中国春节常用词语的英语表达

 　　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, symbolize¹ fortune and wealth in the coming year.)

　　舞狮 lion dance (the lion is believed to be able to dispel² 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 riddles³ 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 taboo⁴

　　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 copper⁵ coins strung together on a red string and symbolized⁶ 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

1 symbolize   

vt.作为...的象征，用符号代表

参考例句：

• Easter eggs symbolize the renewal of life.复活蛋象征新生。
• Dolphins symbolize the breath of life.海豚象征着生命的气息。

2 dispel   

vt.驱走，驱散，消除

参考例句：

• I tried in vain to dispel her misgivings.我试图消除她的疑虑，但没有成功。
• We hope the programme will dispel certain misconceptions about the disease.我们希望这个节目能消除对这种疾病的一些误解。

3 riddles   

n.谜（语）( riddle的名词复数 )；猜不透的难题，难解之谜

参考例句：

• Few riddles collected from oral tradition, however, have all six parts. 但是据收集的情况看，口头流传的谜语很少具有这完整的六部分。 来自英汉非文学 - 民俗
• But first, you'd better see if you can answer riddles. 但是你首先最好想想你会不会猜谜语。 来自辞典例句

4 taboo   

n.禁忌，禁止接近，禁止使用；adj.禁忌的；v.禁忌，禁制，禁止

参考例句：

• The rude words are taboo in ordinary conversation.这些粗野的字眼在日常谈话中是禁忌的。
• Is there a taboo against sex before marriage in your society?在你们的社会里，婚前的性行为犯禁吗？

5 copper   

n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的

参考例句：

• The students are asked to prove the purity of copper.要求学生们检验铜的纯度。
• Copper is a good medium for the conduction of heat and electricity.铜是热和电的良导体。

6 symbolized   

v.象征，作为…的象征( symbolize的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• For Tigress, Joy symbolized the best a woman could expect from life. 在她看，小福子就足代表女人所应有的享受。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子
• A car symbolized distinction and achievement, and he was proud. 汽车象征着荣誉和成功，所以他很自豪。 来自辞典例句