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Spring Festival Words
2 e7 M8 [" {' W n- J1 [; m Greeting Season: ' A: Z, ` P" g: @- V5 |
春节 The Spring Festival . a2 Z& I. s! z' f
农历 lunar calendar
, G* H$ c# L! Y) t& ~0 A7 Q 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
! w9 ~- |, J8 K" f/ b1 S 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
. E# ]+ p8 ?7 f: |. x- s" g 初一 the beginning of New Year
, O8 r, _ z& C/ x5 H8 Z 元宵节 The Lantern Festival # E- t D2 y# l( Q( f
Customs: 8 J6 d" z& n* {; K& K: }
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
9 f3 F9 B! \# h' f. s 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry : f2 f) C- K8 K. G. a
春联 Spring Festival couplets 6 Y! f1 H4 G) w9 b* Z3 u
剪纸 paper-cuts
: _8 K0 \$ ` B 年画 New Year paintings
( P! k! i$ _1 `/ Y$ Q 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
$ {2 Z5 }, \, j! J2 d: ~ 敬酒 propose a toast
, G1 d9 `6 @; b7 W8 j 灯笼 lantern: a portable light
3 V1 j4 g+ v O C8 f2 V# w! t 烟花 fireworks & h8 `+ n. D: u& S
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) 3 \1 w6 s& g0 a A% T1 |
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) ( _) H4 W. j% s) \
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
/ O% M. P- J- S. ^0 O& d) y 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
" |! g. Y; V* m& R$ g U 戏曲 traditional opera , K l1 g7 g+ D: @
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville 5 k+ E# f2 g/ M7 r" p4 |1 a
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
. F/ q8 R' d5 s7 S6 { 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
$ [0 h- k" u5 ?6 |! \' j3 ^ 守岁 staying-up
/ [. i H) R/ r5 p) u- h 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
7 M( v- T. L& T1 g, m 禁忌 taboo
$ M. X( o& \! Z 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune 5 k! z' V8 O0 p* K' i7 y I, _, o. P
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
0 h4 B. H! L$ z+ h: K7 Z- d' H 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift 6 O, @1 ~4 T' D
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 * B* C T9 |& M- [) `3 \1 b
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year ) N1 P* M3 ?# E9 v; l
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
0 g1 b7 g2 R9 U; D& {# ? Blessing:
- x* E h$ K. S) Q& H4 g) J Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
2 H; I0 f/ b. Y. L Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
) G) J) ?6 K+ ]3 Q- N Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go 2 u+ f! @+ |: w2 K% s
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
6 L }! A7 Y+ m& h5 a 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! ! j, p: g. D) h% u5 k. [. o/ y
Food names: # z! ^- I+ C7 K' s! m
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
8 g8 y$ F) l; k+ H 团圆饭 family reunion dinner & ^: X. N$ ~* [: W0 K
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve 0 z }6 B2 h) ?+ S: [0 x
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
' l) H( R! T+ ^: S 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings # _; y* V. F; {6 z( L
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding : X# H- l1 y1 p/ p. Z2 q6 A
糖果盘 candy tray: ; d" s. L$ l6 v
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
# L, D! Y, k( T1 [# y" `; l 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
) B; x y# I& V 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
/ e7 y8 L5 o% Z: b' m/ Z 金桔 cumquat - prosperity , Z; f" O9 ]! ]7 w3 [
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
- e8 L& k/ x0 t) O q 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship 6 K: a B$ e. p" q& q
红枣 red dates - prosperity ( o8 ~% x- d1 k( |7 h! W. D0 y1 C
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00
