二十四节气 / The 24 Solar Terms
The Chinese are famous for following the lunar calendar. However, in order to help farmers to decide when to plant or harvest crops, the drafters of the calendar also put in 24 seasonal markers, which follow the solar year. They are called 节气 jié qì, and are usually translated as “Solar Terms” in English. As the calculation is solar-based, these jié qì fall around the same date every year in solar calendars but do not form any obvious pattern in the Chinese calendar.
Here is a little poem to help you remember the 24 节气:
春雨惊春清谷天 chūn yǔ jīng chūn qīng gǔ tiān
夏满芒夏暑相连 xià mǎn máng xià shǔ xiāng lián
秋处露秋寒霜降 qiū chù lù qiū hán shuāng jiàng
冬雪雪冬小大寒 dōng xuě xuě dōng xiǎo dà hán
And here are the details of the 24 terms, including their pronunciations in pinyin and English translation:
1) 立春 [lì chūn] Start of Spring：立是开始的意思,立春就是春季的开始。
2) 雨水 [yǔ shuǐ] Rain Water：降雨开始，雨量渐增.
3) 惊蛰 [jīng zhé] Awakening of Insects：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。
4) 春分 [chūn fēn] Vernal Equinox：分是平分的意思。春分表示昼夜平分。
5) 清明 [qīng míng] Clear and Bright：天气晴朗，草木繁茂。
6) 谷雨 [gǔ yǔ] Grain Rain：雨生百谷。雨量充足而及时，谷类作物能茁壮成长。
7) 立夏 [lì xià] Start of Summer：夏季的开始。
8) 小满 [xiǎo mǎn] Grain Full：麦类等夏熟作物籽粒开始饱满。
9) 芒种 [máng zhòng] Grain in Ear：麦类等有芒作物成熟。
10) 夏至 [xià zhì] Summer Solstice：炎热的夏天来临。
11) 小暑 [xiǎo shǔ] Minor Hear：暑是炎热的意思。小暑就是气候开始炎热。
12) 大暑 [dà shǔ] Major Heat：一年中最热的时候。
13) 立秋 [lì qiū] Start of Autumn：秋季的开始。
14) 处暑 [chù shǔ] Limit of Heat：处是终止、躲藏的意思。处暑是表示炎热的暑天结束。
15) 白露 [bái lù] White Dew：天气转凉，露凝而白。
16) 秋分 [qiū fēn] Autumnal Equinox：昼夜平分。
17) 寒露 [hán lù] Cold Dew：露水已寒，将要结冰。
18) 霜降 [shuāng jiàng] Descent of Frost：天气渐冷，开始有霜。
19) 立冬 [lì dōng] Start of Winter：冬季的开始。
20) 小雪 [xiǎo xuě] Minor Snow：开始下雪。
21) 大雪 [dà xuě] Major Snow：降雪量增多，地面可能积雪。
22) 冬至 [dōng zhì] Winter Solstice：寒冷的冬天来临。
23) 小寒 [xiǎo hán] Minor Cold：气候开始寒冷。
24) 大寒 [dà hán] Major Cold：一年中最冷的时候。
There are always two 节气 every month. From January to June, they are usually around the 6th and the 21st of each month; where as from July to December, they are usually around the 8th and the 23rd. Chinese New Year is usually the new moon closest to 立春。
