Lunar New Year
Lunar New Year has 28 English words, such as Apricot blossom, Tet couplets, altar, and ancestor. Learn them with pictures, IPA, meanings and example sentences.
What you'll gain
All 28 words in Lunar New Year
Apricot blossom/ˈeɪ.prɪ.kɒt ˈblɒs.əm/n. phr
The yellow or pink flower of an apricot tree, often associated with spring and the Lunar New Year.
Many families decorate their homes with a beautiful Apricot blossom branch during the spring festival.
Tet couplets
n. the pairs of matching verses written in black or gold ink on red paper and hung up at Vietnamese Lunar New Year.
The teacher asked us to write parallel sentences using the same grammatical pattern.
altar/ˈɔltɚ/
An altar is a table or raised surface used for religious ceremonies, sacrifices, or offerings.
ancestor/ˈænsestər/n
n. forebear, forefather, progenitor, precursor
banh chung
A traditional Vietnamese square sticky-rice cake filled with mung beans and often pork, commonly eaten during Tet.
During Tet, my family unwraps a banh chung and shares it with guests.
boiled chicken
chicken that has been cooked in boiling water
I made boiled chicken for dinner with rice and vegetables.
calligraphy/kəˈlɪɡɹəfi/
n. the art of beautiful handwriting, done with a brush or a special pen.
chrysanthemum
A flowering plant with large, colorful blooms, often grown in gardens and blooming in autumn.
The chrysanthemum in our garden blooms with bright yellow flowers every autumn.
decorative/dˈɛkɹətˌɪv/adj
Made to look nice rather than to serve a practical purpose.
dress up
To put on special or formal clothes, often for a party or a special event.
dried candied fruits
Fruits that have been preserved in sugar and then dried, making them sweet and chewy.
We added dried candied fruits to the holiday cake.
firecracker/ˈfaɪəɹˌkɹækəɹ/
n. a small firework that makes a loud bang, set off at festivals such as the Lunar New Year.
firework/ˈfaɪɚˌwɝːk/n
A device containing gunpowder and other chemicals that explodes with bright colors and loud noises in the sky, typically used for celebrations.
five-fruit tray
A serving tray arranged with five different kinds of fruit.
We placed a five-fruit tray in the center of the table.
gac sticky rice
A Vietnamese dish of glutinous rice colored red-orange and mildly flavored with gac fruit, often served at festive occasions.
We served gac sticky rice at the wedding.
good luck charms
Objects that people believe bring good fortune or protect them from bad luck.
Many people carry good luck charms when they face an important challenge.
jellied meat
Meat that has been cooked and set in a firm jelly made from gelatin or its natural juices.
In winter, we often eat jellied meat with bread and pickles.
kumquat tree
A small citrus tree that produces oval orange fruits with edible peel.
A kumquat tree grows well in a sunny spot with well-drained soil.
lucky money/ˈlʌki ˌmʌni/n phr
Money given as a gift in a red envelope during Lunar New Year or other celebrations to bring good fortune.
marigold/ˈmæriɡoʊld/
A common garden plant of the daisy family with bright yellow or orange flowers.
melon seeds
n. roasted, salted watermelon seeds, cracked open and eaten as a snack at Lunar New Year.
We saved the melon seeds to plant them in the garden.
new year's eve
n. the last night of the old year, when people stay up to welcome the new year; in Vietnam, Giao thua, the night before the first day of the Lunar New Year.
We usually have dinner with friends on new year's eve.
pagoda/pəˈɡoʊdə/n
A tiered tower with multiple eaves, common in traditions of East Asia.
peach/piːtʃ/
n. a round, soft fruit with sweet yellow flesh, a furry pinkish skin, and a large stone.
pickled onion
An onion preserved in vinegar or brine, usually with a tangy flavor.
The tacos were topped with a bright pink pickled onion.
pork paste
A smooth paste made by finely grinding lean pork, used as a filling or a spread.
The recipe uses lean pork paste as a savory filling for steamed buns.
spring festival
n. the Chinese and Vietnamese Lunar New Year festival, held in late winter or early spring to welcome the new year.
Families gather to share meals and welcome new beginnings during the spring festival.
visit relatives
to go and spend time with members of your family
During the holidays, we visit relatives in the countryside.