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Spring Festival Words
- I) c$ |/ m8 c9 i! e$ F Greeting Season: . p5 i8 i( K: |0 e" s
春节 The Spring Festival
! S, `& s0 [1 o% Q& ^+ ? 农历 lunar calendar " p o/ c8 T/ m* g4 K( d: z, }5 ^5 A
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar . ?! P" I/ |& G0 ~2 H2 D2 O2 E
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
' W- x( f" q1 B" G% p 初一 the beginning of New Year ' M* y' u! F% D
元宵节 The Lantern Festival 4 E; ~- L- k3 W, w" y4 b) N, J! W
Customs: ) q. T# F5 B0 V
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival % p4 k( ]: ~0 z2 m6 ? z
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
f: s5 T7 K# w$ e( | 春联 Spring Festival couplets
* w& D2 S" m% A2 S' f 剪纸 paper-cuts + c8 i' J$ d- a. S( m1 ]
年画 New Year paintings " M6 L- b" I: n4 d' p6 e
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping ) u2 o6 H% s3 p- j E3 |* F. y4 o5 n
敬酒 propose a toast $ o) ~& ^9 q- [5 p2 E1 {3 J, ~; |: N( |
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
9 }9 a$ ^3 O2 N" }6 @ 烟花 fireworks 2 U% j+ k% {. {8 M
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
' T. D0 u1 L' l/ ]1 C' e$ \0 J 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) ' o& r. y2 y- B3 S
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) 5 h, o7 U% A9 `0 P9 ^1 F! T) r
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
* X! E2 W' Z* z5 E% H$ Q5 `5 v) a 戏曲 traditional opera 9 q% F2 z( o$ i, f9 ]
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville 5 _) i0 f8 Y A W" [& E) u
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns ( Z, V. I; D" n6 d& r$ W
灯会 exhibit of lanterns
c/ T7 Y/ T( `/ X# S6 W0 Z. \( s 守岁 staying-up o- p* B3 ?( y4 X3 B
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit 5 b/ i0 ]9 b8 }6 ^. ~5 v& G
禁忌 taboo
0 Q1 b( U. Q6 D4 J0 U7 _; H N 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
, F3 ?1 N0 Y! B+ v' a U: `& J 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors # ?# N3 T" Z1 N$ ~3 ?) V- R+ \) U
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
1 j0 v Y% `& z0 |+ g4 `! q, [5 O 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 % c9 \: S# [; i9 p; `. @; v
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year 3 U- J5 ~' J9 z) B8 S. w
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
; |6 \0 A+ f% f; c: v) F Blessing: 3 n* G3 ]/ }- B7 ^0 ]
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
( J+ Q% r# N8 s& V( ^ Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
/ v U' P7 q, Y; C c6 N Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
5 k( Q- o5 ?& O7 | 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
/ q$ d4 s6 t5 j1 U7 q V6 n 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! 8 \5 D8 n, e% t( q& ]& K3 K& S5 N2 a
Food names: - j S1 Y( V; X1 ^; O
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake ' _3 p# D5 J& q: Y3 ~7 u% \( \
团圆饭 family reunion dinner ; X' q2 n, S1 @- _) r9 Q
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
. Q' s/ D- S- g( |% L1 z; A 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli - q: b: L) ~7 B b
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
' y% e, a- m; w; O 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
! B8 Y. E. e8 ^3 H' h* v# W 糖果盘 candy tray:
# b9 x' l$ N# d6 a4 ^! ]% T 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune 3 [/ A0 D& I {6 d& Y
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
) V. X" t) q$ Y 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity 4 b9 h. ^- X: U" w* B
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
8 W% R, X0 _/ B/ l1 M$ o 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come 7 y- x1 ~- C0 v- D3 b
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship : m2 e( n6 A% e) |0 H! z( a
红枣 red dates - prosperity 2 a6 g4 ^+ {' R# _
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00
