龙年春节英语思维导图

《龙年春节英语思维导图》

Central Topic: Lunar New Year (Year of the Dragon)

I. Preparations (Before the New Year)

• A. House Cleaning (大扫除)

  • 1. English Term: Spring cleaning
  • 2. Phrases: Dusting, sweeping, mopping, tidying up, decluttering
  • 3. Purpose: To sweep away bad luck and welcome good fortune.
  • 4. Superstitions: Avoid sweeping inwards on New Year's Day to prevent sweeping away good luck.

• B. Decorations (装饰)

  • 1. Red Decorations: Symbolize good fortune and happiness.
       • a. Red Lanterns (红灯笼): Represent prosperity and good luck.
       • b. Red Envelopes (红包): Also called "lucky money," given to children and unmarried adults. (Red Packet)
       • c. Paper Cuttings (剪纸): Intricate designs often featuring zodiac animals or auspicious symbols.
       • d. Spring Couplets (春联): Poetic verses displayed on door frames, expressing good wishes for the new year.
  • 2. Flowers and Plants:
       • a. Orchid (兰花): Represents elegance and refinement.
       • b. Peach Blossoms (桃花): Symbolize longevity and prosperity.
       • c. Mandarin Orange Tree (桔子树): Represent wealth and good fortune (due to the word "桔" being homophonous with "吉" meaning auspicious).
  • 3. Upside-Down "Fu" Character (倒福字): "Fu" (福) means good fortune; hanging it upside down signifies that good fortune is arriving ("dao" 倒 means upside down, and "dao" 到 means arriving).

• C. Shopping (购物)

  • 1. New Clothes (新衣服): Wearing new clothes symbolizes a fresh start.
  • 2. Food: Preparing ingredients for the New Year's Eve dinner and other festive meals.
  • 3. Gifts (礼物): For visiting relatives and friends.
  • 4. Firecrackers (鞭炮): To ward off evil spirits (increasingly restricted due to safety concerns).

• D. Travel (旅行)

  • 1. Spring Festival Travel Rush (春运): The largest annual human migration in the world.
  • 2. Homecoming (回家): Returning to one's hometown to reunite with family.
  • 3. Modes of Transportation: Train, plane, bus, car.

II. New Year's Eve (除夕)

• A. Reunion Dinner (年夜饭)

  • 1. Significance: The most important meal of the year, symbolizing family unity and togetherness.
  • 2. Common Dishes:
       • a. Dumplings (饺子): Shaped like ancient Chinese money, symbolizing wealth.
       • b. Fish (鱼): Represents abundance and surplus ("yu" 鱼 sounds like "yu" 余, meaning surplus).
       • c. Spring Rolls (春卷): Golden color symbolizes wealth.
       • d. Noodles (面条): Represent longevity.
       • e. Tangyuan (汤圆): Sweet rice balls, symbolizing family reunion.
  • 3. Toasting (敬酒): Offering toasts to family members, wishing them good health and prosperity.

• B. Watching the CCTV New Year's Gala (看春晚)

  • 1. Significance: A popular televised variety show featuring music, dance, comedy, and drama.
  • 2. Tradition: Many families watch it together as a New Year's Eve tradition.

• C. Giving Red Envelopes (发红包)

  • 1. Target Recipients: Children and unmarried young adults.
  • 2. Symbolism: Good luck and protection against evil spirits.
  • 3. Digital Red Envelopes: Increasingly popular through mobile payment apps like WeChat Pay and Alipay.

• D. Staying Up Late (守岁)

  • 1. Tradition: Staying awake until midnight or later to ward off bad luck and welcome the new year.

III. New Year's Day (正月初一) and Following Days

• A. Visiting Relatives and Friends (拜年)

  • 1. Greetings: "Xin Nian Kuai Le" (新年快乐 - Happy New Year), "Gong Xi Fa Cai" (恭喜发财 - Wishing you wealth and prosperity).
  • 2. Giving Gifts: Bringing small gifts such as fruit, candy, or pastries.

• B. Lion and Dragon Dances (舞龙舞狮)

  • 1. Purpose: To bring good luck and scare away evil spirits.
  • 2. Performed in: Streets, parks, and temples.

• C. Temple Fairs (庙会)

  • 1. Activities: Traditional performances, food stalls, games, and crafts.
  • 2. Atmosphere: Lively and festive.

• D. Lantern Festival (元宵节)

  • 1. Date: The 15th day of the first lunar month, marking the end of the Lunar New Year celebrations.
  • 2. Activities: Lantern viewing, riddle solving, eating tangyuan.

IV. Dragon Year Specific Vocabulary & Traditions

• A. The Dragon (龙)

  • 1. Symbolism: Power, strength, good luck, prosperity, and imperial authority.
  • 2. Positive Traits: Energetic, charismatic, ambitious, intelligent, confident.
  • 3. Potential Negative Traits: Arrogant, impatient, domineering.

• B. Good Luck Charms for Dragon Year:

  • 1. Jade Dragon Pendants: Symbolize good fortune and protection.
  • 2. Red Decorations Featuring Dragons: Enhance the positive energy of the dragon year.
  • 3. Feng Shui Adjustments: To maximize wealth and good health during the year.

• C. Baby Boom in Dragon Year:

  • 1. Chinese families often desire to have children born in the Year of the Dragon, believing they will be successful and prosperous.

V. Modern Celebrations & Adaptations

• A. Travel Abroad: More Chinese people are choosing to spend the New Year holiday traveling abroad.
• B. Online Shopping: Convenient for purchasing gifts and decorations.
• C. Virtual Greetings: Using social media and messaging apps to send New Year greetings.
• D. Environmental Awareness: Increased emphasis on reducing firecracker usage due to pollution concerns.
• E. Cultural Exchanges: Lunar New Year celebrations are becoming increasingly popular in other countries with significant Chinese diaspora populations.

VI. Useful Phrases & Sentences

• Happy Lunar New Year! (新年快乐! Xīn nián kuài lè!)
• Wishing you good fortune! (恭喜发财! Gōng xǐ fā cái!)
• May you have a prosperous new year! (岁岁平安! Suì suì píng ān!)
• Have a good holiday! (过年好! Guò nián hǎo!)
• Red envelope for you! (红包给你! Hóng bāo gěi nǐ!)
• I wish you good health! (祝您身体健康! Zhù nín shēn tǐ jiàn kāng!)
• Family reunion dinner (团圆饭 tuán yuán fàn)
• Spring Festival couplets (春联 chūn lián)
• Lantern Festival (元宵节 yuán xiāo jié)
• Year of the Dragon (龙年 lóng nián)