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Qingming Festival

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Qingming Festival

春天chūn tiān到dào了le,很多hěn duō人rén都dōu会huì想xiǎng起qǐ唐Táng朝cháo诗人shī rén杜牧Dù Mù写xiě的de关于guān yú清明Qīng míng的de那nà首shǒu诗shī,“清明时节雨纷纷Qīng míng shí jié yǔ fēn fēn,路上行人欲断魂lù shàng xíng rén yù duàn hún”。

不过bù guò最zuì早zǎo的de清明Qīng míng并bìng不是bù shì一yī个gè纪念jì niàn节日jié rì,只zhǐ是shì天气tiān qì变化biàn huà的de一yī个gè名字míng zi。

这zhè时候shí hou中国Zhōng guó大dà部分bù fen地方dì fang天气tiān qì变biàn暖nuǎn,花huā草cǎo树shù木mù开始kāi shǐ生长shēng zhǎng,正zhèng是shì农民nóng mín种zhòng地dì的de好hǎo时候shí hou。

老lǎo话huà说shuō:清明Qīng míng连lián着zhe谷雨Gǔ yǔ,播种bō zhǒng插秧chā yāng要yào抓紧zhuā jǐn。

后来hòu lái清明Qīng míng怎么zěn me变成biàn chéng纪念jì niàn祖先zǔ xiān的de节日jié rì呢ne?

这zhè和hé一yī个gè叫jiào寒食节Hán shí jié的de旧jiù节日jié rì有关yǒu guān。

古代gǔ dài人rén为了wèi le纪念jì niàn一yī位wèi叫jiào介子推Jiè Zǐ tuī的de忠zhōng臣chén,规定guī dìng春天chūn tiān三sān天tiān不能bù néng生shēng火huǒ做饭zuò fàn。

因为yīn wèi很hěn久jiǔ以前yǐ qián,人们rén men用yòng木头mù tou取qǔ火huǒ很hěn不bù容易róng yì,春天chūn tiān正好zhèng hǎo要yào换huàn新xīn火huǒ种zhǒng。

到dào了le汉Hàn朝cháo,寒食节Hán shí jié这zhè天tiān白天bái tiān不bù许xǔ点diǎn火huǒ,晚上wǎn shang皇宫huáng gōng才cái会huì把bǎ新xīn火huǒ传chuán给gěi大臣dà chén们men。

不能bù néng做饭zuò fàn的de日子rì zi,人们rén men要yào提前tí qián准备zhǔn bèi冷lěng食shí。

北方běi fāng人rén会huì做zuò燕子yàn zi形状xíng zhuàng的de面饼miàn bǐng,南方nán fāng人rén做zuò青色qīng sè的de糯米nuò mǐ团子tuán zi。

人们rén men还hái习惯xí guàn在zài这zhè段duàn时间shí jiān打扫dǎ sǎo祖先zǔ xiān的de墓地mù dì。

古代gǔ dài人rén很hěn重视zhòng shì纪念jì niàn祖先zǔ xiān,后来hòu lái慢慢màn màn形成xíng chéng了le扫墓sǎo mù的de传统chuán tǒng。

到dào了le唐Táng朝cháo,大家dà jiā常cháng在zài清明Qīng míng前后qián hòu扫墓sǎo mù,政府zhèng fǔ还hái专门zhuān mén放假fàng jià让ràng百姓bǎi xìng做zuò这zhè件jiàn事shì。

后来hòu lái清明Qīng míng变得biàn de越来越yuè lái yuè重要zhòng yào,连lián寒食节Hán shí jié吃chī东西dōng xi、踢tī球qiú、荡秋千dàng qiū qiān这些zhè xiē活动huó dòng都dōu变成biàn chéng了le清明Qīng míng的de习俗xí sú。

清明Qīng míng还hái吸收xī shōu了le另lìng一yī个gè叫jiào上巳节Shàng sì jié的de节日jié rì内容nèi róng。

上巳节Shàng sì jié在zài三月Sān yuè三sān日rì,人们rén men会huì去qù河hé边bian洗澡xǐ zǎo、春游chūn yóu。

唐Táng朝cháo开始kāi shǐ,扫墓sǎo mù的de人rén会huì顺便shùn biàn在zài野外yě wài游玩yóu wán,清明Qīng míng又yòu有yǒu了le“踏青节tà qīng jié”的de名字míng zi。

现在xiàn zài的de清明节Qīng míng jié主要zhǔ yào有yǒu三sān个gè内容nèi róng:扫墓sǎo mù纪念jì niàn祖先zǔ xiān、野外yě wài春游chūn yóu、种zhòng树shù保护bǎo hù自然zì rán。

就jiù像xiàng古代gǔ dài画家huà jiā张择端Zhāng Zé duān画huà的de《清明上河图Qīng míng Shàng hé Tú》那样nà yàng,这zhè个gè节日jié rì既jì有yǒu对duì过去guò qù的de怀念huái niàn,也yě有yǒu春天chūn tiān的de欢乐huān lè。

人们rén men通过tōng guò这zhè个gè节日jié rì表达biǎo dá对duì家人jiā rén的de思念sī niàn,也yě享受xiǎng shòu美好měi hǎo的de春光chūn guāng。

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Whole-text audio

narration saved locally, offline — from https://download.mandarinbean.com/audio?source=aHR0cHM6Ly90cmFmZmljLmxpYnN5bi5jb20vc2VjdXJlL2xlYXJuY2hpbmVzZS82MTM5Lm1wMw&filename=Qingming-Festival.mp3&signature=f34617adcc237be43eb5225d5e76f8cfd18271ddf5a8ee849b86880d30b9bc35

