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Spring Festival Words
+ D- ]7 I/ c5 Q7 G/ [- Y/ O Greeting Season:
4 \6 Q1 f2 P, S" ~, x 春节 The Spring Festival
% F, a; c1 W- t( Y/ R. o; m" [ 农历 lunar calendar - ~/ a5 X, l. o2 E. u1 M) e) N
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
6 b+ _; a$ v: u; C 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year - M2 F0 N5 K* N! h4 }
初一 the beginning of New Year & W+ R- C3 m! \
元宵节 The Lantern Festival 3 g; E3 ?/ I$ O+ v4 u
Customs:
; Z* t6 b- v7 l- W 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival - L1 m( n) O- u+ e! n4 \; B
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
( i+ {4 s c/ Y, p: c 春联 Spring Festival couplets ( A7 X; ~! f: x7 l0 ~0 r3 h2 ?4 a8 {
剪纸 paper-cuts
R* d( g, \ S) G2 q1 q$ f 年画 New Year paintings
8 `( ^9 u3 c/ q5 B: P& R% } 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping ! G( d: J/ [6 ]9 R; L `
敬酒 propose a toast
; d% @6 x* Q# ]8 _( Z8 I 灯笼 lantern: a portable light
% C3 H+ C5 u2 f7 |* i$ j. O; n' ~. ` 烟花 fireworks
9 X! v9 K% @+ p* w* [ 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) ' E; l$ z: ~" w" X. B6 @' V0 x
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
1 _3 p8 I- H; ]# p, x 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) ; O* M0 S2 w8 O' t% t) x" U
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) - k$ P6 `+ [' s
戏曲 traditional opera
" ~9 F. B1 `# k9 A. n 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville , \; t! q* l, |5 M6 T) c
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
2 j8 d: s+ f2 A x4 C7 } Y4 F 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
) B! v6 A0 H- D 守岁 staying-up
2 \" j9 d. f4 b& J) z; E, r7 Y( M/ k 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit 5 \2 D% N n( `1 i$ i" q
禁忌 taboo 1 {3 N s. i: W6 R; F% V
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
- u9 O; H2 i0 n& @2 B( I 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
& ^/ @2 P" b. [- R3 q) a/ } 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift ) Q* l' t& G- u% D
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
& ^: _% a. G$ V" D 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year 4 h* P- {. H t1 X
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning 0 C' X4 W9 {+ C% u( S7 M
Blessing: " [. n% }, _) u0 Q% _6 k- Z4 u
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity ; p5 P: \ u$ V
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
5 u) D+ m( V# M7 @) r; ^7 @ q Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go & }( |6 u: r8 c1 h: ~, x2 M
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
* T: k, o1 y$ L7 @ 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
% a$ [5 u4 x, I& ?5 V Food names: ( h8 G, z, V6 o4 z' m2 w
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake ! x5 i$ S& t( b! S% c7 A! H/ F
团圆饭 family reunion dinner D# n, v0 R) b* {3 N- J
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
, |' H$ a! A0 t' ^ 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
c! P8 f9 r# f 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
8 `4 X2 {) y" l$ ]4 B3 x* S) S+ l! N 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
2 X; t0 ?4 ?4 N3 r5 x0 Q$ _ 糖果盘 candy tray: # f3 q! B3 A+ Y/ V
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune , k4 T$ U j# X+ D) L$ X0 _( y
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health : I, k2 [1 W( W. ^7 ?6 ]
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity 1 s- |! [- h" @+ D/ S
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
0 S% k) d- _2 }+ C4 T 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come 3 |$ p: V3 a3 {6 _( k4 v" ^3 H
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship : H/ C( O- }- q' n
红枣 red dates - prosperity
- I/ x5 l6 M K$ C. P: n 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00
