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Spring Festival Words
/ ], ~# I( ~& t; G2 E, r- F8 w6 [: w Greeting Season: 0 R7 s$ c9 @, I2 F {; g# y
春节 The Spring Festival
& P+ N$ g }) N& P3 } y 农历 lunar calendar 2 s7 y: j+ W5 o" V4 D
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
( O0 d$ B; t: T0 H 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
4 Y% K Z+ Q& ]5 ?7 S/ S, n 初一 the beginning of New Year
' T/ X7 x7 b3 M 元宵节 The Lantern Festival * b1 j* g+ w C3 |8 s9 J+ V7 }
Customs: . \3 z- Z* w! ^& |: k
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival - o+ [8 a* q. B. ]8 c) [: Z- r
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry & }! `, f4 N0 U U* [* N$ W l
春联 Spring Festival couplets 5 G, Y. r: v0 ?0 g9 e4 u# \" q
剪纸 paper-cuts ( b6 L( }1 z; u
年画 New Year paintings
6 |0 h# J; u) ~% x: } 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
0 ?1 J) m: H7 q2 e! w 敬酒 propose a toast & A1 w+ b& }1 \7 j7 O
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
0 p& `; u9 m% h2 i 烟花 fireworks 9 ]' ^/ {6 s6 g* O9 P5 c' m
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) , Z$ ~* z; S& n" f, `, d
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
9 d2 Q( f, ^9 U 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
8 A" S- K2 |# H5 |1 Q' d8 T 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) 6 {# h$ z" ]" G# Q: ~' P+ B
戏曲 traditional opera ; X, g& N3 y) f6 a: @
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
" D( W" m3 T% K4 H* r 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns 2 E5 [1 r4 ~" Q1 \1 w6 b
灯会 exhibit of lanterns
/ X) i1 D% q: \* O- E 守岁 staying-up # e4 Q I0 u* P% ], ^7 J3 B
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
* W# b+ T4 S3 C0 u 禁忌 taboo
0 ^6 L# d9 Z* C+ q 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune 7 N% P1 @" _* n9 p8 J
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors Z' z, A; q6 B4 c. t8 w5 r
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
$ |, }8 S* k! y- L6 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
5 |, ^# k' c) Q/ {+ A% y+ h2 k 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
: m, ?, X& g0 T4 i( g 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
7 }. N, [3 M. ?7 b" r9 s Blessing: ' x5 L- t9 }+ U* v- m. u% h
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 7 a( P6 z- x/ R; P' P8 b
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace 0 i9 t2 r) A& n U$ X a1 B" r: Y+ }
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
1 S* |$ z* Q0 m 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
4 A: h9 `. ?2 e" i( ^' I 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! ( k/ R0 q, j$ ~2 X. `
Food names: M* o& T: e% u* y* C
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
& W+ |- O; x! X7 S" k, o 团圆饭 family reunion dinner
K6 r+ I5 v5 b& D- a* P1 | 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve 4 S# S% b6 ~% Q1 {. o& p, `
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
8 W9 C+ f `' a9 v! d/ ~ 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings % e$ E( H8 ? q; p
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding 0 Y( j" ^; I' x' T* a% L2 P) V1 G
糖果盘 candy tray:
: x7 F3 N$ M# b 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune " J+ J. @9 J' l% p- ?5 ^) S3 y1 `
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
" i8 `+ a; h! c$ u2 ] 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
& }. q0 W; q+ O; s 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
5 W) D Q$ B/ d. V3 t! v) T 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come 0 ]# y+ |& B7 R% f0 B
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship 0 \: x: N l4 }- z$ s `4 m) O
红枣 red dates - prosperity 5 S4 A, s/ q" u {2 L
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00
