二十四节气英语  The 24 Solar Terms

二十四节气是中国古代人民通过观察物候与气候的变化和太阳的周年运动而形成的时间知识体系，主要用于指导农业生产和日常生活。

The twenty-four solar terms are a time  knowledge system summarized by the ancient Chinese through observing changes in phenology and climate and the annual movement of the sun. It is mainly used to guide farmers in agricultural production and daily activities. 

立春 Spring begins.

雨水 The rains.

惊蛰 Insects awaken.

春分 Vernal Equinox

清明 Clear and bright.

谷雨 Grain rain.

立夏 Summer begins.

小满 Grain buds.

芒种 Grain in ear.

夏至 Summer solstice.

小暑 Slight heat.

大暑 Great heat.

立秋 Autumn begins.

处暑 Stopping the heat.

白露 White dews.

秋分 Autumn Equinox.

寒露 Cold dews.

霜降 Hoar-frost falls.

立冬 Winter begins.

小雪 Light snow.

大雪 Heavy snow.

冬至 Winter Solstice.

小寒 Slight cold.

大寒 Great cold

春 季

立 春（The Beginning of Spring） 2月3－5日交节 

“立”是开始的意思，立春就是春季的开始。

立春是农历二十四节气中的第一个节气。春意味着风和日丽，鸟语花香；春也意味着万物生长，农家播种。

Beginning of Spring is the first solar term in the lunar calendar. Spring comes along with sunny days, teeming with flowers. And the seeds were sowed at this time of the year.

雨 水（Rain Water） 2月18－20日交节

冬去春来，气温开始回升，降雨开始，雨量渐增。 

此时，气温回升、冰雪融化、降水增多，故取名为雨水。

The weather gets warmer with the ice melting, so does the water fall from the sky.

惊 蛰（The Waking of Insects） 3月5－7日交节蛰是藏的意思。

惊蛰是指春雷乍动，惊醒了蛰伏在土中冬眠的动物。

蛰虫惊醒，天气转暖，渐有春雷，中国大部分地区进入春耕季节。

The insects came to life with the warmer weather, and the spring thunder humbling too. It’s time to farm the waking lands.

春 分（The Spring Equinox） 3月20－22日交节

分是平分的意思。春分表示昼夜平分。

南北半球季节相反，北半球是春分，在南半球来说就是秋分。春分也是伊朗、土耳其、阿富汗、乌兹别克斯坦等国的新年。

Since the weathers are inverse in the north and east atmospheres, it’s Autumn in the south. Spring Equinox is also the time of spring festival in countries like Iran, Turkey, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan.

清  明 （Clear and Bright） 4月4－6日交节

气温回升，天气逐渐转暖，草木繁茂。

和清明节相近的一个很有渊源的节日就是寒食节，在这一天要禁烟火，吃冷饭。清明表示春季时节的正式开始。清明扫墓是传统，可是它的英文翻译是不是略失美感呢？

There is a festival related to it called Cold Food Festival on which day people can’t use fire so they can only eat cold food. Spring time begins officially according to the calendar. We all know that it’s a tradition to sweep tombs this day, but the translation is kind of stiff.

谷  雨 （Grain Rain） 4月19－21日交节

雨生百谷。雨量充足而及时，谷类作物能茁壮成长。

春天最后一个节气。雨量充足而及时，谷类作物茁壮成长。有一句话说道，“清明断雪，谷雨断霜”，也是在阐述这个节气的特点。

Grain Rain is the last solar term of spring. Around Grain Rain the rain is quite plentiful so the crops grow well. There is an saying goes like that “Gone was the snow as Qingming came, gone was the frost as Grain Rain came.”

夏 季

立  夏（The Beginning of Summer） 5月5－7日交节

夏季的开始，万物生长，欣欣向荣。

温度明显升高，炎暑将临，雷雨增多，农作物进入旺季生长的一个重要节气。

The temperature grows significantly with more and more rain. It’s and important time for the crops growth.

小 满（Lesser Fullness of Grain） 5月20－22日交节

麦类等夏熟作物此时颗粒开始饱满，但未成熟。

夏熟作物的籽粒开始灌浆饱满，但还未成熟，只是小满还未大满。

The grain buds begin to be in the milk but still unripe.

