除夕的由来
Origin of Chuxi
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A Chinese legend about the origin of Chinese New Year's Eve.
41 new words
除夕chúxīeve of the Lunar New Year / Spring Festival
除夕的由来常和一个叫“年”的怪物联系在一起。
The origin of New Year’s Eve is often linked with a monster called Nian.
由来yóuláiorigin, source
除夕的由来常和一个叫“年”的怪物联系在一起。
The origin of New Year’s Eve is often linked with a monster called Nian.
怪物guàiwumonster
除夕的由来常和一个叫“年”的怪物联系在一起。
The origin of New Year’s Eve is often linked with a monster called Nian.
伤害shānghàito hurt, to harm
传说中，它会在农历一年将尽的夜晚出现，伤害村里的人和牲畜，连骨头也不剩。
In legend, it appeared on the final night of the lunar old year and harmed people and animals in a village, leaving not even bones behind.
英雄yīngxiónghero
传说中，一个天真的姑娘曾向外公询问：怪物为什么总要咬人，难道没有英雄能救大家吗？
In the legend, an innocent girl asked her grandfather why the monster always bit people and whether no hero could save them.
杀shāto kill
她没有拿刀去杀怪物，而是请大家制造响声和火光。
Instead of taking a knife to kill the monster, she asked everyone to create noise and light.
除chúto get rid of, to remove
除夕的由来常和一个叫“年”的怪物联系在一起。
The origin of New Year’s Eve is often linked with a monster called Nian.
赶紧gǎnjǐnimmediately, at once
有人赶紧找来锅、盆子，有人把竹子放进火里，整个村子忙了起来。
Some quickly found pots and basins, others put bamboo into a fire, and the whole village became busy.
吓xiàto frighten, to scare
它看见门口的红色，又听到竹子在火中爆响的声音，吓得后退。
Seeing the red at the doors and hearing bamboo crackle in the fire, it stepped back in fear.
鞭炮biānpàofirecrackers
后来，守岁、贴红纸和放鞭炮逐渐成为风俗。
Later, staying awake, posting red paper, and setting off firecrackers gradually became customs.
农历nónglìlunar calendar
传说中，它会在农历一年将尽的夜晚出现，伤害村里的人和牲畜，连骨头也不剩。
In legend, it appeared on the final night of the lunar old year and harmed people and animals in a village, leaving not even bones behind.
守岁shǒusuìto stay up late or all night on New Year's Eve
后来，守岁、贴红纸和放鞭炮逐渐成为风俗。
Later, staying awake, posting red paper, and setting off firecrackers gradually became customs.
恨hènto hate
大家恨它，却又无奈，因为谁也不知道怎样把它除掉。
Everyone hated it but felt helpless, because no one knew how to get rid of it.
骨(头)gǔ (tou)bone
无奈wúnàito have no way out, to be helpless
大家恨它，却又无奈，因为谁也不知道怎样把它除掉。
Everyone hated it but felt helpless, because no one knew how to get rid of it.
英俊yīngjùnhandsome
传说里的英雄往往又英俊又勇敢，可这一次救下全村的，是一个普通姑娘和她想出的办法。
The heroes of legend are usually handsome and brave, yet this time the village was saved by an ordinary girl and the idea she had.
咬yǎoto bite
传说中，一个天真的姑娘曾向外公询问：怪物为什么总要咬人，难道没有英雄能救大家吗？
In the legend, an innocent girl asked her grandfather why the monster always bit people and whether no hero could save them.
外公wàigōngmaternal grandfather
传说中，一个天真的姑娘曾向外公询问：怪物为什么总要咬人，难道没有英雄能救大家吗？
In the legend, an innocent girl asked her grandfather why the monster always bit people and whether no hero could save them.
询问xúnwènto ask, to inquire
传说中，一个天真的姑娘曾向外公询问：怪物为什么总要咬人，难道没有英雄能救大家吗？
In the legend, an innocent girl asked her grandfather why the monster always bit people and whether no hero could save them.
天真tiānzhēnnaive, innocent
传说中，一个天真的姑娘曾向外公询问：怪物为什么总要咬人，难道没有英雄能救大家吗？
In the legend, an innocent girl asked her grandfather why the monster always bit people and whether no hero could save them.
(代)替(dài) tìprep. for, on behalf of
制造zhìzàoto make, to produce
她没有拿刀去杀怪物，而是请大家制造响声和火光。
Instead of taking a knife to kill the monster, she asked everyone to create noise and light.
