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Spring Festival Words
: t: J- W/ A! a+ j6 e Greeting Season: : Y! z$ A3 R& y+ y/ q: f1 O* f" o
春节 The Spring Festival / I8 c9 ?; s o0 \% n
农历 lunar calendar
& d/ Q ]( A- a, Z9 F 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar + r2 s+ B4 [& S- [' x5 R# F3 g
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year : d K) @, F5 w% X ]# L
初一 the beginning of New Year 5 s# D% t$ V- P1 N
元宵节 The Lantern Festival
# e7 v1 I5 J! Z Customs: , l! G: N. b7 V% z7 [
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
4 b- [7 v# X- C+ h, a 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
: \1 A! A5 F* w$ s$ D) ?: ` 春联 Spring Festival couplets - Q' g4 r1 q k+ p$ P$ u6 r* J0 M" H
剪纸 paper-cuts # R5 C- I8 G; Q
年画 New Year paintings
% i; @$ K& M0 ], e 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping 6 T5 p# f2 m" z2 _
敬酒 propose a toast
2 ?+ X9 k3 r4 S' i6 k( B& i 灯笼 lantern: a portable light
8 u. i5 ~/ J* B: s8 S8 o 烟花 fireworks
% y- P* F: v) A# [ 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) : t& [0 a- t( @/ F% ] J; O
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
) Y" t% F% }% x0 h& } 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
0 \5 ~9 k& ^; C( H# B 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) . d# b& r2 \# i _
戏曲 traditional opera 0 c+ s; f' ^+ G; u
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville ) j5 i+ J6 D' j! ^
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
/ Q" }) U; r1 C0 b( ? 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
2 D0 D* K9 }% V6 m8 U 守岁 staying-up 6 q1 j, j' r3 Z8 D- S5 [' ?0 q- h
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit 0 t: s7 x4 X' ^% f
禁忌 taboo - o9 y _" L* `, p' y
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune 5 P, l2 u8 ~2 s/ `" _
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors $ o; V: O, P5 E8 U( e5 p- s$ N: e
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
/ X# t) ]7 y7 r$ H2 u 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 8 K% Z5 {* t" G5 ~7 ^4 f+ g
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
- ^4 J# u! G6 \8 F8 k1 y8 z 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning 1 e ]0 C. ^" o! `0 h
Blessing: 4 _/ N& {9 D L, Q
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity " z7 T1 u9 C; Z) C8 a- _/ Z
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
" x% m! `; s/ }: {/ o8 A Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
5 n9 v" B6 A) z. D3 {5 @ 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
/ K5 `+ p2 j+ p 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! 4 A4 l! u" q5 `( q Z
Food names: , a8 H$ U/ t9 E0 Y. w3 P
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
% o0 {8 [* P. n 团圆饭 family reunion dinner # J/ [ p. w# V U3 `
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
# J5 o, [2 m2 t" t5 c: o1 | 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
6 s+ ~: N6 a2 ` ?# w 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings 1 k' n7 l( p w
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding ! B$ V! @' C; k- N8 G0 X
糖果盘 candy tray: ; Z! l3 l1 Y3 H- f
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune + q9 V! Q W8 I# m# w
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
8 Y( ^2 M- n; M H! e& y4 q 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity 1 x! n9 M; D3 G1 E& E. e$ r5 j1 k
金桔 cumquat - prosperity 5 J, i' {5 l# I6 J7 J" W) g. F
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come : Q. W. ]$ v4 m( v( e
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship - D- |7 d/ O/ M6 S7 L% f" ]7 i
红枣 red dates - prosperity
2 o7 ~$ y& o9 o3 z 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00
