Learning about seasons in Chinese is more than just knowing about the weather. It is also about discovering cultural festivities and holidays associated with these seasons. Plus, knowing these seasons in Chinese will also improve your Chinese vocabulary.
季节 (jì jié) — seasons in Chinese is one of the first things that you need to know while learning Chinese. Mastering seasons in Chinese should not be overlooked because Current seasons aren’t always the same on the other side of the world. The weather of the northern hemisphere differs greatly from the southern hemisphere. Knowing about the seasons gives you the opportunity to know about all the seasons prevailing in different regions.
Most schools in China begin in September and end in late June or early July, whereas most in the United States begin in August and end in May or early June. So, knowing about the seasons will help you know about Chinese holidays and the festivals associated with them.
For additional information, winter break (寒假 — hán jià) is longer in China than summer break (暑假 — shǔ jià). In the U.S., however, summer break is longer than winter break.
Secondly, knowing about seasons in Chinese will help you hold small and sweet conversations. Whether you want to inquire about a friend’s summer vacation plans or simply complain about the bad weather in your hometown, knowing how to talk about the seasons in Chinese is more useful than you think.
Thirdly, Chinese media is full of talks about seasons. You will need to know related vocabulary words if you want to understand references to seasons in Chinese media, such as songs. Apart from this, you can also use Chinese media to explore Chinese words in English.
Knowing the seasons in Chinese means being prepared for trips to Chinese-speaking countries! Furthermore, if you need help, you can use your season-related vocabulary to ask your language partner or online Chinese teacher for advice on what to pack and even what to do when you arrive.
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Book a trial lessonBecause the weather in China follows the seasonal patterns of the Northern hemisphere, if you live in the Southern hemisphere, it is necessary for you to know the seasons in Chinese.
As mentioned earlier, every new season brings different holidays 节日 (jié rì). For example, in spring, the Chinese celebrate 春节 (chūn jié) — Spring Festival. And in autumn, they celebrate 中秋节 (zhōng qiū jié) — Mid-Autumn Festival.
The four seasons of Chinese
Now that you know how to improve your fluency by learning the seasons in Chinese, let’s get started!
We will also go over the holidays celebrated in each one, the vocabulary you’ll need to have in-depth conversations about them, and what you should bring if you visit China during a specific season.
春天 (chūn tiān) — Spring
In spring 春天, china has warm weather. The average temperature during the day is 13 degrees Celsius (55.4 degrees Fahrenheit), and the average temperature at night is 3 degrees Celsius (37.4 degrees Fahrenheit). However, because China is a large country, different regions may be cooler or warmer than average!
Spring arrives late and lasts less than three months in the north. In cities like Beijing, there is not much of a difference between spring and winter. Spring in Southern China gradually warms up and the days lengthen. The South, on the other hand, enjoys a lovely spring (although with a bit of rain here and there).
If you are going to the North, bring a thick jacket, sweater, pants, and other winter-appropriate clothing. And if you are going to the South, feel free to pack lighter clothing. It is still a good idea to bring a jacket and a sweater.
Vocabulary associated with spring
- 春节 (chūn jié) — Spring Festival
- 春节的时候我回家乡看父母。 (chūn jié de shí hou wǒ huí dào jiā xiāng kàn fù mǔ.) — I go back to my hometown to visit my parents during Spring Festival.
- 暖和 (nuǎn huo) — warm
- 今天的天气很暖和吧?(jīn tiān de tiān qì hěn nuǎn huo ba?) — The weather today is warm, isn’t it?
- 过 (guò) — to celebrate, to spend
- 你每年春节怎么过? (nǐ měi nián chūn jié zěn me guò?) — How do you spend/celebrate Spring Festival every year?
- 大自然 (dà zì rán) — nature
- 春天的大自然很美。(chūn tiān de dà zì rán hěn měi.) — Nature in spring is beautiful.
夏天 (xià tiān) — Summer
June and July are the hottest months in China during the summer. Cities are the places that experience the most intense summer heat. However, in August, the temperature begins to fall in preparation for fall.
However, summer may be better known in China for its wetness rather than its heat. Typhoons and summer rains are most common in China during the summer.
Northern China is the best place to be in the summer if you don’t like the heat. Even in the hottest months, the temperature in Beijing rarely exceeds 32 degrees Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit).
Pack lightweight clothing, such as T-shirts and shorts, for summer trips to China, and consider bringing a hat to protect your skin from overexposure to the sun. It is also a good idea to bring a raincoat.
Summertime vocabulary
- 热 (rè) — hot
- 夏天太热了!(xià tiān tài rè le!) — Summer is too hot!
- 台风 (tái fēng) — typhoon
- 夏天的台风很多。(xià tiān de tái fēng hěn duō.) — Summer has lots of typhoons.
- 下雨 (xià yǔ) — rain
- 夏天的时候经常下雨。(xià tiān de shí hou jīng cháng xià yǔ.) — It often rains in summer.
- 儿童节 (ér tóng jié) — Children’s Day
- 明天是儿童节。(míng tiān shì ér tóng jié.) — Tomorrow is Children’s Day.
- 端午节 (duān wǔ jié) — Dragon Boat Festival
- 端午节是我最喜欢的节日。(duān wǔ jié shì wǒ zuì xǐ huān de jié rì.) — Dragon Boat Festival is my favorite holiday.
秋天 (qiū tiān) — Autumn
Autumn is one of the most beautiful seasons in China, lasting from September to November. Autumn is one of the best times to travel, with breathtaking scenery and ideal weather.
In Beijing, daily temperatures never exceed 26 degrees Celsius (79 degrees Fahrenheit) in September, 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit) in October, and 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit) in November.
Pack both light, summer-like clothing, and clothing for cooler weather, such as T-shirts, pants, and a light jacket.
Autumn vocabulary
- 凉快 (liáng kuai) — cool
- 秋天的天气非常凉快。(qiū tiān de tiān qì fēi cháng liáng kuai.) — The weather in autumn is very cool.
- 中秋节 (zhōng qiū jié) — Mid-Autumn Festival
- 中秋节是很重要的节日。(zhōng qiū jié shì hěn zhòng yào de jié rì.) — Mid-Autumn Festival is an important holiday.
- 月饼 (yuè bìng) — mooncakes
- 中秋节的时候每个人都吃月饼。(zhōng qiū jié de shí hou měi gè rén dōu chī yuè bing.) — Everyone eats mooncakes during Mid-Autumn Festival.
- 刮风 (guā fēng) — windy
- 今天风很大。(jīn tiān fēng hěn dà.) — Today, it’s pretty windy.
- 万圣节 (wàn shèng jié) — Halloween
- 在美国,我们在秋天的时候过万圣节。(zài měi guǒ, wǒ men zài qiū tiān de shí hou guò wàn shèng jié.) — In America, we celebrate Halloween in autumn.
冬天 (dōng tiān) — Winter
Winter in China lasts from December to February. In addition, unlike summer, it is milder in Southern and Central China than in the North.
Outside of Northern China, there is little snow in the winter, and the weather is mild. However, humidity causes the temperature to feel colder than it is.
Tropical China is located in the country’s extreme south, where winter does not exist. These areas are made up of rainforests, islands, and beaches, and the winters can be quite pleasant.
Winters in Beijing, on the other hand, are cold and dry. They’re also a little longer. Winter starts in early November and lasts until the end of March!
Simply pack as you would for an autumn trip to Tropical China. A coat and jacket, long-sleeved shirts, pants, and other warm clothing will suffice for Central and Southern China. If you’re brave enough to venture north, you might want to bring two coats and jackets.
Wintertime vocabulary
- 冷 (lěng) — cold
- 这里太冷了!(zhè lǐ tài lěng le!) — It’s too cold here!
- 下雪 (xià xuě) — snow
- 北京经常下雪。(běi jīng jīng cháng xià xuě.) — Beijing snows a lot.
- 滑冰 (huá bīng) — ice skating
- 冬天的时候我经常去滑冰。(dōng tiān de shí hou wǒ jīng cháng qù huá bīng.) — I usually ice skate during winter.
- 圣诞节 (shèng dàn jié) — Christmas
- 圣诞节在冬天到来。(shèng dàn jié zài dōng tiān dào lái.) — Christmas is in winter.
Conclusion
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