节气 (jié qì) — solar term (in traditional Chinese calendar)

Definition

节气 is a specific solar term — one of the 24 named divisions of the year in the traditional calendar, like 冬至 or 春分. The related word 节 can also mean 'solar term' but more often refers to festivals like 春节 or to a class/section classifier.

noun

solar term (in traditional Chinese calendar)

Measure word · 个

Examples

节气。
Měi gè jié qì dōu yǒu zì jǐ dú tè de xí sú.
Each solar term has its own unique customs.
节气。
Dōng zhì shì bái tiān zuì duǎn de jié qì.
The Winter Solstice is the solar term with the shortest daytime.
节气。
Hěn duō rén gēn jù jié qì lái tiáo zhěng yǐn shí.
Many people adjust their diet according to the solar terms.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

节jiéseasonal node

气qìsolar division

节 and 气 name the seasonal divisions, together meaning a solar term.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 節; 节 is its simplified writing.

⺮即節

Meaning part形符xíngfú

⺮Written in full as竹zhúbamboo

Sound part声符shēngfú

即

即jí節jié

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 節 pairs ⺮ (bamboo) with 即, which gives the sound; the bamboo part points to a node of bamboo. The simplified 节 is a later abbreviation.

Open 节 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 氣; 气 is its simplified writing.

气米氣

Meaning part形符xíngfú

米米mǐrice

Sound part声符shēngfú

气

气qì氣qì

Same sound today

The traditional form 氣 pairs 米 (rice) with 气, which supplies the sound; the simplified 气 is a later abbreviation.

Open 气 →