Wednesday, August 22, 2012

How to Say Those Valentine's Day Gifts in Chinese


Chinese have their own Valentine's Day, which occurs on the seven day of the seventh month in Chinese lunar calendar. Hence it is named 七夕节(qīxījié), also known as 女儿节(nǚérjié). There is a famous legend about this day.
Zhi Nv, the seventh daughter of the Goddess of the heaven, is a beautiful fairy who occasionally met Niu Lang and fell in love with him. Zhi Nv lived very happy with Niu Lang and gave birth to two kids for him. However, they broken the rule that an immortal can not marry a mortal. The Goddess could not bear that and ordered her daughter to return to Heaven. Zhi Nv really was unwilling to leave her loved husband and two little kids. Finally, the Goddess took pity on the couple and allowed them to reunite once a year. On the seventh night of the seventh moon, magpies form a bridge with their wings for Zhi Nv to cross to meet her husband. 
What a tragic tale! But nowadays, this day is regarded as romantic and full of happiness. Many boys will send some special gifts to their loved girls. 巧克力(qiǎo kè lì) and 玫瑰花(méi guī huā) are the most common gifts been sent. What's the interesting is that different chocolates symbolize different meanings. For example, the heart-shaped chocolate represents "My heart belongs to you," while black chocolate stands for "Stick together through thick and thin." Also the number of the rose stands for some meaning. It is said that one rose symbolizes "你是我的唯一(nǐ shì wǒ de wéi yī) You are the only one in my mind"; three roses indicates "我爱你(wŏ ài nǐ) I love you"; nine roses stands for "长相守( chǎng xiàng shǒu) last forever"; eleven roses means "最爱(zuì ài) the dearest"; ninety-nine roses represents "天长地久(tiān cháng dì jiǔ) Love you forever" and three hundred sixty and five roses means "天天爱你(tiān tiān ài nǐ)Love you everyday"!
If you have enough money, the gift can be costly. For example, some business men would like to send diamond rings, luxury watches, cars, even house property. But it does not matter how much the gifts cost, only meticulous care and true love matter!
Learn Chinese Online with us and speak out your creative Qixi Jie's gift ideas in Chinese!

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