Any Asian language is extremely difficult to learn, especially Japanese and Chinese. You MUST remember and learn AT LEAST 200 kanji words to even read the damn newspaper. And as Calesta said, its for tonal. You mean to say something, but if you dont use the right accent or tone, itll be totally different. FOr example, if you say "Ja-eh" with the "eh" part going up, it means deer. If you say the "eh" part going down, it means dick (penis).
As for sashimi, its not a fish (yellow tail tuna). Its the process of slicing the fish and spreading them on top of the sushi rice or over daikon. Sushi in it self refers to the rice, not the actually fish. There are many different types of sushi, if its on top of the rice and shaped like an oval, its nigiri. if its rolled up, there are different types like gunkan, ship, and hand rolls. Anyway, sushi is still the bomb and i love udon noodles.
"Real" Chinese food is WAY different from resturant. Its a lot more vegetables and the food usually doesnt look appetizing but is really good. But i still like both.
And finally as for the Chinese New Year, youre not allowed to spend money or ull be doomed to be broke for the reminder of the year. So you give out money in red envelopes, usually a 20, to bring luck and karma. You drink alot and eat a lot. You offer food to your dead family members and to gods, usually peach because its a holy fruit that symbolizes longevity and fertility.
Last but not least, Itedakemasu and Gong Hoy Fat Choy.