Catching Nian
Glossary

cun zhang (村长) - Village chief

deel - traditional garment of the Mongols, Turkic, and Tungusic peoples

er (儿) - term of endearment; used on people younger than the speaker

fa zan (发簪) - a Chinese hairpin

fu ren (夫人) - Madam

jie jie (姐姐) - Sister

lao ye (老爷) / shi fu (师父) - Master

ma (妈) - Mother (term of endearment; can be used to address older women that are not related to the speaker)

The Northern Steppes - refers to the Mongolian-Manchurian grassland

Yayan (雅言) - “elegant language”; refers to an early form of the Mandarin Chinese language

yuan bao (元宝) - a small metal ingot that was used in ancient China as money

yurt - a portable, round tent traditionally used as a dwelling by nomadic groups in the Asian steppes