二十四节气之雨水
Chinese 24 Solar Terms: Yushui
（本文转载自《孔子学院》中英版（安徽刊）2023年第1期/总第77期）
中国先民通过观察太阳周年运动轨迹和天文物候的变化节律，将太阳周年划分为基本等长的24个时间段落，设立了中国人特有的时间知识体系——二十四节气。它不仅指导着古代中国的传统农业生产，如今更加深刻影响着数亿中国人的思维方式和生活节律。2016年，“二十四节气”入选联合国教科文组织非物质文化遗产名录。
By observing the sun’s annual motion and the year’s changes in season, climate and phenology, the ancient Chinese divided a solar year into 24 segments of equal length. They founded 24 Solar Terms, a unique knowledge system, and used it as a timeframe to direct agricultural production. Today, the 24 solar terms have influenced the way of thinking and daily routines of millions of Chinese people. In 2016, the Chinese 24 Solar Terms was added to the UNESCO’s world intangible cultural heritage list.
今天我们来介绍一年里的第二个节气——雨水。
In this issue, we introduce the second solar terms of the year — Yushui.
雨水，是二十四节气中的第二个节气，表示降雨开始。每年2月20日左右，气温回升，冰雪融化，降水增多，多以小雨或毛毛细雨为主。
Yushui, the second solar term, signifies the beginning of rain. Every year around February 20, the temperature rises, the ice and snow melt, and the precipitation increases in the form of light rain or drizzle.
俗话常说，“春雨贵如油”，意思是说春天的细雨像油一样贵，形容春雨宝贵。雨水之后，适宜的降水对农作物的生长很重要，这是节令在农耕文化中的反映。有个成语叫作“雨后春笋”，形容新生事物发展迅速，它的本意就取自雨水时节的春笋大片发芽，快速生长。人们常说，新的一年，希望我们的事业像雨后春笋一样节节高！
“Spring rain is as expensive as oil” is a popular Chinese saying highlighting the value of spring rain. This is because the amount of rain is vital to the growth of crops after Yushui. It reflects people’s respect for nature in the traditional farming culture. Chinese also use the four-character idiom Yuhou Chunsun (spring bamboo shooting after the rain) to describe the rapid development of new things. At the new year, they use this expression to wish great success in each other’s business!
全国各地在雨水这一天有着不同的习俗。如四川都江堰地区，在这一天，出嫁了的女儿要带着丈夫回娘家，并送去一对竹椅，因为“椅”和“依”发音相近，送竹椅则代表父母老来有依靠，表达了晚辈对长辈的孝心。
Different areas in China celebrate the day with different customs. In Dujiangyan, Sichuan, on this day, married daughters visit their parents with their husbands and a pair of bamboo chairs, because “chair”, pronounced yǐ in Chinese, is a homonym of “reliance”. As a gesture of filial piety, they want to tell the parents that they could rely on their daughters when they grow old.
雨水节气，中国北方地区尚未有春天气息，南方大多数地方则是春意盎然，一幅早春的景象。雨水的专属花是梅花，梅花代表坚强、高洁。正所谓“梅花香自苦寒来”，梅花的高洁品格深受文人的喜爱。
After Yushui, it still takes a few days for northern China to feel the warmth of spring, but in the south, most places already enjoy the happiness of spring. Yushui is represented by the plum blossom, which expresses virtues of purity and strength. As the saying goes, “The fragrance of a plum blossom is the result of bitter cold winter.” The plum blossom has long been a favorite of Chinese scholars for its noble character.
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