灾害zāihàidisaster, calamity
此外，还有人用红布写下祝福，表达希望灾害早日过去的心情。
People also wrote blessings on red cloth, expressing the hope that disaster would soon pass.
逃táoto escape
有人说，年逃走时还回头张望，仿佛想记住这座村子；也有人说它从此不再伤害人。
Some say Nian looked back as it fled, as if it wanted to remember the village; others say it never harmed people again.
影子yǐngzishadow
外公说，年像影子似的来得突然，说不定害怕某些声音和颜色。
He said that Nian arrived suddenly like a shadow and might fear certain sounds and colours.
此外cǐwàiin addition, moreover
此外，还有人用红布写下祝福，表达希望灾害早日过去的心情。
People also wrote blessings on red cloth, expressing the hope that disaster would soon pass.
说不定shuōbudìngperhaps, possibly, it's likely that...
外公说，年像影子似的来得突然，说不定害怕某些声音和颜色。
He said that Nian arrived suddenly like a shadow and might fear certain sounds and colours.
熬夜áoyèto stay up late
人们熬夜到很晚，不只是为了热闹，也为了和家人一起迎接新的开始。
People stay up late not just for excitement, but to welcome a new beginning with their family.
果然guǒránas expected, indeed
夜里，年果然来了。
At night Nian did indeed arrive.
姑娘gūnianggirl
传说中，一个天真的姑娘曾向外公询问：怪物为什么总要咬人，难道没有英雄能救大家吗？
In the legend, an innocent girl asked her grandfather why the monster always bit people and whether no hero could save them.
锅guōpot, pan
有人赶紧找来锅、盆子，有人把竹子放进火里，整个村子忙了起来。
Some quickly found pots and basins, others put bamboo into a fire, and the whole village became busy.
盆(子)pén(zi)basin, tub
整个zhěnggèwhole, entire
有人赶紧找来锅、盆子，有人把竹子放进火里，整个村子忙了起来。
Some quickly found pots and basins, others put bamboo into a fire, and the whole village became busy.
似的shìdepart. (indicating similarity) like, as
外公说，年像影子似的来得突然，说不定害怕某些声音和颜色。
He said that Nian arrived suddenly like a shadow and might fear certain sounds and colours.
追zhuīto chase, to go after
村民纷纷敲盆、放火、追着声音跑，火星像箭一样射向天空。
Villagers beat pots, made fires, and chased after the noise; sparks shot into the sky like arrows.
箭jiànarrow
村民纷纷敲盆、放火、追着声音跑，火星像箭一样射向天空。
Villagers beat pots, made fires, and chased after the noise; sparks shot into the sky like arrows.
射(击)shè(jī)to shoot
纷纷fēnfēnone after another, all at once
村民纷纷敲盆、放火、追着声音跑，火星像箭一样射向天空。
Villagers beat pots, made fires, and chased after the noise; sparks shot into the sky like arrows.
表达biǎodáto express, to voice
此外，还有人用红布写下祝福，表达希望灾害早日过去的心情。
People also wrote blessings on red cloth, expressing the hope that disaster would soon pass.
意义yìyìmeaning, significance
今天，我们庆祝除夕时，未必相信年真的存在，却仍能理解故事的意义。
Today, when we celebrate New Year’s Eve, we may not believe that Nian truly exists, yet we can still understand the story’s meaning.
风俗fēngsúcustom, convention
后来，守岁、贴红纸和放鞭炮逐渐成为风俗。
Later, staying awake, posting red paper, and setting off firecrackers gradually became customs.
Listen to the text
除夕的由来常和一个叫“年”的怪物联系在一起。传说中，它会在农历一年将尽的夜晚出现，伤害村里的人和牲畜，连骨头也不剩。大家恨它，却又无奈，因为谁也不知道怎样把它除掉。
chúxī de yóulái cháng hé yī gè jiào“ nián” de guàiwu lián xì zài yī qǐ。 chuán shuō zhōng， tā huì zài nónglì yī nián jiāng jǐn de yè wǎn chū xiàn， shānghài cūn lǐ de rén hé shēng chù， lián gǔ tóu yě bù shèng。 dà jiā hèn tā， què yòu wúnài， yīn wèi shuí yě bù zhī dào zěn yàng bǎ tā chú diào。
The origin of New Year’s Eve is often linked with a monster called Nian. In legend, it appeared on the final night of the lunar old year and harmed people and animals in a village, leaving not even bones behind. Everyone hated it but felt helpless, because no one knew how to get rid of it.
