From GetchaNuggets:
WISHING YOU A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS
CHINESE NEW YEAR 2018
Gong Xi Fa Cai
Here are some facts, figures and other trivia about this year’s Lunar New Year 2018.
10 of the Best Chinese Proverbs
- Wife who put husband in doghouse soon find him in cathouse.
- A life with love is happy; a life for love is foolish.
- War doesn’t determine who is right, war determines who is left.
- A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song.
- Three humble shoemakers brainstorming make a great statesman.
- Visiting monks give better sermons.
- He who asks is a fool for five minutes, but he who does not ask remains a fool forever.
- An ambitious horse will never return to its old stable.
- A conversation with a wise person is worth of ten years’ study of books.
Pete, aged 9 years: Is it true? Dad, I heard that in China, a man doesn’t know his wife until he marries.
Roger, his father: That happens everywhere, son, everywhere!
Learning Chinese words – Basic
- That’s not right…………………………….Sum Ting Wong
- Are you harbouring a fugitive?……………Hu Yu Hai Ding?
- See me asap………………………………..Kum Hia Nao
- Stupid man………………………………….Dum Gai
- Small horse…………………………………Tai Ni Po Ni
- It’s very dark in here………………………Wai So Dim?
- I thought you were on a diet…………….Wai Yu Mun Ching?
- This is a tow-away zone………………….No Pah King
- Our meeting is scheduled for next week……Wai Yu Kum Nao?
- Staying out of sight……………………….Lei Ying Lo
Learning Chinese words – Advanced
- He’s cleaning his automobile……………..Wa Shing Ka
- Your body odour is offensive…………….Yu Stin Ki Pu
- Did you go to the beach?…………………Wai Yu So Tan?
- I bumped into a coffee table……………..Ai Bang Mai Ni
- I think you need a face lift……………….Chin Tu Fat
Confucius – Funny Chinese Phrases
Confucius (551-479 BC) was a famous Chinese philosopher from the Zhou Dynasty. He is the source of many aspects of Chinese culture and beliefs. His style was to teach humanity through stories with moral or philosophical point, his subject matter encompassed ethics, people’s relationships, politics, justice, and sincerity.
Two examples of true Confucius philosophy are:
I hear, I know. I see, I remember. I do, I understand.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
What has happened in the last 75 years or so is that Confucius’s philosophy and style have been hi-jacked for a western interpretation of Chinese jokes. Mao banned Confucianism which probably increased its popularity, particularly in the West.
Will and Guy Ten Favourite Clean Confucius Jokes
- Man with one chopstick go hungry.
- He who put face in fruit drink get punch in the nose.
- Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like bananas.
- A bird in hand makes hard to blow nose.
- War doesn’t determine who’s right.
War determines who’s left. - Man who sleep in cathouse by day, sleep in doghouse by night.
- Man become old when he watch food instead of waitress.
- Man who dream of eating giant mushroom – wake up with no pillow.
- Man who sink into woman’s arms will soon find arms in woman’s sink.
- When called an idiot sometimes is better to be quiet, than open mouth and remove all doubt.
Fun Facts
One sixth of the world’s people celebrate CNY.
It is not only celebrated in Mainland China, but also observed in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam, Singapore and some other Asian countries as well as Chinatowns around the world.
In recent years, the celebrations in New York, London, Vancouver, Sydney and other overseas cities have spread out of Chinatowns. Chinese New Year has become one of the world’s most celebrated festivals.
Reunion dinner is a ritual.
The reunion dinner on Chinese New Year’s Eve is a big feast to commemorate the past year. This is the most important time to be with families. After the reunion dinner, families sit together to watch the Spring Festival Gala while chatting. As the most watched TV program, the gala collects various well-selected performances, targeting audiences of different generations.
The celebration decorations are mostly in red.
Houses are decorated with red couplets, red lanterns, and red paper cuttings; city streets are lit up by red lanterns; and numerous people are dressed in red. This is because red in Chinese culture is the symbol of happiness, wealth and prosperity, and can ward off evil spirits and bring good luck. These red decorations are to the festival what Christmas trees are to Christmas.
Kids receive red envelops as gifts.
Instead of wrapped gifts that western nationalities give at Christmas, children get red envelops stuffed with lucky money from grandparents, uncles, aunts and other elders who have started to earn their way. The happy fact is that kids are allowed to spend the money as they like.
The date varies!
The date for Chinese New Year changes each year. It always falls between January 21 and February 20, determined by the Chinese lunar calendar. Chinese New Year 2018 is on Friday February 16.
“Xinnian Kuaile” means “Happy New Year”.
X?nnián kuàilè! (????). That’s pronounced “sshin-nyen kwhy-luh”, by the way.
Bonus Fun Fact: CNY is a tough time for “old” singles!!
Chinese New Year is a joyful time for most, but for singles above the normal matrimonial age it’s not. Parents and relatives think they should be settled down. In China, females are said to be marriageable up to 30, and males before 32. Those who don’t get married before these ages are thought to be the dregs of society!
For these singles, parents are extremely anxious. So New Year’s Eve stress is heightened by embarrassing interrogations of the singles. Desperate parents even arrange dating (prospective marriages) for their single children.
To solve this problem an interesting, and often ridiculous, solution has appeared — renting a boyfriend or girlfriend for the New Year. There are websites and agents specialized in this business. Taobao, China’s largest online retailer, has a section for fake boyfriend and girlfriend rentals. The price is about 100 yuan (16 USD) a day.