芒 种（Grain in Beard） 6月5－7日交节

此时太阳移至黄经75度，麦类等有芒作物已经成熟，可以收藏种子。

芒种预示着仲夏季节的开始。此时气温显著升高，降水充沛，是农民忙于收割小麦，种植水稻的时节。

Grain in Ear marks the beginning of midsummer. The temperature rises significantly and the rain becomes plentiful. It is the time for farmers to engage in harvesting the wheat and planting the rice.

夏 至（The Summer Solstice） 6月21－22日交节

日光直射北回归线，出现“日北至，日长至，日影短至”，故曰“夏至”，炎热的夏天来临。

太阳直射北回归线。此时，北半球各地的白昼时间达到全年最长。对于北回归线及其以北的地区来说，夏至日也是一年中正午太阳高度最高的一天，但它并不是一年中最热的时候。

The sunlight straightly shoots to the Tropic of Cancer. On that day, the length of daytime in northern hemisphere reaches its maximum within the whole year. For regions located on the Tropic of Cancer and its northern latitudes, on the day of Summer Solstice the altitude of the sun at noon is also the highest, but it’s not the hottest time of the year.

小 暑（Lesser Heat） 7月6－8日交节

暑是炎热的意思。入暑，标志着我国大部分地区进入炎热季节。

正式进入夏季。小暑的意思是天气还不是特别热，由于在这一时期全国的农作物进入茁壮生长阶段，农民需要坚强对田地的管理。在小暑前后，中国的很多地区都会遭遇雷暴，伴随着强风，暴雨等极端天气，有时还会下冰雹。

We step into the season of summer. Lesser Heat means the weather is not so hot. Since all crops in China begin to thrive during this period, famers should pay more attention on field management. Before and after Lesser Heat, many areas in China will suffer thunderstorm. It is often accompanied by strong winds, heavy rains and hail sometimes.

大 暑（Greater Heat） 7月22－24日交节

正值中伏前后。这一时期是我国广大地区一年中最炎热的时期，但也有反常年份，“大暑不热”，雨水偏多。

一年中最热的时节。此时干旱和洪涝成为中国最常见的自然灾害。为了应对持续的高温，绿豆冬瓜成为大多数家庭首选的食物。同时我们还应该多喝水，减少户外运动以防止中暑。还有一点需要注意的是，无论天气有多不舒服，我们仍不能过多依赖空调。

This is the hottest period of the year. Drought and flood are common disasters in China during this time. And to deal with the continually heat weaves, green beans and winter melon are popular food for most families. Also, we should drink more water and do less outdoor activities to avoid heatstroke. Another fact to be underlined is that no matter how uncomfortable the weather is, we should not rely too much on air-conditioning.

秋 季

立 秋（The Beginning of Autumn） 8月7－9日交节

草木开始结果，到了收获季节。

此时热浪过去天气逐渐变得凉爽。根据中国传统习俗，这是贴秋膘的时节。因为夏季人们普遍食欲不振，所以到了秋天需要食肉来进补身体。一些女生出于担心体重赠长而很怕被贴秋膘。

Autumn arrives on August 7th or 8th. The heat waves pass and the weather gradually cools down. According to Chinese traditions, it’s the tieropubiao（贴秋膘）time. That means since our appetite is not good in summer, we should supplement our body with meat in autumn. Some girls are fearful at this period, for the simple reason that they are unwilling to put on weight.

处 暑（The End of Heat） 8月22－24日交节

“处”为结束的意思，至暑气即将结束，天气将变得凉爽了。由于正值秋收之际，降水十分宝贵。

夏天完全被秋天替代。此时的蓝天、五彩树叶和怡人的天气成为远足最好时节。浙江沿海地区的人们还会举行开渔节，因为最好的捕获鱼类和其他海鲜的最佳时机到来了。

Summer is totally replaced by autumn. Blue sky, colorful leaves and pleasant temperature makes it wonderful a time for excursion. People who live along the sea in Zhejiang Province will also celebrate a festival for fishermen as the best opportunity to fishes and other kinds of seafood comes.

