Red Packets in Chinese Culture
Giving Hongbao (red packets) is a tradition in China. Traditional red pockets are often decorated with gold Chinese characters(汉字), such as ___ 1 ___and wealth.
How red packets a re used
During Chinese New Year, __ 2 ___is (are) put inside red packets which are then handed out to younger generations by their parents, grandparents, relatives, and even close neighbours and friends.
The ___ 3 ___
Red represents luck and good fortune in Chinese culture. That is __ 4 ___red packets are used during Chinese New Year and other celebrations.
How to give and receive
Giving and receiving red packets is a ___ 5 ___act. Therefore, red packets are always __ 6 ___and received with both hands.
Someone who receives a red packet at Chinese New Year or on his or her birthday should not ___ 7 ___it in front of the giver. __ 8 __, things are different at a Chinese wedding, where the guests usually give the red packets to the attendants and sign ___ 9 ___names on a large scroll ( long piece of paper). The attendants will open the packets at once, ___ 10 __the money inside, and record it on a register(登记簿) next to the guests' names.
The amount (数量)
The amount of money is relative to your relationship to the person who receives-the ___ 11 ___your relationship is, the more money is expected. Anyway, it is not the amount of the money that matters, but the care and love you hold for others .
What not to gift
Certain amounts of money are to be __ 12 ___. Anything with a four is not good because four sounds similar to __ 13 ___in Chinese. Even numbers(偶数), except four, are better than odd-as good things are believed to come in __ 14 ___. For example, gifting $20 is better than $21.
The money inside a red packet should ___ 15 ___be new. Folding the money or giving dirty or wrinkled bills is in bad taste.
Hongbao is a symbol of love from others, as well as a sign of good luck.
A. |
1. praise
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B. |
dream
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C. |
happiness
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D. |
advice
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E. |
2. paper
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F. |
money
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G. |
letters
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H. |
notes
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I. |
3. colour
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J. |
size
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K. |
shape
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L. |
history
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M. |
4. when
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N. |
why
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O. |
how
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P. |
where
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Q. |
5. strange
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R. |
simple
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S. |
smart
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T. |
serious
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U. |
6. presented
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V. |
filled
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W. |
covered
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X. |
gathered
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Y. |
7. watch
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Z. |
hide
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[. |
open
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accept
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8. Moreover
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However
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Otherwise
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Besides
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a. |
9. his
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b. |
their
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c. |
your
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d. |
our
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e. |
10. count
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f. |
change
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g. |
choose
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h. |
collect
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i. |
11. worse
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j. |
harder
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k. |
closer
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l. |
wider
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m. |
12. avoided
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n. |
increased
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o. |
afforded
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p. |
returned
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q. |
13. birth
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r. |
fear
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s. |
death
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t. |
envy
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u. |
14. groups
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v. |
rows
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w. |
teams
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x. |
pairs
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y. |
15. sometimes
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z. |
never
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seldom
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|. |
always
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