|
Spring Festival Words
7 i7 o* K f, T4 B, N& k6 x% M5 ~4 p Greeting Season:
! s( L* s! a( _ 春节 The Spring Festival
% q* W% u$ g) D 农历 lunar calendar
# a0 X) B$ ^ L1 U8 O: w 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar 9 H7 u& X! @: S1 w/ q
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
8 ~3 E( T6 Y2 C$ c& i) T, T 初一 the beginning of New Year
5 k C# v8 m$ A) e9 R 元宵节 The Lantern Festival & f# X* K5 _' ^9 x1 x% u& q
Customs:
% }1 P4 w* Z% p- O. b 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
9 t. n( B! P* q 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
$ t+ o6 R4 q% i" W3 A 春联 Spring Festival couplets 6 u; V% C0 p" y1 z% P/ J
剪纸 paper-cuts
7 l* ?( f. X( _9 i: a 年画 New Year paintings 4 p( i9 W8 R* a0 X6 D( ^
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping & I& [$ I' Q- z) S0 G
敬酒 propose a toast 3 Q& p6 X* _: S* m6 Y0 i n2 F
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
% @+ H+ y8 D( Y: i. u9 s1 z 烟花 fireworks , @- A7 q7 G% y2 Z8 P2 ?
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) + C) g/ ~ r3 h8 |6 }9 s% A
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
6 e1 L& l& {, A5 {! _ 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
; q% Z$ ^1 C8 U2 y. L; L8 a 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
' v: |: M' o6 w1 ]7 J c- z9 w 戏曲 traditional opera
5 Y5 ^+ v8 | [- I: ` 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville / `& b9 a G4 N8 M9 Z( O1 E
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
+ A' h* u/ i) D) |( ^, ~2 d3 w! j 灯会 exhibit of lanterns ; J; L" t+ @" e
守岁 staying-up . \6 i& z' g; p/ l/ @
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit 0 l% [1 ]/ L) [8 s2 {) ]
禁忌 taboo 3 E! Z8 c! ~+ p0 h' C
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune + F7 C% q, Q1 p
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors 8 p Y7 u( O) s# z+ C" q
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
4 c- e# F+ Z' e+ T$ R. _! ? 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 6 z3 I m, V/ m5 m6 Q
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
( S4 C1 U/ S* c5 S. c: c 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning ' d8 z- ~+ R. j/ @8 ~& k4 x
Blessing: 2 S2 n* c3 B" V0 ?/ U
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
+ B6 K& J$ g2 g6 E, L" v$ k% g4 V6 z9 j Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace ' i" M2 q1 x& h7 j# L) q" f
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go 7 l) F4 Y* K: E( w- B7 [# r
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
( h$ Q0 y" D& U! U 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
* b, e0 e& ~, m/ o! u Food names:
. ?' n# n5 b' P! J7 m 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
5 |, P* n" y2 Q" O6 }7 g+ A 团圆饭 family reunion dinner
7 F1 ~ [2 i% L 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
0 o7 r4 s6 k8 u7 r4 D 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli ( S( q& A5 H- u3 }0 b1 |& G. B. G
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
3 y4 i. }/ k; S' c7 M$ v 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding 3 Q J) [* _1 ]4 F! `) m$ E' C
糖果盘 candy tray:
& Q Q, \7 a2 I$ I9 o( P 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune , J- X2 m7 o: f" T
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health : u4 j% q! m8 O/ O
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
3 ~2 ?- t9 F( H2 u) N. Q& J 金桔 cumquat - prosperity # A' Z& Q: T( K, @; D$ t1 J/ N
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come . N- F8 J6 G. ~) H* r6 B2 K% a8 p
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship 7 E9 a. d) f2 s+ J. q
红枣 red dates - prosperity
. p9 R3 i; N9 J# b; p9 T 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00
