元宵节
Yuánxiāojié
Lantern festival · trad. 元宵節
元宵节 (Yuánxiāojié) is the Lantern Festival, celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. It marks the first full moon of the year and the official end of the Chinese New Year celebrations, during which people admire lanterns, solve lantern riddles, and eat sweet rice balls.
What does 元宵节 (Yuánxiāojié) mean?
元宵节 (Yuánxiāojié) means “lantern festival” in English. Word for word, it breaks down as “first night festival.”
When to use it
Neutral. It refers to a specific traditional festival. People often discuss the customs associated with it, such as admiring lanterns (赏花灯) or eating sweet rice balls (吃汤圆/元宵).
How to pronounce it
Sounds like "ywen-shyao-jyeh." 元 rises (second tone), 宵 is high and level (first tone), and 节 rises (second tone).
Other ways to say it
- 猜灯谜cāi dēngmísolve lantern riddles
- 汤圆tāngyuánsweet rice balls (southern style)
- 赏花灯shǎng huādēngadmire lanterns
Examples
元宵节是农历正月十五。
Yuánxiāojié shì nónglì zhēngyuè shíwǔ.
The Lantern Festival is on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.
元宵节吃汤圆是中国传统习俗。
Yuánxiāojié chī tāngyuán shì Zhōngguó chuántǒng xísú.
Eating tangyuan on the Lantern Festival is a traditional Chinese custom.
我们一起去猜灯谜吧！
Wǒmen yīqǐ qù cāi dēngmí ba!
Let's go solve lantern riddles together!
Pro tip: While 元宵节 is the festival name, the sweet rice balls eaten are called 汤圆 (tāngyuán) in the south and 元宵 (yuánxiāo) in the north, with slight differences in preparation.
Related phrases
财神 · God of wealth拜年 · Pay a new year visit春节 · Spring festival (chinese new year)
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