Reading Theme:
Chinese New Year: Meaning, Traditions & Celebrations
Meaning 1：Chinese lunar new year celebration (Chinese New Year)
Chinese New Year
/tʃaɪˈniːz nuː jɪr/
n.
The most important traditional festival in China, celebrating the start of the lunar new year with family gatherings and special customs.
Chinese lunar new year celebration
➕
/tʃaɪˈniːz ˈluːnər njuː jɪər ˌsɛlɪˈbreɪʃən/
n.
Chinese New Year, also known as Spring Festival, is the most significant traditional holiday in China, celebrated on the first day of the lunar calendar. It features family reunions, feasts, red decorations, and various customs.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
Chinese (from China) + New Year (the start of the year); the festival marks the lunar new year.
💡 Mnemonic
Think of 'China's New Year' – a fresh start with red everywhere!
📖 Example
During Chinese New Year, my family video calls our relatives far away to send blessings and good wishes.
During Chinese New Year, my family video calls our relatives far away to send blessings and good wishes.
🔗 Collocations
celebrate Chinese New Year – To observe the Chinese New Year festival with festivities
Chinese New Year traditions – Customs and practices associated with the festival
Chinese New Year Eve – The evening before Chinese New Year, often marked by reunion dinner
🔄 Synonyms
Spring Festival (n.) – Another name for Chinese New Year, emphasizing the spring season.
Lunar New Year (n.) – A broader term for the new year celebration based on the lunar calendar, often used for Chinese New Year.
Chinese Lunar New Year (n.) – Specifically refers to Chinese cultural celebration of the lunar new year.
🚫 Antonyms
Gregorian New Year (n.) – January 1st based on the solar calendar, contrasting with the lunar-based Chinese New Year.
Western New Year (n.) – The December 31/January 1 celebration, differing in date and customs from Chinese New Year.
🌱 Derivatives
Chinese New Year's Eve (n.) – The evening before Chinese New Year day.
Chinese New Year's Day (n.) – The first day of the Chinese New Year festival.
📖 Cultural Story
Originating in the Shang Dynasty, Chinese New Year began as a ceremony to honor gods and ancestors. Based on the lunar calendar, it evolved over millennia with customs like red envelopes and fireworks.
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