第六课 在中国过春节 Celebrating Spring Festival in China

第六课 在中国过春节
Dì liù kè Zài zhōng guó guò chūn jié
Lesson 06 Celebrating Spring Festival in China


Background

The Chinese Lunar New Year is also known as the Spring Festival because it starts at the beginning of spring. It is the most important festival in China and is traditionally a time for family reunios. Many of China's ethnic minorities celebrate their Lunar New Year around the same time as the Han people, although some maintain their own calendars. They are commenting on food.

Dialogues

麦克：这期间在外地的人们通常回家与家人团聚，是吗？
            Zhè qī jiān zài wài dì de rén men tōng cháng huí jiā yŭ jiā rén tuán jù, shì
            ma?
            People who live away from home usually return during this time, don't they?

丽丽：是的。人们忙着大扫除、准备年货、贴对联、放鞭炮。
            Shì de. Rén men máng zhe dà săo chú, zhŭn bèi nián huò, tiē duì liánr fàng biān pào.
            Yes. And people will be busy with their spring cleaning, shopping, decorating their homes with Spring Festival couplets,
            and lighting firecrackers.

麦克：初一那天你们要走亲访友吗？
            Chū yī nà tiān nĭ men yào zŏu qīn făng yŏu ma?
            Do you visit relatives and friends on the first day of the New Year?

丽丽：是的。初二那天新媳妇儿还要回娘家。
            Shì de. Chū èr nà tiān xīn xí fu er hái yào huí niáng jia.
            Yes. And for a newly wed woman, she typically visits her parents on the second day.

麦克：听说北京的庙会很热闹，我想去逛庙会。
            Tīng shuō bĕi jīng de miào huì hĕn rè nào. Wŏ xiăng qù guàng miào huì.
            I was told that Beijing's temple fairs will be bustling. I'd like to visit some of these fairs.

丽丽：好啊，我陪你一起去。我请你吃最好的糖葫芦。
            Hăo a. wŏ péi nĭ yī qĭ qù. Wŏ qĭng nĭ chī zuì hăo de táng hú lu.
            Of course. I'll go with you, and I'll buy you the best sugar-coated haws (candy) on a stick.

麦克：谢谢。我可以品尝到北京许多的传统小吃。
            Xiè xie. Wŏ kĕ yĭ pĭn cháng dào bĕi jīng de xŭ duō chuán tŏng xiăo chī.
            Thanks. I'll get to taste lots of traditional Beijing local delicacies, I'm sure.

丽丽：你还可以欣赏到中国的许多民间艺术。
            Nĭ hái kĕ yĭ xīn shăng dào zhōng guó de xŭ duō mín jiān yì shù.
            You will also enjoy many Chinese folk arts.

New Words

年夜饭	娘家	民间艺术
nián yè fàn	niáng jia	mín jiān yì shù
New Year's Eve dinner	a married woman's parents' home or family	folk arts

媳妇儿	年货	庙会
xí fu er	nián huò	miào huì
a newly wed woman	special purchases for Spring Festival	temple fair