count the nine periods; winter counting
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb
to count the nine periods (of nine days each) starting from the winter solstice; to mark the coldest winter days
Refers to the traditional Chinese folk custom of counting nine-day periods starting from the winter solstice to mark the passing of winter. The complete cycle lasts 81 days (nine nines), ending with spring arrival.
Cóng从
dōng冬
zhì至
nà那
tiān天
qǐ起
，
mín民
jiān间
jiù就
kāi开
shǐ始
shǔ数
jiǔ九
le了
。
From the day of the winter solstice, folk tradition begins counting the nine periods.
Shǔ数
jiǔ九
hán寒
tiān天
，
dà大
jiā家
yào要
zhù注
yì意
bǎo保
nuǎn暖
。
During the coldest days of winter, everyone should pay attention to keeping warm.
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Jīn今
nián年
de的
shǔ数
jiǔ九
yǐ已
jīng经
guò过
bàn半
le了
。
This year's nine-period count is already more than halfway through.
Mín民
jiān间
yǒu有
huà画
jiǔ九
jiǔ九
xiāo消
hán寒
tú图
de的
xí习
sú俗
，
yī一
tiān天
huà画
yī一
bǐ笔
，
shǔ数
jiǔ九
jiù就
jié结
shù束
le了
。
There's a folk custom of drawing the 'nine-nines cold-dispelling chart,' drawing one stroke per day until the nine periods end.