首先，AAE在此恭祝各位春节快乐（Happy Lunar New Year)，无论你是发红包还是收红包（Red pocket/ red packet/ red envelope)，希望大家都能过一个好年和春节假期。由于春节是农历新年伊始，也是农历中极其重要的一天，而全国各地风土人情各有特色，春节习俗也多种多样。

        今天，美国英文学院就从食物出发，教大家用英语和朋友聊聊春节的美食小吃。

        First of all, here at AAE, we wish everyone a happy lunar new year. During this holiday season, everyone should enjoy their break whether they will be giving red packets out or receiving red packets. Since Spring Festival signified the beginning of the lunar calendar, it has various customs and traditions. 

        Today, AAE is going to show you some information that related to Spring Festival food so that you could discuss them with your friends in English.

食物 Food

        春节期间，最重要的就是一家团圆（Family Reunion/ Family Gathering），而最能表现这种团圆气氛的，则是通过年夜饭/团年饭（New Year’s Eve Dinner / Reunion Dinner)。在餐桌上，食物自然是必不可少，我们先说部分广为人知的食物。

        During the Spring Festival, the most important thing is the family reunion, and the New Year’s Eve reunion dinner is the most significant symbol that conveys the value of family. On the reunion dinner table, foods are irreplaceable and often have meanings behind them. Let’s talk about some of the noble food.

        鱼，尤其是蒸鱼，是极受欢迎的一道菜，因为鱼的谐音是“余”，表达“年年有余”的意思。

        Fish, especially steamed fish, is a popular dish. In Chinese, the character “鱼” (fish) has the same pronunciation as the character “余”, which stands for “surplus.” It’s a blessing for having surplus money every year.

       年糕的品种很多，但无论是哪一种做法，都是春节的传统食品，因为糕与“高”同音，所以年糕有着“步步高升，一年比一年好”的寓意。

        Rice cake has a handful of variants, and people will at least try one of them during the festival. In Chinese, the character “糕” (cake) has the same pronunciation as the character “高,” which stands for “higher”. It means the new year will be better than the last.

        饺子也是不可或缺的一道菜。从外形来讲，饺子与古时候的金银元宝相似，所以吃&包饺子往往象征着把财富吃下肚子的意思。

        Dumplings are shaped like ancient Chinese silver and gold ingots. Therefore, wrapping and eating dumplings can mean raking in money.

        面条，特别是长面，在春节期间极受欢迎，因为长面（尤其是长寿面）意味着长长久久，长命百岁，而且再搭配上不少的配菜，如：龙虾、桃子、鱼、烧猪等，而这些配菜也都有着美好的含义，使得一碗面中包含了众多祝福。

        Noodles are popular due to its long shape, which means longevity. While people have their noodles, the noodles often come with many different sides and ingredients, like lobster, peaches, fish, roasted pig, etc. Those sides and ingredients are picked for their good meanings. Hence, a single bowl of noodles can come with lots of blessings. 

        春卷是南方地区一道很受欢迎的早茶菜。无论是炸、蒸还是焙烤，都是开胃菜的首选，因为它象征了春天的开始。

        Spring rolls are a popular breakfast dish in Southern China. During the Spring Festival, they are eaten to celebrate the coming of spring. It doesn’t matter if they are deep-fried, steamed or baked, they are a great appetizer.

小吃 Snacks

        团年饭的重要性是毋庸置疑的，但春节约为15天（从农历正月初一，到正月十五为止）！这么长的时间里，大家不仅品尝正餐上的食物，还有种类繁多的小吃！

        We know that the New Year’s Eve reunion dinner is essential; however, it only occurs once during the Spring Festival. Until the Lantern Festival, there are 15 days in total, and people have to rely on snacks for most of the time.

        凡是说到春节年货，瓜子基本上是各家各户必备的消遣小吃。家人团聚时，每人都会手拿一把瓜子，在聊天的过程之中慢慢地嗑。在所有的瓜子种类中，葵花子和吊瓜子是最受欢迎的两种。

        Whenever we talk about snacks for the Spring Festival, baked seeds are a favorite choice for most people. Before chatting with each other, family members typically will grab a handful of baked seeds first. Among all the baked seeds, sunflower seeds and hanging melon seeds are two of the most popular baked seeds.

        与瓜子一起摆在客桌上的，便是水果盘。尽管水果盘什么时候都能摆，但是在春节期间，盘上的水果往往是带有特殊含义，如：桃子、葡萄、金桔、石榴等。

        A fruit platter is another popular snack along with baked seeds, and the fruits that placed on the platter usually have special meaning. Kumquats, peaches, grapes, and pomegranates are some of the favorite choices.

        最后，就是各种各样不同的甜食，有容易储存的包装糖果、花生糖等，也有不容易保存的冰糖葫芦等。

        Last but not least, sweet treats are also popular. Some of them are easy to store, like wrapped candies and peanut candies, and some of them aren’t so easy to store, like candied haw. 

        在春节期间的食物和小吃，它们都是为了传达一种祝福。

        It doesn’t matter whether it’s food or snacks, there are meant to be blessings to those who eat them.

        在此，再次祝大家春节快乐，万事如意！

        Once again, we wish you a happy Lunar New Year. 

联系我们

中国：广州市天河区林和西路9号耀中广场B座3515

电话：020 - 3810 5606

美国：530 Golden Gate Avenue San Francisco, CA 94102 USA

电话：1 (415)-567-0189