Greeting Season: 牛年: Year of the Ox 虎年: Year of the Tiger 兔年: Year of the Rabbit 龙年: Year of the Dragon 蛇年: Year of the Snake 马年: Year of the Horse 羊年: Year of the Sheep 猴年: Year of the Monkey 鸡年: Year of the Rooster 狗年: Year of the Dog 猪年: Year of the Boar Concept Chinese zodiac: 生肖 It derives from the observation of the 12-year period that it requires for the planet Jupiter (木星) to complete its orbit. Chinese associate each year with an animal and believe it help indicate fortune and the course of events. "Chinese zodiac" refers to the collective concept. (生肖总称). For example: The Chinese zodiac is used to help people predict their fate. To refer to each animal in the zodiac, you can say "Chinese zodiac animal sign"(属相，指具体属相). For example: "The ox is one of the Chinese zodiac animal signs.". Or you can simply put it as "Chinese animal sign". 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) 和气生财 Harmony brings wealth 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
春节 The Spring Festival
农历 lunar calendar
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
初一 the beginning of New Year
元宵节 The Lantern Festival
鼠年: Year of the Rat
Customs:
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
春联 Spring Festival couplets
剪纸 paper-cuts
年画 New Year paintings
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival do Spring Festival shopping
敬酒 propose a toast
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
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.)
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
戏曲 traditional opera
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
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; 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
Blessings:
金玉满堂 Treasures fill the home
生意兴隆 Business flourishes
岁岁平安 Peace all year round
恭喜发财 Wishing you prosperity
心想事成 May all your wishes come true
吉祥如意 Everything goes well
国泰民安 The country flourishes and people live in peace
招财进宝 Money and treasures will be plentiful
一帆风顺 Wishing you every success
步步高升 Promoting to a higher position
出入平安 Safe trip wherever you go
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
Food names:
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
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or
spicy fillings
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
糖果盘 candy tray:
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
红枣 red dates - prosperity
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet
