Chinese Language Learning Program Lesson 198 -- The 24 Solar Terms in Chinese

Chinese Language Learning Program

Lesson 198 – The 24 Solar Terms in Chinese

Hello, everyone. Welcome back. This is Baixue’s Chinese Language Learning Program. Last time we learned about the difference between “即” and “既” in Chinese. Today, we will learn The 24 Solar Terms in Chinese.

èr shí sì jié qì

二  十 四 节 气 (24 Solar Terms)

The 24 solar terms, based on the sun's position in the zodiac, were created by farmers in ancient China to guide the agricultural affairs and farming activities. The 24 solar terms reflect the changes in climate, natural phenomena, agricultural production, and other aspects of human life, including clothing, food, housing, and transportation.

 lì chūn

立  春 (Start of Spring; spring begin; indicating the beginning of spring. Around February 4th of the solar calendar.)

yǔ shuǐ

雨   水  (Rain Water; indicating that there will be an increase of rainfall from then on. Some people say that water more than snow. Around February 18th of the solar calendar.)

jīng zhé

 惊 蛰 (Awakening of Insects; indicating thunder begins and 

hibernating insects wake up or indicating a relatively fast temperature rise and possible spring thunders. Around March 5th of the solar calendar.)

chūn fēn

   春   分 (Vernal Equinox; indicating the equal length of day and night.  Around March 20th of the solar calendar)

qīng míng

   清    明  (Qingming Festival; indicating sky is clear with fresh air, and the weather becomes noticeably warmer. Around April 5th of the solar calendar. )

gǔ yǔ

 谷 雨 (grain rain; indicating the increase of rainfalls, which helps grain or crops grow. Around April 20th of the solar calendar.)

 lì xià

立 夏 (Start of Summer; indicating the beginning of summer. Around May 5th of the solar calendar)

xiǎo mǎn

  小   满 (grain full; indicating the seeds of summer crops are getting plump but not ripe yet. Around May 21st of the solar calendar.)

máng zhòng

   芒    种 (Grain in Ear; indicating the ripening of crops the beginning of a busy farming season. Around June 6th of the solar calendar.)

xià zhì

 夏  至 (Summer Solstice; indicating the daytime is the longest and the nighttime is the shortest of the year. Around June 21st of the solar calendar.)

xiǎo shǔ

  小 暑 (Minor Heat; indicating the beginning of the hottest days. Around July 7th of the solar calendar.)

dà shǔ

大  暑 (major heat; indicating the hottest time of the year. Around July 23rd of the solar calendar.)

 lì qiū

立 秋 (start of autumn; indicating the beginning of autumn. Around August 7th of the solar calendar.)

chǔ shǔ

  处 暑 (Limit of Heat ; The end of the hot summer; indicating that summer is coming to an end. Around August 23rd of the solar calendar)

bái lù

 白 露 (White Dew; indicating that the weather is getting cold and there are dewdrops on grass and trees in the morning. Around September 7th of the solar calendar.)

qiū fēn

 秋  分 (Autumnal equinox; indicating the equal length of day and night. Around September 23rd of the solar calendar.)

hán lù

 寒 露 (Cold Dew; indicating lower temperature, it is cold enough to reach dew point, but not cold enough to reach frost point.  Around October 8th of the solar calendar.)

shuāng jiàng

     霜       降 (Frost Descent; indicating appearance of frost and descent of temperature. Around October 23rd of the solar calendar.)

 lì dōng

立 冬 (start of winter; indicating the beginning of winter. Around November 7th of the solar calendar.)

xiǎo xuě

 小  雪 (Minor Snow; indicating that it begins to snow.  Around November 22nd of the solar calendar.)

dà xuě

大 雪 (Major Snow; indicating the beginning of heavy snowfalls. Around December 7th of the solar calendar.)

dōng zhì

   冬    至 (Winter Solstice; The daytime is the shortest and the nighttime is the longest of the year. Around December 22nd of the solar calendar.)

xiǎo hán

 小  寒 (Minor Cold; indicating that the weather is getting colder. Around January 5th of the solar calendar.)

dà hán

 大 寒 (Major Cold ; indicating the coldest time of the year. Around January 20th of the solar calendar.)

Ok, that is all for today.

xiè xiè!

 谢  谢 ! (Thanks!)

xià cì jiàn

 下 次 见!  (See you next time!)

Chinese Language Learning Program Lesson 197 -- The difference between “即” and “既” in Chinese

Chinese Language Learning Program

Lesson 197 – The difference between “即” and “既” in Chinese

 Hello, everyone. Welcome back. This is Baixue’s Chinese Language Learning Program. Last time we learned some words for keep promise in Chinese. Today, we will learn the difference between “即” and “既” in Chinese.

jí

即

Adj. : the same (day, etc.); immediate; at present; in the immediate future

 jí  rì

即日 (this very day; immediate; at present)

běn guī dìng  zì  jí rì qǐ shí shī.

