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Spring Festival Words
) Q& s6 F3 J( C3 t3 `9 p+ f( } Greeting Season: # H% X' [$ h& [- N1 R7 h) R' {
春节 The Spring Festival
1 T/ U* ^' {' e/ k% v8 S0 | 农历 lunar calendar ( }3 e* A0 h/ {9 }: f
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar ) S8 k7 Q0 D3 F3 U ^
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
: O; D9 Q6 H! L 初一 the beginning of New Year / I2 q& m5 \3 }" K
元宵节 The Lantern Festival
& x# R4 Q, j1 h% ~9 S0 g& N Customs:
( L# j6 c+ @8 y* ]- N) Y' F _/ e8 b 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival 3 `+ D; P0 o/ N( p2 ~' {
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
& C9 F1 S- x0 [2 F, r 春联 Spring Festival couplets # l: Y# t+ M% ?: ]4 r8 c" P% k
剪纸 paper-cuts : z& o/ i; {: M0 M! h
年画 New Year paintings ' X/ Z' m$ \0 f$ ~: `* K- F
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
' G1 c9 ^+ U+ B$ @ ~ 敬酒 propose a toast
" E3 y; ^3 c, B; E6 s {1 p2 { 灯笼 lantern: a portable light 5 R: b# r/ O6 m% b, r
烟花 fireworks % }" K9 K6 ?3 S: ]) W! R T
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) 4 ]% G3 V" ~/ h2 r- M$ P
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
( |; J9 f' c/ N# f4 M- `, @ 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
& a8 @9 M" _8 P4 k& A& A# R 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) ; L3 j+ j$ d2 Q: f( Y h& P
戏曲 traditional opera
9 [" u R' b$ L: Q- I& O1 e; g/ n/ _+ { 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
8 L! b, a# h( S. O2 L 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
/ \- N5 Y; p( h' ]( P% y) n1 J6 ^ 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
' r( O! g# h) q! [" g% B! U 守岁 staying-up + i8 j# s$ x: x' N& |
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit : t5 p3 N" J+ J# h8 x
禁忌 taboo
- m! x. W. N f8 H8 I0 ~ 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune % h9 ]) B5 N* W }" Y; F
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors 9 H+ [4 E7 T; t1 s& Z! L' K3 M$ S
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift 8 o9 b ]5 M1 h8 c& w0 _1 F, \
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
* M$ y% {1 F$ I% ~ 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year 5 \: r% |) b9 h6 ^( Q2 y- v
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
% c P9 V- l( t1 e/ x! M+ _9 n9 n Blessing: - I4 j7 J9 R: ^9 D5 p
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
( O; Q& S0 s4 T1 t: S Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace 4 @4 Q5 @8 c3 _6 q% n
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go ; T+ V# t6 V3 o9 n* {2 @
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
) X& _ X% {* M) ^) j4 L8 { 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! " U# @$ A6 T! ^+ | A
Food names:
6 W4 F8 N. c [% L0 g1 x# ` 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
9 p. y4 C" G; ^2 W# _ 团圆饭 family reunion dinner
' a: }1 i* p# Z5 |& i- h 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
6 |0 k9 T6 D5 z# K: E0 Q 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli $ k# S% W7 P/ b e& f
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
; H M) _0 A% T9 v" ]4 ]$ L: y. ? 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding 4 a4 N; b$ Y% P# h6 Y
糖果盘 candy tray: . I5 |2 |& Q" M- I/ S
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
$ o- V/ L! a- m4 I8 c3 O 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
+ U2 _2 F, u1 P8 N; S0 K p: P6 \ 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity , [7 m' [3 a: ]! k& W
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
% _. B5 R- I7 S' F& P6 j 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
" }2 f; H" s' }/ ^- e 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship - q8 `- D; c# ^, L! p$ r
红枣 red dates - prosperity / X, ~/ Q' A. d' L& H9 o
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00
