新年的風俗Chinese New Year Customs

老師：上一次請你們回去問問華人過年的風俗，現在你們說說看。

Teacher: Last time I asked you all to go back and ask about ethnic Chinese’s Lunar New Year traditions. Now talk about them.

華中：新年那一天，大家見面的時候要說「恭喜發財」。

John: The day of the New Year, whenever people meet they have to say “Congratulations and may you be prosperous.”

麗安：我們家的年夜飯一定有魚,爸爸說這叫做「年年有餘」。

Ann: Our family definitely has fish for New Year’s Eve dinner. Dad said this is called “Surplus year by year.”

明真：如果不小心把杯子、碗打破了，要說「歲歲平安」，因為「歲」跟「碎」的發音一樣。

Jane: If you aren’t careful and break a cup or bowl, you have to say “May you have years of peace,” because “year” and “break” sound the same in Mandarin.

家傑：我爸爸說他小時候為了守歲，除夕那天晚上一定要十二點以後才能睡覺。

Jake: My Dad says when he was little, in order to extend his lifespan, on the night of New Year’s Eve he absolutely couldn’t go to sleep until after 12:00.

老師：你們說得太好了！那麼過 年有哪些不能做的事呢？

Teacher: You all have spoken very well! What things can you not do during the Lunar New Year?

麗安：過年的時候不能掃地，也不能倒垃圾，因為會把一年的好運都掃出去、倒出去。

Ann: During the Lunar New Year you can’t sweep, nor can you take out the trash, because that would mean sweeping out or taking out your luck for the year.

華中：還有,過年的時候不能說不吉利的話，也不能罵人。

John: Also, during the Lunar New Year you can’t say inauspicious things and can’t scold people.

家傑:太好了！那時候不管我做了什麼，都不會被父母罵。

Jake: Excellent. So whatever I do then, I can’t be scolded by my parents.