Chinese New Year Vocabulary and Traditions

Flashcards for reviewing Chinese New Year vocabulary and traditions from a lecture.

Xīn nián (新年)

zhí yì shì 'New Year'.

Kuài lè (快乐)

Yì wèi 'happy'.

Xīn nián kuài lè (新年快乐)

Yì wèi 'Happy New Year'.

Chūn jié (春节)

Yì wèi 'Spring Festival', lìng yī zhǒng shuō 'Lunar New Year' de fāng shì.

Chú xī (除夕)

Chinese New Year's Eve; chú yì wèi 'getting rid of'.

Nián yè fàn (年夜饭)

Chinese New Year's Eve dinner.

Yú (鱼)

Yì wèi 'fish'.

Yú (余)

Tóng yīn zì, yì wèi 'surplus'.

Nián nián yǒu yú (年年有余)

Yì wèi 'every year have surplus'.

Jiǎo zi (饺子)

Dumplings, a popular food for Chinese New Year.

Xìng fú (幸福)

Yì wèi 'happiness'.

Fú (福)

Yì wèi 'good fortune' or 'good luck'.

Fú dào le (福到了)

Yì wèi 'Good fortune has arrived'.

Dào (倒)

Yì wèi 'upside down'.

Jú zi (桔子)

Yì wèi 'tangerine'; qí fā yīn lèi sì yú 'fortune'.

Chéng zi (橙子)

Yì wèi 'orange'; qí fā yīn lèi shì yú 'success'.

Chūn juǎn (春卷)

Spring rolls, a common food.

Miàn tiáo (面条)

Noodles, often chow mein; long noodles symbolize a long life.

Hóng bāo (红包)

Red envelopes filled with money, given to children and unmarried adults.

Biān pào (鞭炮)

Firecrackers, used to scare away evil spirits.

Tuán jù (团聚)

To reunite as a family.

Gěi (给)

To give.

Gōng xǐ fā cái (恭喜发财)

Wishing you a prosperous New Year; to congratulate and get rich.

Shǔ (鼠)

Rat, the first animal in the Chinese zodiac.

Niú (牛)

Ox, the second animal in the Chinese zodiac.

Hǔ (虎)

Tiger, the third animal in the Chinese zodiac.

Tù (兔)

Rabbit, the fourth animal in the Chinese zodiac.

Lóng (龙)

Dragon, the fifth animal in the Chinese zodiac.

Shé (蛇)

Snake, the sixth animal in the Chinese zodiac.

Mǎ (马)

Horse, the seventh animal in the Chinese zodiac.

Yáng (羊)

Goat/Sheep, the eighth animal in the Chinese zodiac.

Hóu (猴)

Monkey, the ninth animal in the Chinese zodiac.

Jī (鸡)

Rooster, the tenth animal in the Chinese zodiac.

Gǒu (狗)

Dog, the eleventh animal in the Chinese zodiac.

Zhū (猪)

Pig, the twelfth animal in the Chinese zodiac.

Nǐ shǔ shén me? (你属什么？)

What animal are you? (referring to the Chinese zodiac).