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Spring Festival Words
+ u' ~ ~& z% y* _0 c& |9 |! v Greeting Season: & K* M3 [$ k* y. Z
春节 The Spring Festival ( [ n2 t! a1 J& }( r( I" w
农历 lunar calendar
4 B- m( _& u, n! j1 {: c3 O 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
1 F* ?3 B; Q t% Z* j9 ` 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
2 _- y$ o0 Z n8 S2 y/ Y 初一 the beginning of New Year . D( x0 g5 D( U) G: m
元宵节 The Lantern Festival
" d# O; }( J& m3 O3 g t1 Y Customs: 1 l R4 C$ Q9 B7 s" M" _) d1 H/ k
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
9 L. \8 v1 K9 E2 u 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry . a/ I9 B7 a( i ~" v0 E
春联 Spring Festival couplets
1 j( ~1 X. b1 E7 ] 剪纸 paper-cuts 7 W: {, y% j$ a# e% `. S
年画 New Year paintings $ m d a ^' K( r$ ?
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping 2 q( R. x4 C* R: F' y8 M
敬酒 propose a toast
9 P: a$ _% C% H 灯笼 lantern: a portable light ! O' |/ y4 `9 K
烟花 fireworks
' j, |4 _: ?# d8 J1 d' d0 | 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
4 X6 z1 }( v1 }! r% e1 B' M K 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) ) |# |( I3 z$ x; f' S9 U$ z
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
* j J2 x8 b2 ]7 j; h 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
+ n4 D4 T0 W, a7 h 戏曲 traditional opera
4 q* X1 {0 i9 c- q. m 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
; i6 J' H% s: g8 Z, p4 Z; I 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns + i8 ~! O6 F! v, }0 f- ?0 Z3 u
灯会 exhibit of lanterns 0 g- y( j! T0 u- H& x5 s4 _. C
守岁 staying-up
# E9 E8 g+ e+ k9 B! G" z 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
- F) T) r! U8 ]" J( n0 y) V 禁忌 taboo / t" ~/ C. u" m8 V: o
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
4 O8 o4 g( W+ P& y; b- l0 N 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors . z; ~+ I' X% P
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift 2 K; B1 J& m0 Q% g, f
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
! \" \" T$ B+ }$ n5 b2 k1 E3 K 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
9 n1 |, A1 l/ @ 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning 2 [1 P! U2 J. f& o/ _9 r& ]
Blessing: 1 N3 n8 G; V$ e6 w; r, x
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity # e6 R6 {: ?' A% L8 c
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace & |& U+ _4 v' ~8 |' c( Q
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
9 n% T- B2 r4 c! O 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! 8 d6 w, ?* ?5 A/ o' G( J
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
) B4 ?0 J6 @6 T \; x7 q2 q Food names:
9 J) W' {, b# ^ 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake % F; |3 X# ]+ Z7 Z
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
' P; ~6 Z6 u# O, C3 ^0 Q 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
: T* ~! g0 a* m0 w' M" F 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli D# Y6 [; \- t4 O% K: q/ w
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
1 }+ }1 c/ Z7 @; A0 X( s6 O 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding $ d$ b+ d3 j0 \
糖果盘 candy tray:
9 n& [, q5 u# C/ p 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
: t/ x* B! B6 L) C' N: J 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
& c7 O( i+ P; A/ p6 @ 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
9 z% h3 x8 O" S) d0 f 金桔 cumquat - prosperity % b6 X$ w+ n1 E% W) ]+ ~
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come ! _0 U6 y1 R2 Q1 u
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship - W, h" N4 ~, ` F2 j0 l
红枣 red dates - prosperity
9 y9 R ]6 ]% ` Q1 | 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00
