k- m5 A/ Q
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors . ~) Z# ` o. d
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
8 g+ A7 k+ M0 D& b N s. J 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 2 H- y- c% u1 s6 {' u
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year 2 u' S( V0 X# Y8 n* _
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning 0 Z: t& X+ j/ y5 @! [2 J" N
Blessing:
X: y1 p6 J% _2 v Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity @) X, r' S# L0 R2 c
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
! t$ U+ F3 k7 e8 k Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go 8 \$ M* F$ f7 Y W# k7 n6 [
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
5 F& ~4 X9 I/ I& V! j W5 J0 B' [ 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! r" u7 F( ~3 c
Food names:
2 M) m5 a1 x {* V 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
2 W. K4 h$ i! i 团圆饭 family reunion dinner 9 h6 | H9 Y( l7 o' Z
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
! _% H- a r+ j& O6 V' @* Z 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
+ C0 G5 A, `0 C 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings * B: X0 O, w% G, `
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding " M2 j9 q1 r1 _' q) `& L, q
糖果盘 candy tray: ! t( B: z P" F( Q
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
9 S% l, }# E4 u+ \! Z 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health ) H6 H7 r( l8 n6 ]" }1 Z# E
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
3 i4 l; `- I& E 金桔 cumquat - prosperity - U3 x" O$ B& A! i7 |0 g
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come ; `; W, Q* q3 r4 v2 {& B
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
! h z7 Z8 E6 t$ o3 \( p 红枣 red dates - prosperity 2 E* |2 B0 X$ N! Q
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00