Voc Essential Foods Eaten in China on New Year's Eve

年夜饭 niányèfàn

New Year's Eve family dinner

必备 bìbèi

essential

农历 nónglì

lunar calendar

团聚 tuánjù

to reunite

贴 tiē

to paste

春联 chūnlián

Spring Festival couplet

寓意 yùyì

meaning / implication

祝福 zhùfú

blessings

食物 shíwù

food

象征 xiàngzhēng

to symbolize

古代 gǔdài

ancient times

元宝 yuánbǎo

ancient gold/silver ingot

财富 cáifù

wealth

汤圆 tāngyuán

glutinous rice balls

糯米 nuòmǐ

glutinous rice

馅料 xiànliào

filling / stuffing

异 yì

different / to distinguish

煮 zhǔ

to boil / cook

油炸 yóuzhá

to deep fry

蒸 zhēng

to steam

谐音 xiéyīn

homophone

团圆 tuányuán

reunion

余 yú

surplus / extra

鱼尾 yúwěi

fishtail

狮子头 shīzitóu

pork meatballs

丸子 wánzi

meatballs

盆菜 péncài

poon choi

道 dào

measure word for dishes

食材 shícái

ingredients

盆满钵满 pénmǎnbōmǎn

abundant wealth

八宝年糕 bābǎoniángāo

eight treasure rice cake

经典 jīngdiǎn

classic

年糕 niángāo

New Year cake

相似 xiāngsì

similar

佛跳墙 fótiàoqiáng

Buddha Jumps Over the Wall

高档 gāodàng

high-grade

海参 hǎishēn

sea cucumber

鲍鱼 bàoyú

abalone

鱼翅 yúchì

shark fin

干贝 gānbèi

dried scallop

福寿 fúshòu

happiness and longevity

口彩 kǒucǎi

auspicious words

不可或缺 bùkěhuòquē

indispensable

招财进宝 zhāocáijìnbǎo

bring in wealth and treasure

年年有余 niánniányǒuyú

abundance year after year

有头有尾 yǒutóuyǒuwěi

to finish what one starts