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Spring Festival Words
. [7 V8 ~: w, V3 o' h, o Greeting Season: ) o% \- U; Y# V# {
春节 The Spring Festival
1 p+ W- _4 s) b1 E1 |8 Q+ p 农历 lunar calendar
2 `4 a E0 R% Q# D! ?. g% |$ K4 U 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar , K; A4 M$ J% c, V/ e! ^4 M0 f5 W+ Q
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year $ S( Y5 Q5 @- v+ _5 D* P
初一 the beginning of New Year 6 x* z+ E* p' m' @, T
元宵节 The Lantern Festival
8 ]9 w1 i2 p9 _9 T5 V& N Customs:
' h( |( s/ n3 w' w 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
: H2 w9 c) d, k8 E6 B7 s 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
- n0 o& ~$ {* ^" H3 e$ P, ]; J 春联 Spring Festival couplets
% y0 ?2 d$ \# K$ ~ 剪纸 paper-cuts * T& M; E8 n& N( L* K' x
年画 New Year paintings
7 e* X: O9 k {- G2 E" }3 @ 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping + I" X' ?' h0 R
敬酒 propose a toast + W: I3 J7 A4 _: @1 M' R4 l1 z
灯笼 lantern: a portable light - L9 W0 y/ F( `- X2 y( v- r" Q
烟花 fireworks ' e3 n+ r# Q+ {1 j: {& s6 P
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) ' D. N! j0 q+ U
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) 8 M Q2 L) B! T. P4 F3 I
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
; n: Q$ B6 K2 N+ W& U$ H 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
1 X" N' y8 \# X" b) g# [5 R 戏曲 traditional opera
+ F3 i" i$ }' X 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
) G& {) M- R+ w h; S$ H Q 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
, y' k2 |' r& W( T8 o6 d 灯会 exhibit of lanterns 7 S$ D/ {" ^ C
守岁 staying-up & i# s# c( [8 r3 O
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
: l" M; W4 u8 E' s; C 禁忌 taboo
" l* r( G x7 ?1 E 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
' {8 Z* J! j( W t0 P 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
" e( A5 \9 c: h- ] 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift % y# O# F# [5 G0 V
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
" U2 m7 n0 }7 W2 v 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
; F0 X7 k/ G( _ 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
f- ^ L% \7 X, G5 [ Blessing:
( z) G9 p! w0 K% L9 G) ^5 Q Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
/ ]0 z N& E. i4 X Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
; C6 c, N2 t4 g5 o/ y Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go ; Q& I( p0 O1 F$ i" U
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
\' @- r' y. I: R6 u$ p" | 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
# `5 [0 x& g# U* S8 Z Food names:
' L3 k i0 R% K( C: A 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake : V+ o1 l: a, Y7 k* N8 @1 s
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
9 J5 D3 e7 c& Q 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve # g; ^7 |) e. G( [2 }
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli 9 x. z2 z$ W$ n! T* F
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
" f9 b$ X3 G0 b8 e$ H, T9 ]+ M: ] 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
$ S$ j3 Z6 S: t 糖果盘 candy tray: : V! o' P0 ^2 {( X" v5 ]
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
r1 N1 |$ |3 n% t4 }0 [& K 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health 9 w9 z' r0 [6 l0 C {) S( e- g+ K1 }
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
$ @, |+ Z @2 J$ o1 g- \ 金桔 cumquat - prosperity U! w i# d X8 a/ C+ D* R+ W
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
4 o( Z( {% L; q* m$ }% D( Y5 |. s 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
2 D( d' P4 S6 v1 L 红枣 red dates - prosperity # s n& T; L# E' H( a
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00