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Spring Festival Words
4 S1 a% X: E1 [. u9 v Greeting Season:
+ c. _" v: E9 ?: j 春节 The Spring Festival $ h4 X! K8 }1 s2 y! N
农历 lunar calendar
' c" k' [0 q1 r" T0 q 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
. e( G$ [8 p9 v" F 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
- b. L! i7 }8 T- i/ Q, G" g( A# [6 J 初一 the beginning of New Year
0 W% {4 }# L& i1 G/ }3 q% L 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
3 x6 Q1 x! w4 `& R1 w Customs:
" _4 H ^1 A2 p) ~ 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
6 @$ P+ T# M) @+ t 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
! w" x% l% A2 v/ ?7 B, h 春联 Spring Festival couplets 0 ~8 O r, Q! @) T8 U: Z& |
剪纸 paper-cuts
' |3 Y$ H4 o7 |$ B1 r& } 年画 New Year paintings 6 K% e7 p r, P
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping 7 ^/ ~# B* [9 l% H% M r" O
敬酒 propose a toast f( L5 E) s; f; I+ r& P# k+ ~
灯笼 lantern: a portable light 6 p% p1 z# n% n7 ?
烟花 fireworks
/ j, T! @1 N, z 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) . K& K/ q' l, X, x$ [4 K9 _- P
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
0 g& Y/ ~- o1 M. o* a6 |! |. t 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
) d! R% I0 W9 v 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) 8 Z S9 y5 S9 J) t$ h
戏曲 traditional opera 9 |# O- p; R- }( j/ V5 k& `! G
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
6 a- N$ i* A# N9 B# K1 ~8 s5 u, d 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
. l- I) m& E0 S; k7 s, p8 J# a5 u 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
" Q4 `6 C; n4 @* f& `" c 守岁 staying-up 7 b Y f6 v2 B& q9 N
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit , i6 x3 H2 ~# g+ f) X0 w; n( ^
禁忌 taboo @ ?1 ^' w& h% c W( l
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune ; _8 S R+ E% L0 i \' o
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
0 }: H& H: w& Y+ I' K% K9 U) B 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
L4 C$ b. J+ w. R0 r# y% v" | 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
* M+ Q7 x7 Z# }4 n0 { 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year ' I/ i6 P0 P2 {
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
6 L: o. E4 n+ I2 m$ w Blessing:
( }- U* n- _1 a4 [ Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity % W1 `) q9 G2 H9 E; ~# d
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace ) A) \! {: R% H& i
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
# W. T, F8 R. {# R" h% R8 | 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! / c- l Q- \9 C0 n2 L9 z% e: B
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
# S4 b+ O0 X% ~. D# g/ i Food names: 5 c4 f$ @/ H! n
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake ' W2 {3 ]" D1 d7 r5 P. q
团圆饭 family reunion dinner & Z( H; Z; {8 d
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
; I4 E8 u8 Z, o 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli % {1 c2 G7 l4 O
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
# h& x" U4 F, L, }# c/ h( U9 U 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding 1 F$ h! q1 f$ p. H3 q* l
糖果盘 candy tray: 9 |0 v5 t5 Y/ W3 o( o5 T9 _# n" `
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
; a) H/ S2 t f' b 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
( N8 Y$ d: ?+ i( K+ J/ j1 P- s4 o 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
# Q u1 J. D: p% s/ `6 `4 P 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
/ n& W! b& w5 v3 i/ K( T 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
" l! W- Y1 |1 |) |# M: N- j 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship % g$ M) Z" Q; H# ]
红枣 red dates - prosperity ! S% A& i6 X2 {5 w3 z; b# ^4 {, B
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00
