chinese calendar: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2formal
Quick answer
What does “chinese calendar” mean?
A lunisolar calendar system traditionally used in China and other East Asian cultures, based on cycles of the moon and sun, used to determine festivals and auspicious dates.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A lunisolar calendar system traditionally used in China and other East Asian cultures, based on cycles of the moon and sun, used to determine festivals and auspicious dates.
Refers to the traditional calendrical system incorporating elements of astronomy, agriculture, and astrology. It is also known as the agricultural calendar, Yin calendar, or old calendar. The system includes the sexagenary cycle, solar terms, and zodiac animals.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences; usage is identical in both varieties.
Connotations
In both contexts, it carries connotations of tradition, astrology, and cultural heritage. In academic contexts, it is a neutral term for a specific calendrical system.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in British English in multicultural/educational contexts due to different curricular emphases, but the difference is minimal.
Grammar
How to Use “chinese calendar” in a Sentence
[The/Our] + festival/date + is determined by + the Chinese calendar.According to + the Chinese calendar, + [clause].The Chinese calendar + is based on + [lunisolar cycles/the moon].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “chinese calendar” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The Chinese calendar dictates the timing of the Spring Festival.
- Her research compares the Chinese calendar with the Mayan system.
American English
- What year is it according to the Chinese calendar?
- The app converts dates between the Gregorian and Chinese calendars.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used when planning for holidays, marketing campaigns, or product launches targeting East Asian markets (e.g., 'We scheduled the release for the Lunar New Year according to the Chinese calendar.').
Academic
Used in history, cultural studies, and astronomy to describe the structure, history, and societal role of the traditional timekeeping system.
Everyday
Used when discussing festival dates, birthdays, or astrological signs (e.g., 'My birthday is late January, so I'm a Tiger in the Chinese calendar.').
Technical
Used in astronomy, historiography, or software development for date conversion and cultural algorithm design.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “chinese calendar”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “chinese calendar”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “chinese calendar”
- Using 'Chinese calendar' to refer generically to any calendar printed in China. (Error: 'I bought a Chinese calendar for 2024.' – This likely means a Gregorian calendar with Chinese themes).
- Confusing it with being purely lunar; it is lunisolar.
- Capitalisation: It is typically not capitalised unless starting a sentence or in a title.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. The term 'Lunar calendar' often refers to purely lunar calendars like the Islamic calendar. The Chinese calendar is lunisolar; it follows the moon's phases but adds leap months to stay aligned with the solar year and seasons.
As of 2024 in the Gregorian calendar, it is the Year of the Dragon, specifically the year of the Wood Dragon in the sexagenary cycle. The exact year number depends on the counting system used (e.g., from the reign of the Yellow Emperor).
Chinese New Year falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice, typically between January 21 and February 20 on the Gregorian calendar.
Mainland China officially uses the Gregorian calendar for civil purposes. However, the traditional Chinese calendar remains crucial for determining cultural and religious holidays, festival dates, and in astrology and agriculture.
A lunisolar calendar system traditionally used in China and other East Asian cultures, based on cycles of the moon and sun, used to determine festivals and auspicious dates.
Chinese calendar is usually formal in register.
Chinese calendar: in British English it is pronounced /ˌtʃaɪˈniːz ˈkælɪndə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌtʃaɪˈniːz ˈkæləndər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Year of the [Zodiac Animal] (e.g., Year of the Dragon)”
- “move with the lunar cycle”
- “auspicious according to the calendar”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'CHINA' + 'EAS' (East Asian System) = CHINESE calendar. It's the EASy way China told time.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A CYCLICAL JOURNEY (repeating annual cycles of animals and elements). THE CALENDAR IS A MAP OF TIME (guiding agricultural and social activities).
Practice
Quiz
What is a key feature distinguishing the Chinese calendar from the Islamic Hijri calendar?