Great Snow, also know as Major Snow 大雪 (dàxuě), is the 21st solar term of the 24 solar terms and 3rd term of the winter season. It begins on December 7th, 2020, and ends on December 20th which is when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 255° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 270°. The arrival of Great Snow reflects that the temperatures will be getting increasingly colder with incrementally intensified rainfall.
The most common feature is that the weather has dwindling temperatures, rain, and snow. According to related statistics, the average temperature in North China is ranged between -20 and -5 Celsius degree after strong cold air passed through, while South China faces growing rains and frosts.
Rime, or hoarfrost, is frost formed on cold objects by the rapid freezing of water vapor in clouds or fog. In general, rime is seen in the northwest and northeast of China, and many regions near the Yangtze River basin from November this year to February next year.
Aesthetically, it is a natural beauty appreciated widely by people, but sometimes it can be a “自然的 (zì rán de) natural” disaster. Excessive rime will weigh down trees and power lines which impacts traffic, power supplies, and telecommunication among other functions that impact daily life.
tā chēng zhè cì tái fēng wéi duō nián lái zuì yán zhòng de zì rán zāi hài .
他称这次台风为多年来最严重的自然灾害。
He called the typhoon the worst natural disaster in years.
zhè shì yí gè zì rán zī yuán fēng fù de guó jiā .
这是一个自然资源丰富的国家。
This is a country rich in natural resources.
Sleet is created when snowflakes that are falling from the upper atmosphere become rain in the middle atmosphere where they finally are supercooled water droplets in the lower atmosphere. The supercooled water freezes immediately and becomes sleet after it touches anything on the ground.
When Great Snow arrives, all families begin to pickle and preserve goods in salt. Chinese people in South China such as Nanjing, Hangzhou, Hefei, Chongqing make sausage, which is an important part of the preparation for the Spring Festival. People would add “盐 (yán) salt, star anise, cinnamon, prickly ash, and sugar in the pan until cooked thoroughly. Once cooled and spread out on the surface of fish and meat it is rubbed repeatedly until the color of meat becomes dark. It is then saved in a vat in a well ventilated and cool place. A half of a month later, it is taken out and hung under the eaves, exposed to the sun. This is in order to welcome the New Year.
gēn jù zì jǐ de kǒu wèi gěi yuán tāng jiā diǎn yán , rán hòu yòng wén huǒ màn dùn .
根据自己的口味给原汤加点盐，然后用文火慢炖。
Salt the stock to your taste and leave it simmering very gently.
zhè cài lǐ nǐ yán gē de tài duō le.
这菜里你盐搁得太多了。
You put too much salt in this dish.
It is a good time to nourish the body in Great Snow. Nourishing tonics in winter boosts the metabolism and immune system, improving the occurrence of chills brought on by the fraught cold.
In addition, it can “ 调节 (tiáo jié) adjust “ the body’s metabolism by enabling energy provided by food to be saved at a maximum which is beneficial to developments of internal “Yang”.
zhèng fǔ kě yǐ tōng guò kòng gòu lái tiáo jié shì chǎng de píng héng .
政府可以通过控购来调节市场的平衡。
The government can adjust the unbalanced market by controlling purchases.
wǒ men bì xū duì huò bì de liú tōng bú duàn jìn xíng tiáo jié.
我们必须对货币的流通不断进行调节。
We must make constant adjustments to the amount of money in circulation.
Around Great Snow, there is a large number of citrus fruits in the market, like orange, pomelo, navel orange, snow orange. Eating these fruits in moderation can prevent rhinitis and coughs from setting in.
There is a poem composed by Juyi Bai featured by realism in the Tang dynasty and is one of the “Three Poets”.
《夜雪》
Snow in the night
yǐ yà qīn zhěn lěng,
已讶衾枕冷，
I’m surprised that the quilt and pillow are already cold,
fù jiàn chuāng hù míng.
复见窗户明。
but I see the brightness outside the window.
yè shēn zhì xuě zhòng,
夜深知雪重，
There is heavy snowfall in the night,
shí wén zhé zhú shēng.
时闻折竹声。
as the sound that the tree’s branches are broken can be heard constantly.
Take the quiz to evaluate your comprehension of today’s topic. Let us know which term has been the most interesting to read about thus far as well. Stay warm!
1.wǒ men xū yào_______ zì jǐ de xīn tài .
我们需要_______自己的心态。
2.zhè chǎng dà yǔ shì _______zhù fú.
这场大雨是_______祝福。
3.wǒ men zuò cài shí , xū yào fàng yì diǎn_______ .
我们做菜时，需要放一点_______。
A.自然的
B.盐
C.调节
D.声音
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