Chinese New Year春节

Chinese New Year!!

• 春节 is on 一月，三十日，二零一四年• Different date every year, usually in

February• 二零一四年 is year of the 马• 二零一五年 is the year of the ?????• What about 二零一六年 ???• 十二个 animals in the Chinese Zodiac• Have your “ben ming nian” every 十二

个年 , custom says to buy red “ 内裤”

Animals of the Chinese Zodiac

十二个生肖

The Story of the Chinese ZodiacA very long time ago, the Jade Emperor, who ruled the heavens of

China, sent a message to all the animals asking them to come together so that he could give each of them a year, which would make it easier for the people of China to keep track of time. The cat and the rat were good friends and decided to travel to meet the Jade Emperor together.

When it came time to leave, however, the cat was taking a nap. The rat, realizing that he would have to use all his cunning to be noticed by the Jade Emperor, left his friend sleeping, and set off on his own. This is why there is no year named after the cat, and also why cats have hated rats ever since.

When the rat arrived, the Jade Emperor welcomed him and the other animals and told them that they should all take part in a swimming race. Once again, the rat realized that he would have to be very clever if he wanted to win the race. He found the largest, strongest animal, which was the ox, and pleaded with him to let him ride on its head. The ox was kind and strong, and agreed that they would swim across together.

The rat travelled safely across the river on the ox’s back, but, just before they reached the other side, climbed over the ox's head, jumped onto land, and reached the finish line first. The rat had proved its cunning, and the Jade Emperor named the first year after the rat and the second year after the ox.

Chinese Cartoon: How did the Rat become 第一位 ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgXhb4eyLi4

Rat 鼠2008

• sociable• talkative• charming • imaginative

• clever• energetic• honest

Rat 1960 1972 1984 1996 2008

shǔ

鼠http://www.nciku.com/search/zh/searchorder/1314141/鼠　　

Famous Rats

George Bush, President of the USAEminem, RapperGalileo Galilei, Scientist/AstronomerAvril Lavigne, Singer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, ComposerWilliam Shakespeare, PlaywrightPeter Tchaikovsky, Composer

Ox 牛2009

• tolerant• determined• strong• hard-working• patient• dependable

Ox1961 1973 1985 1997 2009

niú 牛

http://www.nciku.com/search/zh/searchorder/1310953/牛　　

Famous Oxen

Alexander the Great, ConquerorNapoleon Bonaparte, ConquerorWalt Disney, CreatorAdolf Hitler, Political Leader/Bad GuyMeryl Streep, ActressMargaret Thatcher , Leader

Tiger 虎2010

• emotional• sensitive• daring• powerful• brave• sympathetic

Tiger 1962 1974 1986 1998 2010

hǔ 虎

http://www.nciku.com/search/zh/searchorder/1306193/虎　　

Famous Tigers

Ludwig van Beethoven, ComposerMarie Curie, ScientistHo Chi Minh, Political LeaderKarl Marx, Writer/RevolutionaryPlato, Philosopher

Rabbit 兔2011

• reserved• successful• conscientious• lucky• peaceful• kind• articulate

Rabbit1963 1975 1987 1999 2011

tù兔

http://www.nciku.com/search/zh/searchorder/1315445/兔　　

Famous Rabbits

John Adams, President of USAAlbert Einstein, ScientistJet Li, Actor/Martial ArtistBrad Pitt, Actor Cy Young , Baseball Player

Dragon 龙 2000

• excitable• powerful• energetic• sensitive• strong• trustworthy • brave

Dragon1964 1976 1988 2000 2012

lóng龙

http://www.nciku.com/search/zh/searchorder/1309777/龙　

Famous Dragons

Joan of Arc, RevolutionaryCharles Darwin, ScientistChe Guevara, Doctor/RevolutionaryBruce Lee, Martial Artist/ActorAbraham Lincoln, PresidentMartin Luther King Jr., Revolutionary

Snake 蛇2001

• passionate• elegant• wise• determined• sympathetic• calm

Snake1965 1977 1989 2001 2013

shé蛇

http://www.nciku.com/search/zh/searchorder/1313285/蛇　　

Famous Snakes

Julius Caesar, Leader of RomeMahatma Gandhi, Leader of India/Pacifist Mao Zedong, Leader of ChinaAlfred Nobel, Nobel Peace Prize CreatorFranklin D. Roosevelt, President of USA

Oprah Winfrey, Talk Show Host/Millionare

Horse 马2002

• perceptive• cheerful• talented• popular• independent• fun• artistic

Horse1966 1978 1990 2002 2014

mǎ马

http://www.nciku.com/search/zh/searchorder/1310011/马　　

Famous Horses

Muhammad Ali, BoxerJackie Chan, Martial Artist/ActorGenghis Khan, ConquerorIsaac Newton, ScientistTheodore Roosevelt, President

Ram 羊2003

• compassionate• charming• loving• gentle• tender-hearted• artistic• perfectionist

Ram1967 1979 1991 2003 2015

yáng羊

http://www.nciku.com/search/zh/searchorder/1317633/羊　　

Famous Rams

Charles Dickens, Author

Thomas Alva Edison, Scientist/Inventor

James Madison, President of USA

Babe Ruth, Baseball Player

Socrates, Philosopher

Monkey 猴2004

• clever• enthusiastic• confident• skillful• inventive• flexible• happy

Monkey1968 1980 1992 2004 2016

hóu猴

http://www.nciku.com/search/zh/searchorder/1306095/猴　　

Famous Monkeys

Johnny Cash, Musician/SongwriterLeonardo da Vinci, Inventor/ArtistBob Marley, Singer/Peace ActivistMartina Navratilova, Tennis PlayerWill Smith, Actor/ComedianHarry S. Truman, President of USA

Rooster 鸡 2005

• hard-working• capable• adventurous• kind• punctual • talented• practical

Rooster1969 1981 1993 2005 2017

jī鸡

http://www.nciku.com/search/zh/searchorder/1306811/鸡　　

Famous Roosters

Eric Clapton, Singer/Songwriter

Ben Franklin, Politician/Inventor

Anna Kournikova, Tennis Player/Model

Britney Spears, Singer

Dog 狗2006

• generous• helpful• honest • loyal• affectionate• loving• happy

Dog1970 1982 1994 2006 2018

gǒu狗

http://www.nciku.com/search/zh/searchorder/1305179/狗　　

Famous Dogs

George W. Bush, PresidentConfucius, Chinese ScholarSiddhartha Gautama, (Buddha) Alexander Hamilton, Politician/WriterMichael Jackson, Singer Madonna, SingerElvis Presley, Singer

Pig 猪2007

• forgiving• chivalrous• honest • helpful• noble• sincere• popular

Pig1971 1983 1995 2007 2019

zhū猪

http://www.nciku.com/search/zh/searchorder/1319919/猪　　

Famous Pigs

Henry Ford, Automobile CreatorThomas Jefferson, President of USAWolfgang Amadeus Mozart, ComposerRonald Reagan, President of USAArnold Schwarzenegger, ActorGeorge Washington, President of USAMs. Stringfellow, Your favorite teacher!

Bad matches in the zodiac

• Rat and Horse

• Ox and Ram

• Tiger and Monkey

• Rabbit and Rooster

• Dragon and Dog

• Snake and Pig

Review Questions

• How many animals are there in the zodiac?

• Which animal was 2013?

• When Chinese New Year arrives this year, what

animal’s year will it be?

• Which animal are you? What about your family

members?

• Do the descriptions of the animal fit you? What

about your family members?