Learn the superstitions about splitting a pear and eating fish for Chinese New Year
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| INTRODUCTION |
| Eric: Hello and welcome to Culture Class: Chinese Superstitions and Beliefs, Lesson 2 - Splitting a Pear and Eating Fish on Chinese New Year. I'm Eric and I'm joined by Dehua. |
| Dehua: 你好! (nǐhǎo!), I'm Dehua. |
| THE TWO SUPERSTITIONS |
| Eric: In this lesson we’ll talk about two common superstitions in China. The first superstition is about bad luck. What’s it called in Chinese? |
| Dehua: 分“梨”, (fēn " lí "). |
| Eric: Which literally means "to split a pear." Dehua, can you repeat the Chinese phrase again? |
| Dehua: [slow] 分“梨” [normal] 分“梨” |
| Eric: In China, it's believed that cutting a pear is bad. |
| Dehua: This superstition comes from the pronunciation of the words. |
| Eric: How does that work? |
| Dehua: The pronunciation Li for 梨 ("pear") could also mean 离 ("separation"). |
| Eric: So splitting a pear could also be translated as ending a relationship or parting ways. |
| Dehua: Exactly. |
| Eric: The second superstition is about good luck. What's it called in Chinese? |
| Dehua: 过年吃鱼, (guònián chī yú). |
| Eric: Which literally means "to eat fish on Chinese New Year." Let’s hear it in Chinese again. |
| Dehua: [slow] 过年吃鱼 [normal] 过年吃鱼 |
| Eric: In China, it's believed that fish should be served at the New Year's Eve dinner. |
| Dehua: And this superstition is also based on pronunciation. |
| Eric: Right the pronunciation for “fish” and for “left over” is the same. |
| Dehua: Right 鱼, or "fish," and 余, "left over." |
| Eric: So if you eat fish on New Year’s, you’ll have so much to eat in the new year that you have some left. |
| Dehua: A good problem to have. |
Outro |
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| Eric: There you have it - two Chinese superstitions! Are they similar to any of your country’s superstitions? Let us know in the comments! |
| Dehua: 再见! (Zàijiàn!) |
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