一周热词回顾（1.9-1.15）

4. 春节吉祥物

(Chinese) Lunar New Year mascot

请看例句：

Chinese cultural exchange groups unveiled the country's first ever official Chinese Lunar New Year mascots on Sunday. Named Nian Wa and Chun Ni, they are based on characters from traditional woodblock prints seen as symbols of good luck and happiness.

10日，中国文化交流组织正式发布了我国首批中华春节吉祥物。两个春节吉祥物分别被定名为"年娃"和"春妮"，其设计基于传统木版印刷中象征吉祥喜庆的人物形象。

Mascot是"吉祥物"的意思，(Chinese) Lunar New Year即春节，因此(Chinese) Lunar New Year mascots就是"春节吉祥物"。此外，这个词还可以用mascots for the (Chinese) Lunar New Year表示。

"年娃"和"春妮"是春节吉祥喜庆(good luck and happiness)的象征。这两个吉祥娃娃的设计创意，源自传统文化的"金童玉女"，有招财、开运、纳福、平安等寓意。年娃和春妮本来也是男女孩童的惯常用名(common name)，作为春节娃娃的专名则重新赋予了"中国年"(Chinese New Year)和"春节"(Spring Festival)的特定含义。

"年娃"和"春妮"沿用了传统的发型(traditional hairstyle)与头饰。男左女右且略呈弧形的身形布局，切合了"左阳右阴"的和合传统，蕴含了阴阳的平衡(a balance of yin and yang)。吉祥娃娃身前肚兜上装饰的"蝙蝠""双鱼"图案(bat and fish patterns)，意为"福(蝙蝠)庆有余(鱼)"，表达了人们对来年美好前景的向往；脚蹬的"虎头鞋"(tiger-head shoes)和"绣花鞋"(embroidered shoes)也有"春天即至、避邪祈安"的意思。

[相关词汇]

春晚 Spring Festival gala

春运 Spring Festival travel rush

春联 Spring Festival couplets

压岁钱 gift money, money given to children as a Lunar New Year gift

爆竹 firecracker

烟花 fireworks

敬酒 propose a toast