冬至大如年！「冬至」英語怎麼說？

今天是二十四節氣中的冬至（Winter Solstice），它是我國農曆中一個非常重要的節氣。在這一天，北方大部分地區有吃餃子的習俗，正如諺語：冬至到，家家戶戶吃水餃。

冬至 Winter Solstice

「solstice」這個詞我們不太看到，因為它的意思很特別，表示「the time of either the longest day in the year (about June 22) or the shortest day in the year (about December 22)」。 這麼看來，這個詞的用武之地似乎局限性很大了。基本上也就用在「Winter Solstice」（冬至）以及「Summer Solstice」（夏至）之處。

節氣小百科

After this day, many places in China go through the coldest period, which is called in Chinese, 「Shu Jiu」. In total, there are nine periods with nine days for each. In the first and second nine days, people keep their hands in pockets; in the third and fourth nine days, people can walk on ice; in the fifth and sixth nice days, people can see willows along the river bank; in the seventh and eighth nine days, the swallow comes back and in the ninth nine days, the yak starts working.

從冬至以後，中國的絕大部分地區都會經歷最寒冷的時期，中國人叫它」數九「。這一共有九個時期，每個時期分別有九天。在」一九「和」二九「，手放口袋就能避寒；」三九「和」四九「，路上會結冰；」五九「和」六九「，可以看到河岸邊柳樹抽芽了；在」七九「和」八九「，燕子回歸，在最後的」九九「，牛開始犁地。

冬至的傳統習俗

尤其是在中國北方，人們通常在冬至那天吃餃子，這是一個意味著溫暖冬天的習俗。大家庭的成員可以聚在一起包餃子。在中國北方，餃子通常是蘸醋、辣油或醬汁吃的，有時還會加點醬油。

Particularly, in Northern China, people generally eat dumpling on the Winter Solstice , a custom signifying a warm winter. Extended family members may gather together to make dumplings. In Northern China, dumplings are commonly eaten with a dipping sauce made of vinegar and chili oil or paste, and occasionally with some soy sauce added in.

「餃子」是我們中國土生土長的獨有物種，在英語中並沒有100%對應的辭彙，所以用「dumpling」來專指餃子，有點牽強。因此，在跟外國朋友介紹餃子的時候，可以說 Chinese dumpling，或者乾脆直接用漢語拚音： Jiaozi表示。

作為一種家常菜，每個家庭都有自己喜歡的製作方法，使用自己喜歡的餡料，製作的種類和方法因地而異。

As a dish prepared at home, each family has its own preferred method of making them, using favorite fillings, with types and methods of preparation varying widely from region to region.

餃子常見的餡料有豬肉、羊肉、牛肉、雞肉、魚和蝦，這些餡料通常與切碎的蔬菜混合在一起。常見的蔬菜餡料包括大白菜、蔥、韭菜、芹菜、菠菜、蘑菇、黑木耳、胡蘿蔔和韭菜。

Common dumpling meat fillings include pork, mutton, beef, chicken, fish, and shrimp, which are usually mixed with chopped vegetables. Popular vegetable fillings include napa cabbage, scallion (spring onions), leek, celery, spinach, mushroom, edible black fungus, carrot, and garlic chives.

餃子的製作方法多種多樣，包括烘烤、煮沸、煎炸、煨製或蒸製，世界上許多菜系都有餃子。

Dumplings may be prepared using a variety of methods, including baking, boiling, frying, simmering, or steaming, and are found in many world cuisines.

中國人為什麼重視冬至

其實，從中國文化方面講，「冬至」這個日子還可以翻譯成「Dongzhi Festival」，中國人為什麼比較重視這個節氣？

The origins of this festival can be traced back to the yin and yang philosophy of balance and harmony in the cosmos. After this celebration, there will be days with longer daylight hours and therefore an increase in positive energy flowing in.

原來是和「陰陽」相關。人們認為，過了這一天，白晝一天比一天長了，是一個節氣循環的開始，「陽」氣逐漸回升，因此算是個吉利的日子。

關於冬至的相關英語

【餃子】：Dumplings , Chinese meat ravioli, Jiaozi；

【餛飩】：Wonton, dumplings in soup；

【米團】：Rice dumpling；

【長線面】：Long noodle ；

【冬至祭祖】：Offering a Sacrifice to the Ancestors on the Winter Solstice。

關於中國24節氣的英語表達

立春 start of spring

雨水 The rains

驚蟄 Insects awaken

春分 Vernal Equinox

清明 Clear and bright

穀雨 Grain rain

立夏 Summer begins

小滿 Grain buds

芒種 Grain in ear

夏至 Summer solstice

小暑 Slight heat

大暑 Great heat

立秋 Autumn begins

處暑 Stopping the heat

白露 White dews

秋分 Autumn Equinox

寒露 Cold dews

霜降 Hoar-frost falls

立冬 Winter begins

小雪 Light snow

大雪 Heavy snow

冬至 Winter Solstice

小寒 Slight cold

大寒 Great cold