Vocabulary 202 words

ChinesePinyinEnglish
春天 chūn tiānspring (season)
到 dàoto reach; to arrive / to (a place); until (a time); up to (a point) / (verb complement indicating arriving at a place or reaching a point)
了 le(completed action marker) / (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now)
很多 hěn duōmany; a lot of
人 rénperson; people
都 dōuall; both; entirely
会 huìto be likely to; to be sure to
想 xiǎngto think (about) / to think of; to devise / to think (that); to believe (that)
起 qǐverb suffix, to start / starting from (a time, place, price etc)
唐 TángTang dynasty (618–907)
朝 cháoimperial or royal court / government / dynasty / reign of a sovereign or emperor / court or assembly held by a sovereign or emperor
诗人 shī rénbard / poet
杜牧 Dù MùDu Mu (803-852) Tang dynasty poet
写 xiěto write
的 depossessive particle (of; 's) / modifying particle (used after an attribute to modify a noun or to form a nominal expression)
关于 guān yúpertaining to / concerning / with regard to / about / a matter of
清明 Qīng míngQingming or Pure Brightness, 5th of the 24 solar terms / Pure Brightness Festival or Tomb Sweeping Day (in early April)
那 nà(specifier) that; the; those / (pronoun) that (referring to persons, things or situations)
首 shǒuclassifier for poems, songs etc
诗 shīpoem / poetry / verse
清明时节雨纷纷 Qīng míng shí jié yǔ fēn fēnA line from Du Mu’s poem about Qingming, describing drizzling rain during the Qingming festival.
路上行人欲断魂 lù shàng xíng rén yù duàn húnThe travelers on the road are so grief-stricken that they feel as if their souls are about to break; used in the line from Du Mu's "Qingming".
不过 bù guòbut / however
最 zuì(before an adjective or verb) to the highest degree; (the) most ...; -est
早 zǎoearly
并 bìng(not) at all
不是 bù shìis not
一 yīone / single / a (article)
个 gèclassifier for people or objects in general
纪念 jì niànto commemorate; to honor the memory of
节日 jié rìholiday / festival
只 zhǐonly; merely; just
是 shìto be (followed by substantives only)
天气 tiān qìweather
变化 biàn huàchange; variation
名字 míng ziname (of a person or thing)
这 zhèthis; these
时候 shí houtime / length of time / moment / period
中国 Zhōng guóChina
大 dàbig; large; great / older (than another person) / eldest
部分 bù fenpart; portion; piece
地方 dì fangplace; location; area; space; territory / aspect; part
变 biànto change / to become different / to transform / to vary
暖 nuǎnwarm
花 huāflower / blossom / fancy pattern
草 cǎograss / straw / manuscript / draft (of a document)
树 shùtree
木 mù(bound form) tree / (bound form) wood
开始 kāi shǐto begin / to start
生长 shēng zhǎngto grow / to grow up / to be brought up
正 zhèngexactly / just (at that time) / right (in that place)
农民 nóng mínpeasant; farmer
种 zhòngto plant / to grow / to cultivate
地 dìearth / ground / field / place / land
好 hǎogood / appropriate; proper
老 lǎoold (of people) / venerable (person) / experienced / of long standing / of the past / outdated
话 huàspoken words / speech / talk / words / conversation / what sb said
说 shuōto speak; to talk; to say
连 liánto link / to join / to connect
着 zheaspect particle indicating action in progress or ongoing state
谷雨 Gǔ yǔGuyu or Grain Rain, 6th of the 24 solar terms
播种 bō zhǒngto sow seeds
插秧 chā yāngto transplant rice seedlings
要 yàowill; shall; about to / need to; should / if
抓紧 zhuā jǐnto keep a firm grip on / to pay close attention to / to lose no time in (doing sth)
后来 hòu láiafterwards; later
怎么 zěn mehow? / what? / why?
变成 biàn chéngto change into / to turn into / to become
祖先 zǔ xiānancestors; forebears / (biology) ancestral species; ancient species from which present-day species evolved
呢 ne(sentence-final particle) used in questions to link back to prior discourse or context ("what about...?", "and...?")
和 héand; together with
叫 jiàoto be called
寒食节 Hán shí jiéan old Chinese festival observed by eating cold food and avoiding fire, traditionally held before Qingming
旧 jiùold / opposite: new 新 / former / worn (with age)
有关 yǒu guānto have sth to do with / to relate to / to concern
古代 gǔ dàiancient times
为了 wèi lefor; for the purpose of; in order to
位 wèiclassifier for people (honorific)
介子推 Jiè Zǐ tuīJie Zitui, a loyal retainer of Duke Wen of Jin in Chinese history and legend.
忠 zhōngloyal; devoted; faithful
臣 chénstate official or subject in dynastic China / I, your servant (used in addressing the sovereign)
规定 guī dìngto stipulate; to specify; to prescribe; to fix (a price); to set (a quota)
三 sānthree / 3
天 tiānday
不能 bù néngcannot / must not / should not
生 shēngto grow; to give birth; to produce; to be born / to arise; to occur / to light (a fire)
火 huǒfire / ammunition / internal heat (Chinese medicine) / Kangxi radical 86
做饭 zuò fànto prepare a meal / to cook
因为 yīn wèibecause; owing to; on account of
很 hěnvery; quite
久 jiǔ(of a period of time) long
以前 yǐ qiánbefore / formerly / previous / ago
人们 rén menpeople
用 yòngto use; to make use of; to employ / (coverb) with; using
木头 mù toublockhead / log (of wood, timber etc)
取 qǔto take / to get / to fetch
不 bùno; not so
容易 róng yìeasy; straightforward
正好 zhèng hǎojust (in time)
