<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <feed xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xml:lang="en-gb"> <link rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://chineselanguage.org/forums/app.php/feed/topic/3239" /> <title>Chinese languages</title> <subtitle>Chinese languages</subtitle> <link href="http://chineselanguage.org/forums/index.php" /> <updated>2007-02-17T11:25:11+00:00</updated> <author><name><![CDATA[Chinese languages]]></name></author> <id>http://chineselanguage.org/forums/app.php/feed/topic/3239</id> <entry> <author><name><![CDATA[zhangan_mac]]></name></author> <updated>2007-02-17T11:25:11+00:00</updated> <published>2007-02-17T11:25:11+00:00</published> <id>http://chineselanguage.org/forums/viewtopic.php?p=18511#p18511</id> <link href="http://chineselanguage.org/forums/viewtopic.php?p=18511#p18511"/> <title type="html"><![CDATA[Spring Festival Words]]></title> <content type="html" xml:base="http://chineselanguage.org/forums/viewtopic.php?p=18511#p18511"><![CDATA[ Spring Festival Words <br><br>Greeting Season: <br><br>春节 The Spring Festival <br><br>农历 lunar calendar <br><br>正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar <br><br>除夕 New Year‘s Eve; eve of lunar New Year <br><br>初一 the beginning of New Year <br><br>元宵节 The Lantern Festival <br><br><br>Customs: <br><br>过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival <br><br>对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry <br><br>春联 Spring Festival couplets <br><br>剪纸 paper-cuts <br><br>年画 New Year paintings <br><br>买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping <br><br>敬酒 propose a toast <br><br>灯笼 lantern: a portable light <br><br>烟花 fireworks <br><br>爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) <br><br>红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming <br>year.) <br><br>舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) <br><br>舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) <br><br>戏曲 traditional opera <br><br>杂耍 variety show; vaudeville <br><br>灯谜 riddles written on lanterns <br><br>灯会 exhibit of lanterns <br><br>守岁 staying-up <br><br>拜年 pay New Year‘s call; give New Year‘s greetings; New Year‘s visit <br><br>禁忌 taboo <br><br>去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune <br><br>祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one‘s ancestors <br><br>压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift <br>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 <br><br>辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year <br><br>扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning <br><br><br>Blessing: <br><br>Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity <br><br>Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace <br><br>Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go <br><br><br>祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! <br><br>事业成功,家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! <br><br><br>Food names: <br><br>年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake <br><br>团圆饭 family reunion dinner <br><br>年夜饭 the dinner on New Year‘s Eve <br><br>饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli <br><br>汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or <br>spicy fillings <br><br>八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding <br><br>糖果盘 candy tray: <br><br>什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune <br><br>蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health <br><br>西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity <br><br>金桔 cumquat - prosperity <br><br>糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come <br><br>糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship <br><br>红枣 red dates - prosperity <br><br>花生糖 peanut candy - sweet<p>Statistics: Posted by <a href="http://chineselanguage.org/forums/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=3097">zhangan_mac</a> — Sat Feb 17, 2007 11:25 am</p><hr /> ]]></content> </entry> </feed>