Words

1. 除夕 (Chúxī) – the Spring Festival’s Eve

1. 每年的除夕夜，家家户户都会聚在一起吃年夜饭。

   Měi nián de Chúxīyè, jiājiāhùhù dōu huì jù zài yīqǐ chī nián yèfàn.

   Every year on New Year’s Eve, every family gets together to have the New Year’s Eve dinner.

   聚 jù – to gather (HKS 5)

   年夜饭 nián yèfàn – New Year’s Eve dinner (HKS 5)

1. 除夕是中国最重要的传统节日之一，它的由来有一个古老的传说。

   Chúxī shì Zhōngguó zuì zhòngyào de chuántǒng jiérì zhī yī, tā de yóulái yǒu yīgè gǔlǎo de chuánshuō.

   New Year’s Eve is one of China’s most important traditional festivals, and its origin has an ancient legend.

   重要 zhòngyào – important (HKS 4)

   传统 chuántǒng – tradition (HKS 5)

   节日 jiérì – festival (HKS 4)

   由来 yóulái – origin (HKS 5)

   古老 gǔlǎo – ancient (HKS 5)

   传说 chuánshuō – folktale (HKS 5)

2. 由来 (yóulái) – origin

1. “守岁”这个风俗的由来，和古代的一个怪物有关。

   “Shǒusuì” zhège fēngsú de yóulái, hé gǔdài de yīgè guàiwù yǒuguān.

   The origin of the custom of “staying up late” is related to an ancient monster.

   守岁 shǒusuì – to stay up late on New Year’s Eve (HKS 5)

   风俗 fēngsú – custom (HKS 5)

   古代 gǔdài – antiquity, ancient times (HKS 5)

   怪物 guàiwù – monster (HKS 5)

   有关 yǒuguān – related to (HKS 4)

1. 这个词的由来很有趣，它起源于一个很久以前的故事。

   Zhège cí de yóulái hěn yǒuqù, tā qǐyuán yú yīgè hěn jiǔ yǐqián de gùshì.

   The origin of this word is very interesting; it originated from a story a long time ago.

   有趣 yǒuqù – interesting (HKS 4)

   起源 qǐyuán – to originate (HKS 5)

   故事 gùshì – story (HKS 4)

3. 农历 (nónglì) – Chinese lunar calendar

1. 春节是按照农历来计算的，所以每年的公历日期都不一样。

   Chūnjié shì ànzhào nónglì lái jìsuàn de, suǒyǐ měi nián de gōnglì rìqī dōu bù yīyàng.

   The Spring Festival is calculated according to the lunar calendar, so the date on the Gregorian calendar is different every year.

   春节 chūnjié – Spring Festival (HKS 4)

   按照 ànzhào – according to (HKS 4)

   计算 jìsuàn – to calculate (HKS 4)

   公历 gōnglì – Gregorian calendar (HKS 5)

   日期 rìqī – date (HKS 4)

   不一样 bù yīyàng – not the same (HKS 4)

1. 农历的七月十五，在中国叫做“中元节”。

   Nónglì de qī yuè shíwǔ, zài Zhōngguó jiàozuò “Zhōngyuán jié”.

   The fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month is called “Ghost Festival” in China.

   中元节 Zhōngyuán jié – Ghost Festival (HKS 5)

4. 守岁 (shǒusuì) – to stay up late or all night on New Year’s Eve

1. 除夕晚上，我们全家人一起守岁，迎接新年的到来。

   Chúxī wǎnshàng, wǒmen quánjiā rén yīqǐ shǒusuì, yíngjiē xīnnián de dàolái.

   On New Year’s Eve, our whole family stayed up late to welcome the arrival of the New Year.

   除夕 Chúxī – New Year’s Eve (HKS 5)

   全家 quánjiā – whole family (HKS 4)

   迎接 yíngjiē – to welcome (HKS 5)

   到来 dàolái – arrival (HKS 5)

1. 传说，守岁是为了赶走一种叫“年”的怪物。

   Chuánshuō, shǒusuì shì wèile gǎnzǒu yī zhǒng jiào “nián” de guàiwù.

   Legend has it that staying up late is to drive away a monster called “Nian.”

   传说 chuánshuō – folktale (HKS 5)

   赶走 gǎnzǒu – to drive away (HKS 5)

   怪物 guàiwù – monster (HKS 5)