|
Spring Festival Words
1 W! [2 _2 J1 K6 i6 w. p Greeting Season: ; L. G5 ?# F* @5 n5 n
春节 The Spring Festival 2 f ?+ Q1 S# {" P+ h' W7 @/ Y. G
农历 lunar calendar
" N+ X7 k- Q2 Y$ z6 F4 y 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
+ }3 `7 `$ W L0 \7 C 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
, r0 \9 w5 T& @4 i 初一 the beginning of New Year
?+ P8 Q, ~8 v0 t 元宵节 The Lantern Festival 8 y$ Y" r l/ s7 f5 l( T @
Customs: + x3 n( [" G$ Z# Y
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
' Z, _2 h4 \# x7 o3 p 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry ; k# e) n# L" J# i0 y
春联 Spring Festival couplets
) H( S% a ?0 J. ~ 剪纸 paper-cuts - M8 @5 w$ r& P c! _9 b
年画 New Year paintings
$ u& Q5 I6 \! k6 |3 W. T9 L' E 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping # L8 d, S7 ]5 G
敬酒 propose a toast - Y( d$ o- `/ ]% Z2 e3 A; f( A
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
8 {# O# X7 m8 x# [0 w 烟花 fireworks
+ h# P6 v1 k- M* b% B4 \ J% R 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
0 [9 j4 F0 ~- v& w" B! m 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) + D5 J u9 g, J3 E" T1 z
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
; a4 a1 x t0 G7 h H! a8 B 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
9 L0 T6 @6 O N# Q+ X 戏曲 traditional opera ( [0 l: G u! j7 e5 n9 p4 ]- o* o
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
' s0 i6 H/ h7 D! C( o2 u6 m. M 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns 3 ^# L4 T" R9 S9 c: X+ {0 f
灯会 exhibit of lanterns - o8 h* Y5 Y, p% ]/ }
守岁 staying-up 5 m( B$ w% G0 m9 n: E2 D
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit g s3 L5 ~4 g7 R
禁忌 taboo 3 O) I d' l L) o5 Z9 ^
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune - [5 S$ |8 H4 c# y. @, o/ ?
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors $ S3 u% ? u" ^5 o2 Z
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift 0 y9 e' b& y3 Y* K2 l( s6 i
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 ( p/ g$ `- y( t& @; [- I; S
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year 3 l5 H1 ]+ [6 j& G: T
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
' U% u% `& y, U$ o I1 n Blessing:
6 _' W" ^6 O3 X' a" O( A/ c" x' f5 C Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity $ q2 ^) I9 A- Z2 k, c
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
0 I, l7 K+ p. x, K Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
' b9 J5 U' v. V. Y! Q s/ L v" x 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! & \( m3 E/ B, D
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! ) r5 x' k# k- {5 D$ B
Food names:
9 @1 }" f& k+ K- o N- b1 F3 q 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
! g1 T2 G. u; B$ D$ ], c5 l7 h0 B+ @! { 团圆饭 family reunion dinner
1 ]5 v( P0 g: U9 f) h) v0 U 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
3 }1 V9 b# s0 s 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
! @0 a# S! ?0 ]2 v" f3 H 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
/ X: r+ u8 g) l- j/ Z& g8 U 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding & \5 N! l \, x$ u
糖果盘 candy tray: 3 `: u4 G. S- F& f/ _& I _( q
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune 2 P- j& Q, X* c, Y/ r; z6 W
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health ; l9 o/ d3 m: c) b( P2 u" t0 g1 s
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
' q( J9 U* Q' w5 [6 E( z4 n 金桔 cumquat - prosperity $ h2 y+ v& ^; @% _
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come : g; j' d; `1 `
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
/ H B$ l$ y6 ?6 O8 H 红枣 red dates - prosperity
! u& X5 {8 D% ]: [. f 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00
