Glossary
Lunar calendar
A calendar system based on the cycles of the moon, which determines the dates for traditional Chinese holidays.
Example:
Chinese New Year's date changes every year because it follows the Lunar calendar.
中秋节 (Zhōngqiū Jié)
Mid-Autumn Festival, a harvest festival celebrated when the moon is full, symbolizing unity and family reunion.
Example:
During 中秋节, families gather to admire the full moon and share mooncakes.
仪式 (yíshì)
Rituals or ceremonies, formal acts performed according to tradition, often with religious or cultural significance.
Example:
The tea ceremony is a beautiful 仪式 that showcases traditional Chinese hospitality.
价值 (jiàzhí)
Values, the principles or standards of behavior that are considered important in a culture.
Example:
Family unity and filial piety are core 价值 in Chinese society.
传统 (chuántǒng)
Tradition, customs and beliefs passed down through generations, forming an integral part of Chinese culture.
Example:
Celebrating Chinese New Year is a deeply rooted 传统 that brings families together.
和谐 (héxié)
Harmony, a state of peace and agreement, often symbolized by the full moon during the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Example:
The festival promotes 和谐 within families and communities.
四 (sì)
The number four, which is often avoided in Chinese culture because its pronunciation sounds similar to the word for 'death'.
Example:
Many buildings in China skip the fourth floor because the number 四 is considered unlucky.
团结 (tuánjié)
Unity or solidarity, a key theme of the Mid-Autumn Festival, as families come together to celebrate.
Example:
The Mid-Autumn Festival emphasizes family 团结 and togetherness.
墓地 (mùdì)
Graves or cemeteries, the sites where ancestors are buried and visited during the Qingming Festival.
Example:
Families gather at the 墓地 to sweep the tombs and offer food to their departed loved ones.
好运 (hǎoyùn)
Good luck or good fortune, a common wish and theme in Chinese culture, especially during holidays.
Example:
Receiving a red envelope is believed to bring you 好运 for the entire year.
家庭聚会 (jiātíng jùhuì)
Family gatherings, a central tradition during Chinese holidays, especially Chinese New Year.
Example:
My favorite part of the holidays is the big 家庭聚会 where everyone shares stories and laughter.
尊敬 (zūnjìng)
Respect, a fundamental value in Chinese society, particularly towards elders and ancestors.
Example:
Showing 尊敬 to our elders is an important part of Chinese etiquette.
屈原 (Qū Yuán)
A patriotic poet and official from ancient China, whose tragic story is commemorated during the Dragon Boat Festival.
Example:
The Dragon Boat Festival honors 屈原, a loyal minister who sacrificed himself for his country.
年 (Nian)
A mythical beast in Chinese folklore that would attack villagers at the start of each new year, leading to traditions like using red and loud noises to scare it away.
Example:
The legend of the monster 年 explains why Chinese New Year is so vibrant and noisy.
年年有余 (nián nián yǒuyú)
An idiom meaning 'may you have surpluses year after year,' often associated with eating fish during Chinese New Year due to the similar pronunciation of 'fish' (yú) and 'surplus' (yú).
Example:
When we eat fish during the New Year, we say 年年有余 to wish for prosperity and abundance.
打扫 (dǎsǎo)
To clean or sweep, a key activity during the Qingming Festival when families clean ancestral graves.
Example:
We help our parents 打扫 the house thoroughly before the New Year.
扫墓节 (sǎomù jié)
Tomb Sweeping Day, another name for the Qingming Festival, emphasizing the tradition of cleaning and maintaining ancestral graves.
Example:
The main activity on 扫墓节 is to visit and clean the graves of family ancestors.
文化 (wénhuà)
Culture, encompassing the shared customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation or group.
Example:
Learning about Chinese 文化 helps us understand its rich history and diverse customs.
春卷 (chūnjuǎn)
Spring rolls, a fried savory dish often eaten during Chinese New Year, named for their association with the spring season.
Example:
My grandmother always makes crispy 春卷 for our New Year's feast.
春节 (Chūnjié)
The most important traditional Chinese holiday, marking the start of a new year on the lunar calendar.
Example:
During 春节, families gather from all over the world to celebrate together.
月饼 (yuèbǐng)
Mooncakes, rich pastries with various fillings, traditionally eaten and gifted during the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Example:
My favorite part of the Mid-Autumn Festival is sharing delicious 月饼 with my family.
死 (sǐ)
The Chinese character for 'death,' which sounds similar to the number four (sì), leading to the avoidance of the number in many contexts.
Example:
The similarity in sound between 'four' and 死 makes people cautious about using the number in gifts or addresses.
汤圆 (tāngyuán)
Sweet rice balls, typically eaten during the Lantern Festival, symbolizing reunion and completeness due to their round shape.
Example:
After the New Year, we enjoy warm bowls of 汤圆 to celebrate family togetherness.
清明节 (Qīngmíng Jié)
Qingming Festival, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day, a traditional Chinese holiday for honoring ancestors and tending to their graves.
Example:
During 清明节, families travel to their ancestral graves to pay respects and clean the sites.
满月 (mǎnyuè)
Full moon, a central symbol of the Mid-Autumn Festival, representing completeness, unity, and harmony.
