English

当清晨的阳光变得愈发灼热，树梢的蝉鸣渐次响起，我们便迎来了夏季的第五个节气 —— 小暑。

As the morning sun grows fiercer and the cicadas' chorus rises from the treetops, we welcome the fifth solar term of summer—Minor Heat (Xiǎoshǔ).

拆开 “暑” 字，上 “日” 下 “者”，仿佛太阳直直地悬在头顶，灼烤着大地，生动展现出天气炎热的模样。而 “小暑”，意味着暑气渐盛，但还未到最炎热的时候。

Breaking down the Chinese character “暑” (shǔ, "heat"), the top is “日” (sun), and the bottom is “者” (one who), as if the sun is directly overhead, scorching the earth—a vivid depiction of sweltering weather. "Minor Heat" signifies the growing intensity of summer’s heat, though the peak has yet to arrive.

小暑三候

The Three Phenomena of Minor Heat

古人将小暑分为三候：“一候温风至；二候蟋蟀居宇；三候鹰始鸷。”小暑后，大地上再难觅得一丝凉风，所有的风都带着热浪；蟋蟀也因炎热，离开田野，躲到庭院的墙角下 “避暑”；老鹰则因地面气温太高，选择在清凉的高空中活动。这些细微的变化，如同优美的中文散文，是大自然写给我们的夏日情书，每一个细节都藏着独特的韵味。

The ancients divided Minor Heat into three phases:

Hot Winds Arrive – No cool breezes remain; every gust carries heat.

Crickets Seek Shelter – Fleeing the fields, they nestle under eaves to escape the heat.

Hawks Soar High – With the ground too hot, eagles take to the cooler skies.

These subtle changes are like lyrical prose, a love letter from nature, each detail brimming with poetic charm.

食在小暑

Flavors of Minor Heat

小暑时节，饮食讲究清热解暑。民间素有 “头伏饺子二伏面，三伏烙饼摊鸡蛋” 的说法，这句朗朗上口的俗语，用通俗的中文，将三伏天的饮食习俗生动传递。此外，绿豆汤也是小暑餐桌上的常客，一把绿豆，几颗冰糖，小火慢熬，熬出的不仅是清甜的汤汁，更是夏日里的一抹清凉。还有酸梅汤，酸甜可口，生津止渴，冰镇后饮用，暑意瞬间消散大半。当我们用中文描述这些美食时，“消暑”“生津”“解馋” 等词汇，精准又形象，让美食仿佛有了温度与情感。

This season calls for heat-relieving foods. A folk saying goes:"Dumplings in early summer, noodles in mid-summer, pancakes and eggs in late summer."This catchy rhyme vividly conveys seasonal culinary traditions.

Other staples include:
✔ Mung Bean Soup – Simmered with rock sugar, a sweet and cooling remedy.
✔ Sour Plum Drink – Tart, refreshing, and thirst-quenching, best served chilled.

Chinese terms like “消暑” (cooling), “生津” (thirst-quenching), and “解馋” (satisfying cravings) perfectly capture the essence of these summer delights.

小暑习俗

Minor Heat Customs

晒伏是小暑颇具特色的习俗。人们会趁着小暑前后的好天气，将衣物、书籍等拿到阳光下暴晒，以去除潮气和霉味。古时有诗云：“六月六，人晒衣裳龙晒袍”，短短一句诗，用中文的韵律之美，将晒伏习俗流传至今。

A unique tradition is "Sun-Drying" (Shàifú). People air out clothes, books, and fabrics under the blazing sun to dispel dampness and mildew. An ancient verse describes it:
"On the sixth of June, humans dry robes, and dragons sun their gowns."
With its rhythmic beauty, this line has preserved the custom through time.

小暑养生

Wellness in Minor Heat: Ancient Wisdom

小暑时节，天气炎热，养生重在 “养心”。在中文里，“心” 不仅指生理上的心脏，还包含着情绪与心境。应注意保持心情舒畅，避免情绪激动和烦躁。起居方面，宜晚睡早起，适当午休，以补充体力。运动不宜过于剧烈，可选择在清晨或傍晚进行散步、瑜伽等舒缓的运动。这些养生建议，用中文表达得简洁明了，其中蕴含的天人合一、身心调和的智慧，也在字里行间缓缓流淌。

During this scorching season, nourishing the heart (养心) is key. In Chinese, “心” (heart) encompasses both physical health and emotional balance.

✔ Stay calm – Avoid agitation and stress.
✔ Adjust routines – Rise early, rest at noon, and sleep slightly later.
✔ Gentle exercise – Opt for walks or yoga at dawn or dusk.

These practices reflect the harmony between humans and nature, a philosophy elegantly woven into the language itself.

在这个充满活力与热情的节气里，愿你能在感受夏日美好的同时，细细品味中文与中国文化的博大精深。不妨走出家门，去听听蝉鸣，看看晚霞，用中文记录下小暑时节独有的浪漫与惬意，让文字与自然之美相互辉映。

As the season brims with vitality, may you savor summer’s beauty while marveling at the depth of Chinese culture. Step outside, listen to the cicadas, gaze at the sunset, and let words intertwine with nature’s poetry.