|
Spring Festival Words
: J9 u( O+ _1 K5 K6 U E- P Greeting Season:
: {) ~- ? h2 A& m& p+ [ 春节 The Spring Festival
$ C' n: b [- C- o! n4 f* L& \ 农历 lunar calendar 3 L/ U P3 Z( y% r% u5 ^
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar ) t I6 T; e: o9 b" B+ C. U& J; `. t0 C& G
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
2 U7 F0 X8 U! v h$ t 初一 the beginning of New Year
0 B5 W9 q" D. Z$ G, g 元宵节 The Lantern Festival 5 S: s+ O! }) V B. a
Customs:
: I: e" `* w+ N 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival & X1 c H+ [% ^* L# ~
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry 9 O4 @6 G' W6 ~. p5 E
春联 Spring Festival couplets & q Y8 L- T! v6 l$ O
剪纸 paper-cuts : i2 A3 D- W" o2 k( f
年画 New Year paintings $ J$ |* F' u6 o: n+ P
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
& K' O1 q' D0 {* V! r6 k 敬酒 propose a toast + d* A, j8 {3 _ r
灯笼 lantern: a portable light % Q6 N) l* M0 i1 S! H
烟花 fireworks
8 m0 q1 R5 Q6 _ u/ h4 i 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) + n4 E, z: Z) ^: B9 |: o
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) ' G( z" Q- J% t Y/ k
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
+ k/ x; P: t" k$ g1 A, M 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) / w1 r5 Z" f9 s! t3 H3 f8 e
戏曲 traditional opera 1 `3 Y' L6 m8 c% L
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
- H# w2 _2 A1 C8 ?8 W( b 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns & M' k' D1 ^" ~6 g" j3 O1 o! D
灯会 exhibit of lanterns % G1 d0 h# X& I9 R& b+ ~3 d3 G+ [5 K
守岁 staying-up
7 x8 k0 P4 ~- `# h 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
4 |6 z; F& B! n z 禁忌 taboo
$ W/ E* m e( i- j 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune 8 [7 R5 P0 V, l' w
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors * O% }- {* I' h6 Q- k( F- N+ b- b. y
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
3 d5 s8 W8 ]8 _ 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
9 h$ k f0 h* |; w( x 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year % _- E) b. _* C" g/ p4 u
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning # ~' ?1 m8 C: l9 g
Blessing: ) Q' w9 F: l2 G2 H! e
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
/ k9 a9 a6 E* O- T+ M8 b Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace - ~2 J* Y) x) s: C! k$ ]3 s
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
% [) S8 S/ s5 a- t& d6 G 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! ' y3 ~# [- @$ V o7 ` S* i
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
2 W' M8 @3 t& c( G Food names:
+ ]: u1 d" k% L' v! P 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
: S$ z, M B% Z. E 团圆饭 family reunion dinner 8 }7 C) |, E5 {* r$ O. l; U! ?1 u
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
2 W" W7 x- E6 O1 T! H 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli d7 ` Z h& W7 k7 J, Q6 v. M
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings 4 P& o7 M6 V( z$ @1 U( i2 ]
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding $ s' P/ j+ u" `9 d7 ~+ l+ r2 H
糖果盘 candy tray: ; g) R* Z/ |+ m6 c$ s1 n# d
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
; d! a m9 I1 Z+ z 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
0 h' i% F1 `8 I) n" t 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity & l: t2 z% C2 F1 F/ W5 q0 O2 |
金桔 cumquat - prosperity , x% Z/ g }4 N5 Z w
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come " j1 R6 R5 s) H* Y6 n& p
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship ( t* o' h) Y N6 b
红枣 red dates - prosperity
; R) D, f# P1 [3 i+ W 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00