 本    规    定   自即日起   实  施.

(The provision takes effect as from today.)

Adv. : promptly; at once

 lì  jí                                                jí  kè

立即 (Immediately, at once)     即 刻 (Immediately, promptly)

 jí  jiāng

即   将 (soon)

wǒ bù néng lì  jí dá fù nǐ de wèn tí.

 我  不    能  立即 答 复 你 的  问  题。

(I can not answer your questions immediately.)

wǒ jí kè jiù dào.

 我即 刻  就  到。(I will be there in no time.)

 nǐ de zhòng dà shí kè jí jiāng dào lái.

你  的     重     大  时 刻 即  将     到   来。

(Your big moment is coming.)

Conjunction:  even; even if

 jí shǐ míng tiān xià yǔ,  wǒ men yě yào jì xù gōng zuò.

即  使   明     天   下  雨，我    们   也   要 继 续    工     作。

(Even if it should rain tomorrow, we will continue our work.)

 jí biàn

即  便 (even if; even though)

rú guǒ wǒ nǔ lì le,   jí biàn shì méi yǒu kǎo dì yī, mā mā yě

如   果  我   努力了,  即  便    是   没    有   考   第一, 妈   妈  也

bù huì mán yuàn wǒ de.

不   会   埋      怨    我  的。

(If I tried, even if I did not get the first place, my Mom will not blame me.)

 jì

既

adv.   Already

yī yán jì chū,  sì mǎ nán zhuī.

一  言 既  出，驷 马    难     追。

(A word once spoken cannot be overtaken even by a team of four horses; What is said cannot be unsaid; A promise cannot be taken back once it is made.)

Conjunction:   since ； as ； both ...and ； as well as

 jì rán

既 然 (since; as; now that; in as much)

 jì rán nǐ bù xiǎng tīng, wǒ jiù bù gào sù nǐ le.

既 然  你 不    想      听，我  就  不   告   诉 你了。

(I will not tell you since you do not want to listern.)

 jì rán nǐ huí dā bù chū zhè ge wèn tí,  wǒ jiù wèn bié rén le.

既 然  你  回  答  不   出   这   个   问 题,  我   就   问   别   人 了。

(Since you can't answer the question, I'll ask someone else.  )

Used with “and ” or meaning as “not only….but also….”

 tā jì tān lán yòu zì sī.

她 既 贪  婪    又 自 私。(She is greedy and selfish.)

tā lái de zhèng hǎo,  jì  bù zǎo yě bù wǎn.

他 来 的     正      好，既 不   早  也  不   晚。

(He came just at the right time, neither too early nor too late.)

tā   jì  yǒu qù yòu cōng míng.

他  既  有   趣   又     聪      明。

(He’s not only funny, but also he’s intelligent.)

Ok, that is all for today.

xiè xiè!

 谢  谢 ! (Thanks!)

xià cì jiàn

 下 次 见!  (See you next time!)

Chinese Language Learning Program Lesson 196 -- Swear words in Chinese

Chinese Language Learning Program

Lesson 196 – Swear words in Chinese

Hello, everyone. Welcome back. This is Baixue’s Chinese Language Learning Program. Last time we learned some tax terms in Chinese. Today, we will learn some swear words in Chinese.

1.   fā shì

发 誓 (swear) verb

wǒ fā shì wǒ yǐ jīng bǎ wǒ suǒ zhī dào de quán dōu

 我 发  誓  我 已   经  把  我    所   知   道  的    全     都

gào sù nǐ le.

  告  诉 你了.

(I swear I've told you everything I know.)

2.   nuò yán

  诺   言 (promise)

xìn / zūn shǒu nuò yán

 信 /   遵     守     诺   言 (keep promise)

wǒ men bì xū xìn / zūn shǒu zì jǐ de nuò yán.

 我    们  必 须  信  /  遵      守  自己的    诺   言。

(We must keep our promise.)

3.   chéng nuò

        承      诺 (committed to)

duì xiàn nǐ de chéng nuò

  兑  现   你 的      承     诺

(keep your promise)

zuò chū chéng nuò róng yì, shí xiàn chéng nuò bù yì.

  作   出      承       诺    容  易,  实    现      承      诺   不 易。

(It is easier to make a promise than to keep a promise.)

4.   bǎo zhèng

           保      证 (Guarantee, assure, ensure)

         wǒ men bǎo zhèng bǎ zhè xiàng gōng zuò zuò hǎo.

         我    们    保       证    把   这     项      工     作    做    好。

         (We ensure that the work shall be done well.)

         wǒ xiàng nǐ bǎo zhèng tong yàng de cuò wù wǒ bù

         我      向   你  保      证       同     样    的   错   误  我  不

         huì fàn liǎng cì.

          会  犯     两   次。

        (I assure you I will not make the same mistake twice.)

Ok, that is all for today.

xiè xiè!

 谢  谢 ! (Thanks!)

xià cì jiàn

 下 次 见!  (See you next time!)