Example:
We sit outside to admire the beautiful 满月 during the Mid-Autumn Festival.
灯笼 (dēnglóng)
Lanterns, decorative lights used during various Chinese festivals, symbolizing brightness, happiness, and good fortune.
Example:
The streets glow beautifully with colorful 灯笼 during the Lantern Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival.
烟花 (yānhuā)
Fireworks, used to create spectacular displays of light and sound, often seen during major Chinese celebrations like the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Example:
The night sky lights up with dazzling 烟花 during the festival celebrations.
爆竹 (bàozhú)
Firecrackers, used to create loud noises and bright flashes, traditionally believed to scare away evil spirits and bring good luck.
Example:
The sound of 爆竹 fills the air on Chinese New Year's Eve, signaling the arrival of good fortune.
狮舞 (shīwǔ)
Lion dance, a traditional performance where dancers mimic a lion's movements, believed to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits.
Example:
The energetic 狮舞 often kicks off celebrations for Chinese New Year.
祖先 (zǔxiān)
Ancestors, revered figures in Chinese culture whose spirits are honored and remembered, especially during the Qingming Festival.
Example:
Honoring our 祖先 during Qingming Festival is a way to remember our roots and heritage.
秋收 (qiūshōu)
Autumn harvest, the period when crops are gathered, which is celebrated during the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Example:
The Mid-Autumn Festival is a time to celebrate the bountiful 秋收 and give thanks.
粽子 (zòngzi)
Rice dumplings, a traditional food eaten during the Dragon Boat Festival, made of glutinous rice filled with various ingredients and wrapped in bamboo leaves.
Example:
My grandma makes the best 粽子 with savory pork and mushrooms inside.
红包 (hóngbāo)
Red envelopes containing money, traditionally given as gifts during holidays and special occasions to convey good wishes and luck.
Example:
Children eagerly await 红包 from their elders during Chinese New Year, hoping for good fortune.
红对联 (hóng duìlián)
Red couplets, poetic verses written on red paper and pasted on doorframes during Chinese New Year to bring good fortune and ward off evil.
Example:
Before Chinese New Year, we always hang new 红对联 on our front door.
红色装饰 (hóngsè zhuāngshì)
Red decorations, widely used during Chinese New Year to symbolize good luck and ward off evil spirits.
Example:
Every house is adorned with vibrant 红色装饰 to welcome the new year with prosperity.
纸钱 (zhǐqián)
Joss paper, symbolic money or material possessions burned as offerings to ancestors in the afterlife.
Example:
Burning 纸钱 is a way to send blessings and provisions to our ancestors in the spiritual world.
花 (huā)
Flowers, commonly offered at graves during the Qingming Festival as a sign of respect and remembrance.
Example:
We place fresh 花 on the tombstone to show our love and respect for our ancestors.
芳香囊 (fāngxiāng náng)
Perfumed sachets, small bags filled with aromatic herbs, traditionally worn or hung during the Dragon Boat Festival to ward off evil spirits and illness.
Example:
Children often wear colorful 芳香囊 around their necks during the Dragon Boat Festival.
长寿面 (chángshòu miàn)
Longevity noodles, eaten on birthdays and during Chinese New Year, symbolizing a long life.
Example:
My grandpa always requests 长寿面 on his birthday, hoping for many more healthy years.
食物 (shíwù)
Food, often offered as sacrifices to ancestors during festivals like Qingming, symbolizing care and remembrance.
Example:
During Qingming Festival, families bring various 食物 offerings to the graves.
饺子 (jiǎozi)
Dumplings, a staple food during Chinese New Year, symbolizing wealth because their shape resembles ancient Chinese gold ingots.
Example:
Making 饺子 from scratch with my family is a cherished New Year's Eve tradition.
香 (xiāng)
Incense, burned during rituals and ceremonies, especially at temples or graves, to communicate with ancestors or deities.
Example:
The scent of burning 香 fills the air during ancestral worship at the temple.
鬼 (guǐ)
Evil spirit or ghost, often a concept in Chinese folklore that people try to ward off with various traditions and symbols.
Example:
Loud noises and red colors are traditionally used to scare away the 鬼 during Chinese New Year.
鱼 (yú)
Fish, a common dish during Chinese New Year, symbolizing surplus and abundance.
Example:
Eating 鱼 on New Year's Eve is a must, as it represents having more than enough for the coming year.
龙 (lóng)
Dragon, a mythical creature symbolizing power, strength, and good fortune in Chinese culture, often featured in dances.
Example:
The vibrant 龙 dance is a highlight of many Chinese festivals.
龙舟比赛 (lóngzhōu bǐsài)
Dragon boat races, competitive boat races held during the Dragon Boat Festival, symbolizing the villagers' efforts to save Qu Yuan.
Example:
Teams train rigorously for the annual 龙舟比赛, paddling in unison to the beat of drums.
龙舟节 (Lóngzhōu Jié)
Dragon Boat Festival, a traditional Chinese holiday commemorating the poet Qu Yuan, celebrated with dragon boat races and eating zongzi.
Example:
The highlight of 龙舟节 is watching the exciting dragon boat races on the river.