立春
start of spring
春天开始之时。
Spring starts here according to the Chinese definition of a season.
雨水
rain water
降雨大于降雪。
Starting at this point, the temperature makes rain more likely than snow
惊蛰
awakening of insects
冬眠昆虫开始苏醒。
When hibernating insects awaken.
春分
spring equinox
平分春季。
The central divide of spring
清明
clear and bright
扫墓时节。
A Chinese festival where, traditionally, ancestral graves are tended.
谷雨
grain rains
雨水帮助谷物生长。
Rain helps grain grow.
立夏
start of summer
夏天开始之时。
Summer starts here.
小满
grain full
谷物变得饱满。
Grains are plump.
芒种
grain in ear
植物的芒生长成熟。
Awns （beard of grain） grow.
夏至
summer solstice
太阳高度达到了极值（最高）。
Summer extreme （of sun's height）
小暑
minor heat
气温开始高到难以忍受。
When heat starts to get unbearable.
大暑
major heat
一年最热之时。
The hottest time of the year.
立秋
start of autumn
秋天开始之时。
Autumn starts here.
处暑
limit of heat
炎热的夏天即将过去。
The scorching summer is going to pass by.
白露
white dew
凝结的水汽变白。
Condensed moisture makes dew white.
秋分
autumn equinox
平分秋季。
The central divide of autumn.
寒露
cold dew
露水开始变成霜。
Dew starts turning into frost.
霜降
descent of frost
霜开始出现，气温开始下降。
Appearance of frost and descent of temperature.
立冬
start of winter
冬天开始之时。
Winter starts here.
小雪
minor snow
开始下雪。
Snow starts falling.
大雪
major snow
雪开始下大。
Season of snowstorms in full swing.
冬至
winter solstice
太阳高度达到了极值（最低）。
Winter extreme （of sun's height）.
小寒
minor cold
气温开始低到难以忍受。
Cold starts to become unbearable.
大寒
major cold
一年最冷之时。
Coldest time of year.
Why was the Twenty-four Solar Terms was invented by ancient Chinese?
为什么古代中国人能够发明 24 节气？
In ancient times, agriculture was the economic mainstay of China and its people, and the purpose of establishing a calendar was to regulate agricultural production. Chinese ancients discovered through astronomical observation, that during the earth's 12-month orbit around the sun, its changing position gave rise to periodical changes in climate and thus distinctive farming seasons. They subsequently designated 24 positions within the earth's orbit, calling them the 24 Jieqi （24 solar terms）.
农业是古代中国和中国老百姓的经济支柱，建立历法的目的是管理农业生产。中国古人通过天文观测发现，在地球围绕太阳公转的 12 个月里，其位置的周期性变化和气候变化相同，以此来确立农耕季节。所好他们在地球轨道内指定了24个位置，称之为 24 节气。
记忆小贴士
24 节气的翻译看似繁多，其实归一下类即可轻松记住它们。
立春、立夏、立秋和立冬的英文都有 Beginning of...：
立春 Beginning of Spring
立夏 Beginning of Summer
立秋 Beginning of Autumn
立冬 Beginning of Winter
夏至、冬至的英文都有 Solstice：
夏至 Summer Solstice
冬至 Winter Solstice
春分/秋分的英文都有 Equinox：
春分 Spring Equinox
秋分 Autumn Equinox
在小暑/大暑、小雪/大雪、小寒/大寒的英文中“小”用 Minor，“大”用 Major，可以归在一起记：
小暑 Minor Heat
大暑 Major Heat
小雪 Minor Snow
大雪 Major Snow
小寒 Minor Cold