Chinese word

正月

Pronunciation

Pinyinzhēng yuè

Meaning

  • nounfirst lunar month

Example

正月我们一家要回乡下过年。zhēng yuè wǒ men yì jiā yào huí xiāng xià guò nián

In the first lunar month, our whole family goes back to the countryside to celebrate New Year.

Illustration for 正月 (first lunar month)

More examples

我们每年正月吃饺子。wǒ men měi nián zhēng yuè chī jiǎo zi

Every year, we eat dumplings in the first lunar month.

Core concept

The opening stretch of the traditional lunar year, centered on its first month and New Year celebrations.

Common phrases

  • 正月习俗zhēng yuè xí sú

    first-lunar-month customs

  • 正月吃饺子zhēng yuè chī jiǎo zi

    eat dumplings in the first lunar month

  • 正月拜年zhēng yuè bài nián

    pay New Year visits in the first lunar month

Similar words

春节chūn jié: A long traditional lunar New Year holiday period for celebrations and returning home.
新年xīn nián: The start of a new year in a general sense.
元旦yuán dàn: The public holiday marking the first day of the solar calendar year.
元宵节yuán xiāo jié: A festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, featuring lanterns and sweet rice balls.

Definition in Chinese

指旧历（农历）的元月，也称农历正月，表示包含春节等年始活动的一段时间。zhǐ jiù lì nóng lì de yuán yuè yě chēng nóng lì zhēng yuè biǎo shì bāo hán chūn jié děng nián shǐ huó dòng de yí duàn shí jiān

Word origin

正月 (zhēngyuè, "first lunar month") combines 正 (zhēng, "first or primary") with 月 (yuè, "month") to name the opening month of the traditional year.

Usage tips

  • English January follows the Gregorian calendar, so dates around Chinese New Year do not necessarily fall in January when this word is used.

Opposites

Word lists with this word