Language & characters
Kafei (咖啡) means coffee, shafa (沙发) means sofa, and sanmingzhi (三明治) means sandwich. What do these Chinese words have in common?
They are (loan) words derived from English words.
Each year Chinese New Year falls on a different date. What is the reason for that?
Because it follows the Chinese lunar calendar
In which country was gunpowder (used for fireworks) invented?
In China, supposedly when alchemists tried to create a substance for eternal life.
Which popular dish is most commonly eaten at Chinese New year in Northern China?
Dumplings
What is the Chinese New Year is also called?
Spring festival
What is the most complicated Chinese character that has 57 strokes in traditional form?
The Chinese character Biang
How many days does Lunar New Year in China typically lasts?
15 days (or 16)
Name one country apart from the Netherlands, where the Dutch tradition of a New Year's Dive is also held.
Germany, North-America, Scotland, Switzerland, Portugal, Wales, and Denmark
Which fruit symbolizes wealth and happiness at Chinese New Year?
Tangerines or Oranges
In most countries, it is traditional to remove bad luck before Lunar New Year by doing what?
Cleaning the house
The six official languages of the UN include: Chinese, English, Arabic, French, Russian, and Spanish. When did Chinese become an official UN language?
In 1946. (range 1941-1951)
Name one of the five elements corresponding to the Chinese Zodiacs.
Water, Earth, Wood, Fire, Metal
What was the name of the precursor of the oliebol?
Smeerkoek (or oliekoek)
What may not be eaten during Chinese New Year, because it symbolizes death and misfortune?
Tofu, eggs, rice, cauliflower, white cheeses
What is the longest-kept Chinese New Year tradition?
Worshiping ancestors
How many people speak Chinese worldwide? Answer in billions
Roughly 1.3 billion (within range of 1,0-1,6)
How many people travel to China for Chinese New Year's? Answer in billions
2.2 billion people (2.0-2.4 billion)
What is the main reason for fireworks use around the end of the year by old European tribes?
The noise would scare angry/evil spirits and the lights would stimulate the sun to shine again.
What are the three main ingredients to make Niangao (rice cake)?
Glutinous rice flour, sugar, water
What was the monster called that was scared away during Chinese New Year? And what did people use to scare it away?
Nian; The color red, firecrackers, fireworks (bright light)
Of the more than 50 000 Chinese characters, how many characters do you roughly need to know for general use?
Roughly 20 000 (within range of 16 000 - 24 000)
In which dynasty has Chinese New Year originated from?
Shang Dynasty
What percentage of the total champagne bottles in the Netherlands is opened during New Year’s celebration?
95% of the champagne bottles
What do spring rolls symbolize?
The crisp golden rolls are meant to symbolize bars of gold and bring wealth and prosperity in the year to come
Which flower brings good fortune on Chinese New Year?
Orchid, Narcissus