传说中，一个天真的姑娘曾向外公询问：怪物为什么总要咬人，难道没有英雄能救大家吗？外公说，年像影子似的来得突然，说不定害怕某些声音和颜色。姑娘听完，决心替村民想办法。
chuán shuō zhōng， yī gè tiānzhēn de gūniang céng xiàng wàigōng xúnwèn： guàiwu wèi shén me zǒng yào yǎo rén， nán dào méi yǒu yīngxióng néng jiù dà jiā ma？ wàigōng shuō， nián xiàng yǐngzi shìde lái dé tū rán， shuōbudìng hài pà mǒu xiē shēng yīn hé yán sè。 gūniang tīng wán， jué xīn tì cūn mín xiǎng bàn fǎ。
In the legend, an innocent girl asked her grandfather why the monster always bit people and whether no hero could save them. He said that Nian arrived suddenly like a shadow and might fear certain sounds and colours. After hearing this, the girl decided to find a way to help the villagers.
她没有拿刀去杀怪物，而是请大家制造响声和火光。有人赶紧找来锅、盆子，有人把竹子放进火里，整个村子忙了起来。此外，还有人用红布写下祝福，表达希望灾害早日过去的心情。
tā méi yǒu ná dāo qù shā guàiwu， ér shì qǐng dà jiā zhìzào xiǎng shēng hé huǒ guāng。 yǒu rén gǎnjǐn zhǎo lái guō、 pén zi， yǒu rén bǎ zhú zi fàng jìn huǒ lǐ， zhěnggè cūn zi máng le qǐ lái。 cǐwài， hái yǒu rén yòng hóng bù xiě xià zhù fú， biǎodá xī wàng zāihài zǎo rì guò qù de xīn qíng。
Instead of taking a knife to kill the monster, she asked everyone to create noise and light. Some quickly found pots and basins, others put bamboo into a fire, and the whole village became busy. People also wrote blessings on red cloth, expressing the hope that disaster would soon pass.
夜里，年果然来了。它看见门口的红色，又听到竹子在火中爆响的声音，吓得后退。村民纷纷敲盆、放火、追着声音跑，火星像箭一样射向天空。传说里的英雄往往又英俊又勇敢，可这一次救下全村的，是一个普通姑娘和她想出的办法。怪物再有力，也不敢靠近。
yè lǐ， nián guǒrán lái le。 tā kàn jiàn mén kǒu de hóng sè， yòu tīng dào zhú zi zài huǒ zhōng bào xiǎng de shēng yīn， xià dé hòu tuì。 cūn mín fēnfēn qiāo pén、 fàng huǒ、 zhuī zhe shēng yīn pǎo， huǒ xīng xiàng jiàn yī yàng shè xiàng tiān kōng。 chuán shuō lǐ de yīngxióng wǎng wǎng yòu yīngjùn yòu yǒng gǎn， kě zhè yī cì jiù xià quán cūn de， shì yī gè pǔ tōng gūniang hé tā xiǎng chū de bàn fǎ。 guàiwu zài yǒu lì， yě bù gǎn kào jìn。
At night Nian did indeed arrive. Seeing the red at the doors and hearing bamboo crackle in the fire, it stepped back in fear. Villagers beat pots, made fires, and chased after the noise; sparks shot into the sky like arrows. The heroes of legend are usually handsome and brave, yet this time the village was saved by an ordinary girl and the idea she had. However strong the monster was, it did not dare come close.
有人说，年逃走时还回头张望，仿佛想记住这座村子；也有人说它从此不再伤害人。传说没有必要把它当成历史事实，但它把人们面对恐惧时的反应说得很清楚：不要只等别人来保护自己。
yǒu rén shuō， nián táo zǒu shí hái huí tóu zhāng wàng， fǎng fú xiǎng jì zhù zhè zuò cūn zi； yě yǒu rén shuō tā cóng cǐ bù zài shānghài rén。 chuán shuō méi yǒu bì yào bǎ tā dāng chéng lì shǐ shì shí， dàn tā bǎ rén men miàn duì kǒng jù shí de fǎn yīng shuō dé hěn qīng chǔ： bù yào zhǐ děng bié rén lái bǎo hù zì jǐ。
Some say Nian looked back as it fled, as if it wanted to remember the village; others say it never harmed people again. The legend need not be treated as historical fact, but it clearly shows a response to fear: do not only wait for someone else to protect you.
