用英语讲中国传统文化｜二十四节气系列：大寒——寒冬静谧，家有温情

Great Cold (Dahan) – Quiet Winter, Warm Families

The arrival of Great Cold (大寒), or Dahan, marks the twenty-fourth and last solar term in the Chinese lunar calendar. It usually falls in late January, when winter’s chill is at its deepest. The landscape outside is often quiet and covered with frost. Trees are bare, village roads are empty, and even the fields seem to pause and rest.

For most Chinese families, Dahan is a time to slow down and stay together indoors. Parents check the windows and doors to keep out the cold wind. Children may study or read next to a heater, while grandparents prepare simple yet hearty meals. A steaming bowl of cornmeal porridge or a plate of boiled dumplings brings everyone together at the dinner table. Sometimes, families make preserved foods like salted vegetables or cured meat—these will be enjoyed when the Spring Festival arrives.

To keep warm, people wear thick woolen clothes, wrap themselves in scarves, and drink hot water or tea throughout the day. In the countryside, taking care of animals is important, and farmers visit their sheds daily to make sure chickens, pigs, and cattle are safe from the freezing air.

Dahan is also a season for preparation. It may look quiet, but behind closed doors, people are already getting ready for the new year. Mothers and grandmothers clean the house, mend clothes, and count supplies. Children help paste cut-paper flowers and red couplets on the windows, adding a touch of hope and color to cold days.

Although Dahan is harsh and silent outside, families find their own warmth and strength indoors. The last days of winter remind everyone to cherish the comfort of home and await the cheerful Spring Festival just around the corner.

互动练习

根据短文内容，完成下列句子。每空一词。

1. Dahan is the ________ and last solar term in the Chinese lunar calendar.
2. Families stay inside to keep warm from the cold ________.
3. A common meal in winter is cornmeal ________ or boiled dumplings.
4. People wear woolen clothes and wrap up in ________ to protect against the cold.
5. Before the Spring Festival, families paste red ________ on the windows.

Word Bank 词汇集锦

• frost /frɒst/ n. 霜
• wind /wɪnd/ n. 风
• woolen /ˈwʊl.ən/ adj. 羊毛的
• scarf /skɑːf/ n. 围巾
• porridge /ˈpɒr.ɪdʒ/ n. 粥
• dumpling /ˈdʌm.plɪŋ/ n. 饺子
• preserve /prɪˈzɜːv/ v. 腌制，保存
• couplet /ˈkʌp.lət/ n. 春联

大寒是中国农历中的第二十四个、也是最后一个节气，通常出现在一月下旬，此时是一年中最冷的时节。大地静谧，常有霜覆盖。树木光秃，村路空旷，连田野都像是在冬眠。

对大多数中国家庭来说，大寒正是放慢脚步、守在家中相伴的时光。父母会检查门窗，防止寒风钻进来。孩子们喜欢在暖气边看书学习，长辈则准备简单却温暖的饭菜。一碗热玉米粥或一盘水饺，总能把全家人聚在餐桌旁。有时还会提前腌制些咸菜、腊肉，留着春节食用。

为了御寒，人们穿上厚厚的羊毛衣服，围上围巾，整天喝热水或茶。农村家庭还要每天照看牲畜，进圈查看鸡、猪、牛是否安全度寒。

大寒也是整顿和准备的时候。虽然屋外寂静，但家家户户都在为新年做打算。妈妈和奶奶们打扫卫生、缝补衣物、点数年货，孩子们则帮忙贴剪纸、贴红春联，让寒冬里多些希望和色彩。

尽管大寒让户外显得冷峻安静，但每个家庭都能在室内找到温暖和力量。冬天的最后时刻，让我们更加珍惜家的舒适，期待红火热闹的春节即将到来。

✨答案

1. twenty-fourth
2. wind
3. porridge
4. scarves
5. couplets