白 露 （White Dew） 9月7－9日交节

由于太阳直射点明显南移，各地气温下降很快，天气凉爽，晚上贴近地面的水气在草木上结成白色露珠，由此得名“白露”。

随着天气转凉，清晨可以在叶子上发现露珠，这是由夜间的水汽凝结所形成的。这也解释了这一时节的名字由来。

The White Dews starts around it. With the temperature cools down, we often find dews on leaves in the early morning as the result of moisture condensation at night. That’s where the name White Dews.

秋 分 （The Autumn Equinox） 9月22－24日交节

日光直射点又回到赤道，形成昼夜等长。

全球的大多数地区昼夜等长，各为12小时。除此以外，秋分的意思正是秋天过半。

The day and night in most areas around the globe are equal, with 12 hours respectively. In addition, the time Autumnal Equinox means “the middle of autumn”.

寒 露（Cold Dew） 10月8－9日交节

此时太阳直射点开始向南移动，北半球气温继续下降，天气更冷，露水有森森寒意，故名为“寒露”。

霜冻来了意味着天气就要变冷了。第一次霜冻预示着秋天的结束，也意味着初冬时节的到来。

Frost solar terms contain the weather gets colder. The first frost means that the end of the last solar term and the beginning of winter.

霜 降（Frost's Descent） 10月23－24日交节

天气渐冷，开始有霜。黄河流域初霜期一般在10月下旬，与“霜降”节令相吻合，霜对生长中的农作物危害很大。

霜降是秋季的最后一个节气。同时意味着冬天的开始。

It is the last solar term of autumn. Also means the beginning of winter.

冬 季

立 冬（The Beginning of Winter） 11月7－8日交节

冬季的开始。

立冬是一个重要的节日，在古代社会，皇帝在这一天会率领文武百官到市北郊坛祭天。现在，在这一天人们仍然会举行庆祝活动。

It is an important festival in the ancient society. On the day, the emperor led civil-military to the city's northern outskirts altar fete. Now days, people also celebrate in the day of the beginning of winter.

小 雪（Lesser Snow） 11月22－23日交节

北方冷空气势力增强，气温迅速下降，降水出现雪花，但此时为初雪阶段，雪量小，次数不多，黄河流域多在“小雪”节气后降雪。

在这个节气，温度会逐渐降到零度以下，但天气不算太冷。虽然开始下雪，但是并不算太大。因此我们把它叫做小雪。

The temperature gradually drops below 0 ℃, but the earth has not been too cold. Though beginning to snow, it is not too big. Thus we call it light snow.

大 雪（Greater Snow） 12月6－8日交节

此时太阳直射点快接近南回归线，北半球昼短夜长。降雪量增多，地面可能积雪。

大雪的到来意味着天气会越来越寒冷。同时下雪的可能性比小雪时节要高。

Heavy snow means that the weather is colder. And the possibility of snow is bigger than when light snow.

冬 至（The Winter Solstice） 12月21－23日交节

此时太阳几乎直射南回归线，北半球则形成了日南至、日短至、日影长至，成为一年中白昼最短的一天。冬至以后北半球白昼渐长，气温持续下降，并进入年气温最低的“三九”。

在中国北方，人们喜欢在这个节气吃饺子，而南方会吃汤圆。

In northern China，people will eat dumplings in this solar term. And in southern area, they like eating Tang-yuan on this day.

小 寒（Lesser Cold） 1月5－7日交节

此时气候开始寒冷。

在中国， 小寒标志着最冷的天气的到来。

In China, slight cold marks the start of the coldest day of in a year.

大 寒（Greater Cold） 1月20－21日交节

数九严寒，一年中最寒冷的时候。

大寒是二十四节气中的最后一个节气。

It is the last solar term in the twenty-four solar terms.

24节气谚语

Plowed on the Waking of Insects, the field will be perfect for planing by the Spring Equinox.

惊蛰一犁土，春分地气通。

Thunderstorm in ear is an early age.

芒种打雷是早年。

Winter Solstice is a wind, Summer Solstice is a storm.

冬至一场风，夏至一场暴。

It is neither cold till the Winter Solstice nor hot till the Summer Solstice.

不到冬至不寒，不至夏至不热。

The Grain Rain wheat stand upright, and the Beginning of Summer wheat is beautiful.

谷雨麦挺直，立夏麦秀齐。

The autumn geese come early and the frost comes early.

秋雁来得早，霜也来得早。