Posted by Fifi Yang 7524

If this is not the first time you ever heard of Dragon Boat Festival, you will not be surprised by the fact that during this festival people rushed to supermarkets to buy some glutinous rice wrapped by bamboo leaves, which is called “粽子 zongzi” in Chinese. So today, in order to clear your prejudice and help you know better about this traditional holiday, I will list the most important Chinese phrases about it for you.

1. 端午节 - duānwǔ Jié (Dragon Boat Festival)

Chinese people celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival, also called the Duanwu Festival or Double Fifth Festival, on the fifth day of the fifth month according to the Chinese lunar calendar.

For example:

A：nǐ zhī dào duān wǔ jié shì shén me shí hou mɑ?

你知道端午节是什么时候吗？

Do you know when is the Duanwu Festival?

B: zhī dào, duān wǔ jié shì měi nián de nónɡ lì yuè hào.

知道, 端午节是每年的农历5月5号.

Yes, Dragon Boat Festival is the May Fifth of lunar calendar.

A: nà nǐ dǎ suɑn qù nǎ lǐ ɡuò duān wǔ jié ？

那你打算去哪里过端午节？

Where do you plan to spend Duanwu Festival?

B: wǒ dǎ suɑn huí lǎo jiā ɡuò duān wǔ jié.

我打算回老家过端午节。

I plan to go back to hometown to spend Dragon Boat Festival.

2. 屈原 Qū Yuán (Qu Yuan, 340 BC - 278 BC)

This festival is to commemorate the great death of Qu Yuan, an extremely patriotic and upright poet, who has committed suicide by drowning himself into a river in Hunan province.

For example:

A: zhōnɡ ɡuó rén wèi shén me qìnɡ zhù duān wǔ jié？

中国人为什么庆祝端午节？

Why do Chinese people celebrate Dragon Boat Festival?

B: shì wèi le jì niàn qū yuán 。

是为了纪念屈原。

It is to commemorate Qu Yuan.

A：qū yuán shì shuí？

屈原是谁？

Who is Qu Yuan?

A：tā shì yí ɡè ài ɡuó shī rén.

他是一个爱国诗人。

He is a patriotic poet.

3. 龙舟比赛 lóng zhōu bǐ sài (Dragon Boat Race)

Dragon Boat Race was once held to remember Qu Yuan, which later became the most important activity of this festival. It symbolizes people’s attempts to rescue Qu Yuan. In the current period, these races also demonstrate the virtues of cooperation and teamwork.

A: jīn nián duān wǔ jié nǐ qù nǎ lǐ wán ？

今年端午节你去哪里玩？

Where will you go to for this year’s Dragon Boat Festival?

B: wǒ yào cān jiā xué xiào de lónɡ zhōu bǐ sài 。

我要参加学校的龙舟比赛。

I will join the Dragon Boat Race.

A: wā ， zhēn de mɑ ？ zhù nǐ hǎo yùn ！

哇， 真的吗？ 祝你好运！

Wow, really? Good luck!

B：xiè xiè ！

Thanks!

4. 粽子 zòng zi (Glutinous rice)

A: nǐ xǐ huɑn chī zònɡ zi mɑ ？

你喜欢吃粽子吗？

Do you like eating zongzi?

B: wǒ hěn xǐ huɑn！

我很喜欢！

A: nǐ xǐ huɑn chī shén me kǒu wèi de zònɡ zi

你喜欢吃什么口味的粽子?

What flavor of zongzi do you like?

B: wǒ xǐ huɑn chī ròu zònɡ ， nǐ ne ？

我喜欢吃肉粽，你呢？

I like the one stuffed with meat, how about you?

A: wǒ xǐ huɑn chī hónɡ dòu de 。

我喜欢吃红豆的。

I like the one with red beans.

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