后来，守岁、贴红纸和放鞭炮逐渐成为风俗。人们熬夜到很晚，不只是为了热闹，也为了和家人一起迎接新的开始。在新旧交接的夜晚，团聚和祝福比怪物本身更重要。
hòu lái， shǒusuì、 tiē hóng zhǐ hé fàng biānpào zhú jiàn chéng wèi fēngsú。 rén men áoyè dào hěn wǎn， bù zhǐ shì wèi le rè nào， yě wèi le hé jiā rén yī qǐ yíng jiē xīn de kāi shǐ。 zài xīn jiù jiāo jiē de yè wǎn， tuán jù hé zhù fú bǐ guàiwu běn shēn gèng zhòng yào。
Later, staying awake, posting red paper, and setting off firecrackers gradually became customs. People stay up late not just for excitement, but to welcome a new beginning with their family. On New Year’s Eve, reunion and good wishes matter more than the monster itself.
今天，我们庆祝除夕时，未必相信年真的存在，却仍能理解故事的意义。遇到困难，大家若肯互相帮助、冷静商量，原来可怕的事也会被一点点赶走。这正是这个传说至今留下的力量。
jīn tiān， wǒ men qìng zhù chúxī shí， wèi bì xiāng xìn nián zhēn de cún zài， què réng néng lǐ jiě gù shì de yìyì。 yù dào kùn nán， dà jiā ruò kěn hù xiāng bāng zhù、 lěng jìng shāng liàng， yuán lái kě pà de shì yě huì bèi yī diǎn diǎn gǎn zǒu。 zhè zhèng shì zhè gè chuán shuō zhì jīn liú xià de lì liàng。
Today, when we celebrate New Year’s Eve, we may not believe that Nian truly exists, yet we can still understand the story’s meaning. If people help one another and discuss trouble calmly, frightening things can gradually be driven away. That is the strength this legend has kept to the present.
Tap a marked word for its meaning. Tap a line to see the English.
Grammar
姑娘听完，决心替村民想办法。After hearing this, the girl decided to find a way to help the villagers.
替+对象+动词
替. '替' is a verb meaning 'to replace' or 'to take the place of'. As a preposition, it means 'for' or 'on behalf of'.
见了外公，你替我向他问好。
Jiànle wàigōng, nǐ tì wǒ xiàng tā wènhǎo.
When you see grandfather, say hello to him for me.
外公说，年像影子似的来得突然，说不定害怕某些声音和颜色。He said that Nian arrived suddenly like a shadow and might fear certain sounds and colours.
说不定+ Clause
说不定. '说不定' is an adverb meaning 'perhaps' or 'possibly'. It indicates uncertainty or speculation about something.
这事儿经理已经同意了，只是出发的时间还说不定呢。
Zhè shìr jīnglǐ yǐjīng tóngyì le, zhǐshì chūfā de shíjiān hái shuōbudìng ne.
The manager has agreed to this, it's just the departure time is still uncertain.
外公说，年像影子似的来得突然，说不定害怕某些声音和颜色。He said that Nian arrived suddenly like a shadow and might fear certain sounds and colours.
像/跟/好像+ A +似的
似的. '似的' is a particle used after nouns, pronouns or clauses to indicate similarity. It's often used with '像', '跟', '好像' etc.
那是一出来，消息电话雪片似的纷纷打来。
Nà shì yí chūlái, xiāoxi diànhuà xuěpiàn shìde fēnfēn dǎlái.
As soon as that happened, phone calls about the news came flying in like snowflakes.
村民纷纷敲盆、放火、追着声音跑，火星像箭一样射向天空。Villagers beat pots, made fires, and chased after the noise; sparks shot into the sky like arrows.
纷纷+ Verb
纷纷. '纷纷' as an adjective describes things as numerous and in disorder. As an adverb it means 'one after another' or 'in succession'.
秋风刮起，落叶纷纷。
Qiūfēng guāqǐ, luòyè fēnfēn.
The autumn wind blows, and leaves fall one after another.
Which word means “to express, to voice”?
Culture
我知道的有关中国新年的风俗习惯 - Chinese New Year Customs I Know
Spring Festival is one of China's most important traditional holidays. Before the festival, people clean their homes, prepare food, and put up red decorations that express good wishes. On New Year's Eve, families try to reunite for a dinner, and elders often give children lucky money. During the new year, visiting relatives and friends, saying auspicious words, and sharing snacks are all common. These customs change with the times, yet they continue to express people's hopes for reunion, health, and a new beginning.
Write the new characters
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夕 from 除夕 · eve of the Lunar New Year / Spring Festival
Practice
8 questions · about 4 minutes
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