换 huànto exchange / to change / to substitute / to switch / to convert (currency)
新 xīnnew; newly
汉 HànHan ethnic group / Chinese (language) / the Han dynasty (206 BC-220 AD)
白天 bái tiānduring the day
许 xǔto allow / to permit / to promise / to praise
点 diǎnto touch briefly; to tap / to mark with a dot; to check off (on a list) / to order (food etc); to select / to mention; to bring up (a topic or person) / to hint at; to imply / to administer (eye medicine etc) in drops / to light (a fire, a lamp etc); to ignite / to nod (one's head) in agreement; to beckon by moving (one's hand) up and down
晚上 wǎn shangin the evening
皇宫 huáng gōngimperial palace
才 cáithen and only then
把 bǎ(used to put the object before the verb: 把[ba3] + {noun} + {verb})
传 chuánto pass on / to spread / to transmit / to infect / to transfer / to circulate / to conduct (electricity)
给 gěito / for / for the benefit of / to do sth (for sb)
大臣 dà chénchancellor (of a monarchy) / cabinet minister
们 menplural marker for pronouns, and nouns referring to individuals
日子 rì ziday / a (calendar) date
提前 tí qiánin advance
准备 zhǔn bèito prepare / to intend / to be about to
冷 lěngcold
食 shífood / animal feed
北方 běi fāngnorth / the northern part a country / China north of the Yellow River
做 zuòto make; to produce
燕子 yàn ziswallow
形状 xíng zhuàngform; shape
面饼 miàn bǐngflatbread
南方 nán fāngsouth; southern direction / (in China) southern regions, often referring to areas south of the Yangtze River
青色 qīng sècyan / blue-green
糯米 nuò mǐglutinous rice
团子 tuán zidango
还 háiin addition, also, else, even
习惯 xí guànto be used to
在 zài(of sb or sth) to be (located) at
段 duànclassifier for stories, periods of time, lengths of thread etc
时间 shí jiāntime
打扫 dǎ sǎoto clean / to sweep
墓地 mù dìcemetery / graveyard
重视 zhòng shìto attach importance to sth; to value
慢慢 màn mànslowly; gradually
形成 xíng chéngto form; to take shape
扫墓 sǎo mùto sweep a grave (and pay one's respects to the dead person)
传统 chuán tǒngtradition / convention
大家 dà jiāeveryone
常 chángalways / ever / often / frequently
前后 qián hòuaround / all around
政府 zhèng fǔgovernment
专门 zhuān ménspecially; specifically (for a particular purpose)
放假 fàng jiàto have a holiday or vacation
让 ràngto permit / to let sb do sth / to have sb do sth / to make sb (feel sad etc)
百姓 bǎi xìngcommon people
件 jiànclassifier for events, things, clothes etc
事 shìmatter / thing / item / affair
变得 biàn deto become
越来越 yuè lái yuèmore and more
重要 zhòng yàoimportant; significant; major
吃 chīto eat; to consume / to eat at
东西 dōng xithing / stuff / person
踢 tīto kick / to play (e.g. soccer)
球 qiúball / sphere / globe / ball game / match
荡秋千 dàng qiū qiānto swing (on a swing)
这些 zhè xiēthese
活动 huó dòng(volcanic, seismic, economic etc) activity / (outdoor etc) activity; event; (political) campaign; (military) maneuver
习俗 xí súcustom / tradition / local tradition / convention
吸收 xī shōuto absorb / to assimilate / to ingest / to recruit
另 lìngother / another / separate
上巳节 Shàng sì jiéAn ancient Chinese festival on the third day of the third lunar month, associated with purification rituals and spring outings.
内容 nèi róngcontent; substance; details
三月 Sān yuèMarch / third month (of the lunar year)
日 rìsun / day / date, day of the month
去 qùto go, to go to
河 hériver / (bound form) the Yellow River / (bound form) the Milky Way
边 biansuffix of a noun of locality
洗澡 xǐ zǎoto bathe / to take a shower
春游 chūn yóuspring outing / spring excursion
顺便 shùn biànconveniently / in passing / without much extra effort
野外 yě wàicountryside / areas outside the city
游玩 yóu wánto amuse oneself / to have fun / to go sightseeing / to take a stroll
又 yòu(once) again
有 yǒuto have; there is
踏青节 tà qīng jiéA traditional outing festival; another name for Qingming, when people go outdoors to enjoy spring after ancestor-sweeping.
现在 xiàn zàinow; at present; currently
清明节 Qīng míng jiéQingming or Pure Brightness Festival or Tomb Sweeping Day, celebration for the dead (in early April)
主要 zhǔ yàomain; principal; major; primary
保护 bǎo hùto protect / to defend / to safeguard
自然 zì ránnature
就 jiùmerely; nothing else but; simply; just; precisely; exactly
像 xiàngsuch as
画家 huà jiāpainter
张择端 Zhāng Zé duānZhang Zeduan (1085-1145), Song dynasty painter
画 huàto draw; to paint / to draw (a line)
清明上河图 Qīng míng Shàng hé TúAlong the River During the Qingming Festival; a famous Chinese handscroll painting by Zhang Zeduan depicting city life and scenery.
那样 nà yàngthat kind / that sort
既 jìboth... (and...)
对 duìtowards; at; for / concerning; regarding
过去 guò qù(in the) past; former; previous
怀念 huái niànto cherish the memory of / to think of / to reminisce
也 yěalso; too; as well; (not ...) either
欢乐 huān lègaiety / gladness / glee / merriment / pleasure
通过 tōng guòby means of; through; via
表达 biǎo dáto express; to convey
家人 jiā rénfamily member
思念 sī niànto think of / to long for / to miss
享受 xiǎng shòuto enjoy / to live it up
美好 měi hǎobeautiful / fine
春光 chūn guāngscenes of springtime / the radiance of spring / (fig.) a sight of sth sexy or erotic / an indication of a love affair