中国春节常用词语的英语表达

时间:2021-08-31

  过年 celebrate the spring festival

  春联 spring festival couplets

  剪纸 paper-cuts

  年画 new year paintings

  买年货 do shopping for the spring festival ; do spring festival shopping

  敬酒 propose a toast

  灯笼 lantern

  烟花 fireworks

  爆竹 firecrackers (people scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)

  红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)

  舞狮 lion dance (the lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)

  舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)

  戏曲 traditional opera

  杂耍 variety show

  灯谜 riddles written on lanterns

  灯会 exhibit of lanterns

  守岁 staying-up

  拜年 pay new year's call; give new year's greetings; pay new year's visit

  禁忌 taboo

  去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune

  祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors

  压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar new year gift

  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

  辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year

  扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning

  年糕 nian-gao; rise cake; new year cake

  团圆饭 family reunion dinner

  年夜饭 the dinner on new year's eve