4 posts tagged “chinese new year”

Yesterday was the first day of the Chinese New Year. The Chinese year 4707 is the year of the ox. What's your Chinese zodiac animal and what does it say about you?

The Monkey is the most versatile sign of the Chinese zodiac. Such people are often inventors, plotters, entertainers and the creative geniuses behind anything ingenious, including mischief. They have natural quick-wittedness which enables them to understand what is happening and then make a right decision. Even during a conversation a person born in this year is aware of what is going on around him/her, and then makes a mental note of who said what and stores it away for future reference. In general, with their agile minds and multiple talents, monkey people can master any subject. They are reliable and honest people so that any secret is safe in their hands. These people are also honest in their dealings and are very good at problem-solving: knowing how to listen closely and work out solutions at the same time.

Although these people are trustworthy and unlikely to hurt someone out of spite, they would never let people escape if they have behaved badly or damaged a monkey's reputation. Their stamina and determination to achieve their main goals can make these people appear vain or manipulative. People born under this sign should be careful so they do not damage their friendships. It is important to remember for these people that it would be wiser sometimes not to pursue their goals and simply let things pass.

Monkeys have flexible principles and serene self-confidence so they are completely content; but they usually manage to complicate the lives of others. After yet another plan or project has gone wrong, they are seldom there to help clean up the disorder and confusion that they leave in their wake. Monkeys can handle that too; with their charm and persuasiveness they can make people believe that just knowing them is a privilege. The monkey person is most compatable with all animals.

Sharing this info that I receive from an email.

Kung Hei Fat Choi or Kiong Hee Huat Tsai?
By WILLARD CHENG
ABS-CBN News Correspondent

Both greetings refer to the same set of four Chinese characters that means "Wishing you prosperity." But guess what is more appropriate to use and say when you are in the Philippines?

(Yes, it doesn't even mean "happy new year" -- more on this later)

"Kung Hei Fat Choi" has obviously been the more popular one, commonly said and printed on banners, advertisements and different forms of media. But this greeting is Cantonese.

Considering that majority of the Chinese Filipinos here in the Philippines speak the Hokkien dialect, I recommend that we say the greeting in Hokkien, which is pronounced and spelled as "Kiong Hee Huat Tsai."

Tsinoys will appreciate to hear the greeting in the dialect they understand. Cantonese is one of the nine other groups of dialects in China and is most commonly spoken in Hong Kong, Guangdong, and Macau. Hokkien is the dialect spoken in Fujian province where most of the Chinese-Filipinos come from.

If you happen to be in China and if you want to say the greeting in Mandarin, China's official language (and spoken by the most number of people in the world), pronounce the greeting as "Kong Xi Fa Tsai" (written and spelled formally as "Gong Xi Fa Cai").

I suspect some Hong Kong or Cantonese restaurant started to popularize the Cantonese greeting here, which is weird because there is a very scant population of Tsinoys from Guangdong or Hong Kong.

Oh, I remember a jingle from a TV commercial of a fast-food chain years ago that goes: "Kung Hei Fat Choi ay nandito na/ Sa McDo, may regalo, prosperity coupons/ Para to kay lolo/ Para to kay lola/ Para to sa buong pamilyaaa." Well, Tsinoys do not understand and speak "Kung Hei Fat Choi."

Itâs like saying "Maayong buntag" (Good morning) to a Tagalog who doesnât understand and speak Bisaya.

So, let's start banishing "Kung Hei Fat Choi" from our vocabulary and start to pratice saying the greeting in Hokkien, "Kiong Hee Huat Tsai," which is widely understood by Tsinoys here.

Spread the word, "Kiong Hee Huat Tsai!"

If you want to greet your friend "Happy New Year" in Mandarin, say it as "Xin Nien Kwai Le" (formally written as "Xin Nian Kuai Le"). In Hokkien, say it as "Sin Ni khòai lok."

Also, don't also be confused with the lion and dragon dance, which are sometimes interchanged. The four-legged dancing creature is a lion, which is maneuvered by two dancers (one moves the head while the other moves the tail). It has wiggling ears and blinking eyes and is the one that also goes around the streets and reach for the angpao or red envelope hung at the door. It is usually led by a masked man with a fan.

On the other hand, a dragon has a longer body that is maneuvered by more dancers. It is a guided by a man that holds a dragon ball.

Point out the difference when people say "Thereâs the dragon!" while the dancing creature turns out to be a lion.

Kiong Hee Huat Tsai!

2008 is the Year of the Rat.  Which animal year were you born in?

Year of the Monkey (猴). Metal Monkey when bearing the elemental sign.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkey_(zodiac)

Happy Chinese New Year!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year