Chinese Phrases about Dragon Boat Festival
Posted by Fifi Yang on 2016-06-08 11:28:12 1239

If this is not the first time you ever heard of Dragon Boat Festival, you will not be surprised by the fact that during this festival people rushed to supermarkets to buy some glutinous rice wrapped by bamboo leaves, which is called “粽子 zongzi” in Chinese. So today, in order to clear your prejudice and help you know better about this traditional holiday, I will list the most important Chinese phrases about it for you.

1. 端午节 - duānwǔ Jié (Dragon Boat Festival)

Dragon Boat Festival

Chinese people celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival, also called the Duanwu Festival or Double Fifth Festival, on the fifth day of the fifth month according to the Chinese lunar calendar.

For example:

A：nǐ zhī dào duān wǔ jié shì shén me shí hou mɑ?


Do you know when is the Duanwu Festival?

B: zhī dào, duān wǔ jié shì měi nián de nónɡ lì yuè hào.

知道, 端午节是每年的农历5月5号.

Yes, Dragon Boat Festival is the May Fifth of lunar calendar.

A: nà nǐ dǎ suɑn qù nǎ lǐ ɡuò duān wǔ jié ？


Where do you plan to spend Duanwu Festival?

B: wǒ dǎ suɑn huí lǎo jiā ɡuò duān wǔ jié.


I plan to go back to hometown to spend Dragon Boat Festival.

2. 屈原 Qū Yuán (Qu Yuan, 340 BC - 278 BC)

Qu Yuan

This festival is to commemorate the great death of Qu Yuan, an extremely patriotic and upright poet, who has committed suicide by drowning himself into a river in Hunan province.

For example:

A: zhōnɡ ɡuó rén wèi shén me qìnɡ zhù duān wǔ jié？


Why do Chinese people celebrate Dragon Boat Festival?

B: shì wèi le jì niàn qū yuán 。


It is to commemorate Qu Yuan.

A：qū yuán shì shuí？


Who is Qu Yuan?

A：tā shì yí ɡè ài ɡuó shī rén.


He is a patriotic poet.

3. 龙舟比赛 lóng zhōu bǐ sài (Dragon Boat Race)

Dragon Boat Race

Dragon Boat Race was once held to remember Qu Yuan, which later became the most important activity of this festival. It symbolizes people’s attempts to rescue Qu Yuan. In the current period, these races also demonstrate the virtues of cooperation and teamwork.

A: jīn nián duān wǔ jié nǐ qù nǎ lǐ wán ？


Where will you go to for this year’s Dragon Boat Festival?

B: wǒ yào cān jiā xué xiào de lónɡ zhōu bǐ sài 。


I will join the Dragon Boat Race.

A: wā ， zhēn de mɑ ？ zhù nǐ hǎo yùn ！

哇， 真的吗？ 祝你好运！

Wow, really? Good luck!

B：xiè xiè ！


4. 粽子 zòng zi (Glutinous rice)

glutinous rice

A: nǐ xǐ huɑn chī zònɡ zi mɑ ？


Do you like eating zongzi?

B: wǒ hěn xǐ huɑn！


A: nǐ xǐ huɑn chī shén me kǒu wèi de zònɡ zi


What flavor of zongzi do you like?

B: wǒ xǐ huɑn chī ròu zònɡ ， nǐ ne ？


I like the one stuffed with meat, how about you?

A: wǒ xǐ huɑn chī hónɡ dòu de 。


I like the one with red beans.

Do you want to learn more Chinese phrases about Dragon Boat Festival? Book a free trial class and talk to our teachers!


About The Author

Related Articles