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Spring Festival Words
) u' V8 R x9 h% e Greeting Season: 5 D2 [% |% P( a
春节 The Spring Festival 6 M! R3 i K% u7 S0 {/ D
农历 lunar calendar + h! p) R) v7 F7 ^0 q
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar & M6 L3 M3 p; m7 n; B+ S k
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
2 x" [8 @" i; r 初一 the beginning of New Year
. [! v8 q( `1 h" A- t# f 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
~) z _1 p. V1 f$ p6 D Customs: " i* h6 j9 P1 O$ \& I3 M. s* Z
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival * a2 _$ D7 k7 L3 x; u7 r" G4 z
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry , G. @( F# y( _8 E5 K1 @$ A( M
春联 Spring Festival couplets 4 j: l" u' I& f, d% m
剪纸 paper-cuts
7 j. p" X) W. M1 V8 l) ] 年画 New Year paintings
$ s3 {7 n/ p/ ~8 H! i0 F 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
. y3 \( z3 b; n0 A( S 敬酒 propose a toast " i- T* t( F% q. n
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
3 T* }4 B/ j5 u3 b- r 烟花 fireworks 7 q% a6 X, x8 J. L
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) / j& A1 q* c7 b5 _0 b# j7 r; M% S
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) - n% }+ L* F- P' G% d& j9 [4 n3 k0 a
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
( |# l- j2 c2 D 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) ! o( ^9 \8 D1 s4 l
戏曲 traditional opera # ]$ c0 N% X* q# S! {
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
! r4 o- U! ?4 c 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
, r2 J1 i% O5 q% `5 Y! p K0 Z 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
/ C' C% o1 z' J5 d$ i. {* y' ] 守岁 staying-up 3 r7 X* r7 r4 a" V% t \; q4 Q
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
& R2 U- A) p1 h9 H# x0 L1 `% n* C 禁忌 taboo : r$ r1 i$ B: Z6 Z+ z4 X# Q8 N }) p' T" a
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune 3 n# V# R; a5 M& N1 {/ J
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
7 t, D$ g7 e; h1 `0 e/ w" H 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
- J0 v, K! S$ J! X, \* Q! l 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
3 j. E. c& @, k 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
+ @! M3 m9 G. @: L8 b 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
' x p% @9 B3 e7 X8 n Blessing:
/ r, O, \9 Q. n* Y, Q9 W2 \7 q& \ Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity & a/ p0 x: @' N2 U" z/ l
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace 9 @, `' X n- v7 H2 K, P
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go 5 D1 t T; ^" ?6 x. ]
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! ' Y W" p" I- n+ |9 q, D6 R
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! * h3 e' o7 T6 ?! Y& B
Food names:
& R: K) G; R8 { ? 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
0 I* a1 T( |; ? q 团圆饭 family reunion dinner # t/ Q& m: n. J7 X0 N
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve * H2 Y' M$ @; E% v/ c
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli % Y# ?& j7 ^& x% k9 w2 S
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings " \# }$ }: r+ X! d6 d
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding - c6 C7 j* E a: h E5 y( g
糖果盘 candy tray:
$ F/ j2 |7 y# u! T7 V$ d8 C* Q 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
$ ~" L$ z/ Y: l0 B$ R$ V& h" W" K 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
5 Z: a8 d) }5 ^$ P 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
( l% E' t3 t" U1 W$ |+ G 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
) P( ?1 |4 D6 L' f; S/ h- m 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
& T& o! M1 b1 |, G* S9 w! n3 L. C& [ 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
/ ]/ T! U& A# V$ C4 W 红枣 red dates - prosperity
7 i, A# d+ z5 f 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00
