Eight events Chinese do during the Spring Festival

Eight events Chinese do during the Spring Festival
Jan 31, 2008 22:47	#11
LEMONCACTUS Points: Join Date: Dec 8, 2005 Status: Offline	Yes, there is a special significance to the upside down "福" on the door, it absolutely has logic. "倒" dao (4th tone) in Chinese means to turn something upside down "到" dao (4th tone) in Chinese means to arrive The pronunciation of 到 and 倒 is identical. Therefore if you turn "福" upside down, in Chinese you say "福倒了" which sounds exactly the same as "福到了". The first means "happiness is upside down" BUT The second means "happiness has arrived" hope that makes sense :)

Jan 31, 2008 22:47

#11

LEMONCACTUS
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Join Date: Dec 8, 2005
Status: Offline

Yes, there is a special significance to the upside down "福" on the door, it absolutely has logic.

"倒" dao (4th tone) in Chinese means to turn something upside down

"到" dao (4th tone) in Chinese means to arrive

The pronunciation of 到 and 倒 is identical.

Therefore if you turn "福" upside down, in Chinese you say "福倒了" which sounds exactly the same as "福到了".

The first means "happiness is upside down"
BUT
The second means "happiness has arrived"

hope that makes sense :)

Feb 1, 2008 03:59

#12

LEONARDO
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Join Date: May 21, 2007
Status: Offline

Lemoncactus, your explanation makes good sense. The Chinese character "fu" (meaning blessing or happiness) is a must in Spring Festival. The character put on paper can be pasted normally or upside down, for in Chinese the "reversed fu" is homophonic with "fu comes", both being pronounced as "fudaole."

Additionally, people prefer decorate their homes with traditional auspicious red color. Red paper-cuttings can be seen on window glass and brightly colored New Year paintings with auspicious meanings may be put on the wall.

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