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Spring Festival Words
; t- t9 _# I/ [( |+ O2 W9 g J4 n Greeting Season:
/ T/ _$ u I; a& h2 d7 Q4 ]# q 春节 The Spring Festival
2 e/ _& J* Q3 k/ o6 s% Y0 w) L 农历 lunar calendar
# E0 N! h$ h4 I# S 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar ) W9 t! ?7 Z3 m! S* ~
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
8 ]' v) n5 g" k 初一 the beginning of New Year
+ S0 x F9 |+ J/ S) Z 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
4 T8 ?1 O& ~& {* |, j0 s& N Customs: ) l) X/ r7 [6 B# C- O+ P. G
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
9 j0 k: j7 z" q; O 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry 6 I2 e) `4 k( }9 z/ G: U& ~
春联 Spring Festival couplets - C# @* o% @( D1 f3 J1 F# W. s8 ~
剪纸 paper-cuts : }, e! z" i; N, C
年画 New Year paintings
; i, W+ ^* h1 Y: j- h 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
. A, O0 f4 k" n* d+ ` 敬酒 propose a toast 1 ^6 u* O& G1 G& Y
灯笼 lantern: a portable light # N* z5 {1 j Q' m) T1 s
烟花 fireworks
8 D3 @+ ^$ e, C8 P0 d; M' E. d! n 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) ( ^1 h4 o6 ~) r( r, b5 ~( ?0 t
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
" C' e# U% @( D6 N. C 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
: T* ~/ Y) K* Q2 A, U, G5 N9 L9 F 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) & R8 \* Y \5 i; }* S7 Z
戏曲 traditional opera ~; |0 h& K( P% Q/ h1 B
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville * D# I* U- x* x0 p A3 g
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
3 u% {& t+ Y4 {/ ]+ o+ _ 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
, B9 b+ s: [: G& H' [! g 守岁 staying-up
# S! ?3 g- R3 d3 {9 H% ] 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit 9 v. @- a t3 ?- M6 g
禁忌 taboo
Q' k) I# H+ e H! x& ~* y/ p5 x 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
) e- D7 e+ R7 z7 K1 @* `% M 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
8 K* A" \, [! ?+ T$ \4 E% j 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
* F2 p3 v. }1 J' v/ O, t/ j6 u9 w 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
* N: f- O1 k5 b* V/ a 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
1 J8 M5 K1 @" h: \; X c$ N7 s 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
8 n8 H( C* p0 x3 [; F4 Z/ [+ t: Z Blessing: 5 v& s4 M& @$ `" l
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity : x. Q" b# `/ c3 B/ _3 i" O
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace / K6 \: I) d6 s% a4 _
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go 7 H, z4 H2 x) V
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! , G- w; S. x0 Y2 l* z
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! 0 I4 M p, ]6 T! {5 {1 i( n1 p
Food names:
8 f& ]7 }! i' z1 v# }( y 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake ) ]; H2 S, D# d( |0 @
团圆饭 family reunion dinner ; B( m4 \, F* W# V, C
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
( q b5 M! O9 I2 ?$ X8 f 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli * P3 v: y! S9 F* f# D( i
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
* A/ m* i1 {8 _/ j, J# _4 j 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
& N% m' G$ G+ E& w; G. t 糖果盘 candy tray:
: l/ X# n/ t0 g" j( M" v) p2 _# c% b 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
/ h- w) {+ k0 y: D8 ], j 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health , X6 P" y: [9 z
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity 2 p3 f" S6 Z# q8 F7 p$ w
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
* `0 ?& U! \) r& x+ z 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
" v% Y/ A' c) p% e4 u/ R0 a+ d 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship ?; k4 @$ Y! b% G- T! f
红枣 red dates - prosperity
- A# q) e" T' I) Z# L7 o2 Z 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00
