Chinese 24 Solar Terms

The Chinese people divided a year into 24 segments based on the sun's position in the zodiac. Each segment is called a 节气 “jié qì”, solar term. 节 means “segment” in Chinese. 气 refers to the climate or the seasons.

There are 2 solar terms in each of the 12 months, with each segment lasting around 15 days. The 24 Solar Terms reflect the changes of the seasons and climate.

What are the 24 Solar Terms used for?

Honored as the Fifth Great Invention of China, the 24 Solar Terms are very important to the Chinese people. For example, they serve as a time-frame for agricultural activities in China. Actually, the influences of the ancient way of dividing time have gone beyond farming into the daily lives of the Chinese people, even their mindset.

Nowadays, Chinese people even regard some of the major Jie Qi as “small” festivals with some traditional celebrations.

For instance, 清明, the "Pure Brightness" is also marked as the tomb-sweeping day, when people pay respect to their lost ones.

Chinese eat Jiaozi in 冬至, the "Start of Winter". People believe those who don’t eat Jiaozi on this day will feel cold throughout the upcoming winter.

What and when are the 24 Solar Terms?

24 Solar Terms	Pinyin	Meaning
立春	lì chūn	Spring Commences
雨水	yǔ shuǐ	Spring Showers
惊蛰	jīnɡ zhé	Insects Waken
春分	chūn fēn	Vernal Equinox
清明	qīnɡ mínɡ	Bright and Clear
谷雨	ɡǔ yǔ	Corn Rain
立夏	lì xià	Summer Commences
小满	xiǎo mǎn	Corn Forms
芒种	Corn on ear	Grain in Ear
夏至	xià zhì	Summer Solstice
小暑	xiǎo shǔ	Moderate Heat
大暑	dà shǔ	Great Heat
立秋	lì qiū	Autumn Commences
处暑	chǔ shǔ	End of Heat
白露	bái lù	White Dew
秋分	qiū fēn	Autumn Equinox
寒露	hán lù	Cold Dew
霜降	shuānɡ jiànɡ	Frost
立冬	lì dōnɡ	Winter Commences
小雪	xiǎo xuě	Light Snow
大雪	dà xuě	Heavy Snow
冬至	dōnɡ zhì	Winter Solstice
小寒	xiǎo hán	Moderate Cold
大寒	dà hán	Severe Cold