|
Spring Festival Words - U! R) {; [1 k+ U
Greeting Season: & }2 U; D @" w0 `# Z% T
春节 The Spring Festival
: @9 j$ m; q. e8 \ 农历 lunar calendar
1 F- p8 y* k0 z. |$ ]4 s! U8 ?7 _ 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
2 w5 W- L3 @+ y1 q 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
; |: Z1 g5 G, A( _4 j" A$ i 初一 the beginning of New Year
( K a% j5 d# u: F: H 元宵节 The Lantern Festival 4 E$ ~- b" q( F3 Z& ~* O+ i
Customs: ; O6 e/ s: E0 ^* y. R& \; ?: Z
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival ; h |% U" j8 `% O5 I
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
( K$ I! r0 B( L: X, F1 p+ a 春联 Spring Festival couplets
0 R% H" H8 H, [5 |9 Z# s 剪纸 paper-cuts 6 _3 B# p3 U2 r. C3 y9 |" P
年画 New Year paintings 6 l* Z+ F7 _) }. f7 q
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
( K9 ~* e, r6 Q2 ~# E) g+ V2 ]8 k6 K 敬酒 propose a toast
3 X& @0 |: U5 A) w7 f" b% a 灯笼 lantern: a portable light
) I( {2 L _/ Q8 e; v; G& @ 烟花 fireworks ; O% g) b' N2 w5 p
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
{5 h$ a) @4 d- \" g* z( P% A5 x 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
" s3 P, u- C% i7 V 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
% a: m f8 ?% A- U+ a 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
( ^/ `5 N1 P! E! s8 g$ Y 戏曲 traditional opera % u# C q; [4 Y6 k. ]/ i' k, V
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville : V2 P0 K" T0 W+ W
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
3 M6 r- N- A% [' X9 B" S0 { 灯会 exhibit of lanterns 8 x( K! R/ h+ R& P# Q' p
守岁 staying-up 5 ]7 c- m8 v$ t* T& W5 x
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit ! P' I8 S& T# d7 Y+ Q+ k' n
禁忌 taboo
4 W. i1 h7 ~& ~& _ 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
@# m8 J7 g9 d3 ^ |( Y, p# c 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors ( L$ x4 m8 c; D: p1 q- Y& B( s0 p6 c
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
* m$ N& @' \3 T1 b 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 ! L! E0 ^6 ^4 U7 g. j, |
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
: M9 W( A- N0 \7 ], R1 W 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning ' P7 T1 D. R) ^% _" g# Q& L9 a1 I
Blessing:
& E1 x1 A9 y4 g Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
E' P! V) C" q# j5 J" R8 o+ Q S% b Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
, G+ k% x8 h: c: P* X) w Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go ! \7 G) c" e& z0 V
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
% G4 }3 i& q+ o- J! p 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
- F; f" Z6 ]7 v! a$ G; F" E Food names: 9 U9 l2 ^# M: w! {- ^8 z4 e
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake / V% n& [: N$ A" z: M
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
7 `2 G1 q, |& k$ {7 [ 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
9 ^' U( p" {& L3 t, C% j& R 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
# E7 W1 z( g& p7 j- U$ s 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
8 U% F3 \2 K) v0 C1 ?; T 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
( T3 q( j4 p' D1 m, Z7 V 糖果盘 candy tray:
$ B. f+ y+ P, R1 G! V 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
- P' f! T2 q) \9 o. u/ v# a* ? 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health ! h1 w% Z/ V9 X1 }: ?
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity 9 H* m# V3 ^/ A7 x; M
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
" ]( s |( {$ C7 T! y. E% A# X 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
8 s2 l* W& ]3 Y' f 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship ! I0 ?% b0 `0 h# b6 r! x; }
红枣 red dates - prosperity
4 ?0 b! Y- \( W$ m ^- h# _" ? 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00
