jìjié: 季节 - Season

• Keywords: 季节, jijie, season in Chinese, Chinese seasons, what are the four seasons in Chinese, 春夏秋冬, Chinese climate, seasons of the year, jìjié meaning, HSK 3 vocabulary, time of year, seasonal.
• Summary: Learn how to say “season” in Chinese with the word 季节 (jìjié). This entry explores the core meaning of `季节`, its deep cultural significance tied to traditional calendars and medicine, and how it's used in everyday conversation. Discover the four main seasons—春夏秋冬 (chūn xià qiū dōng)—and related concepts like “peak season” to talk about weather, travel, and daily life in China like a native.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jìjié
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: 3
• Concise Definition: A season; a period of the year characterized by particular weather patterns.
• In a Nutshell: `季节` is the direct and most common way to say “season” in Chinese. It refers to the four major divisions of the year: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. While it functions much like its English counterpart, it's deeply embedded in a cultural framework that connects the time of year to everything from food and health to festivals and philosophy.

• 季 (jì): This character is composed of 禾 (hé), meaning “grain” or “crop,” and 子 (zǐ), meaning “child” or “seed.” Originally referring to the youngest of brothers, it evolved to mean the end of a period, like the end of a three-month agricultural cycle. Think of it as a distinct period for a crop's life cycle.
• 节 (jié): This character often depicts a stalk of bamboo (竹) with its distinct joints. It means “joint,” “segment,” or “festival.” It implies a division or a specific point in time.
• Together, 季节 (jìjié) literally means “seasonal segments.” The characters perfectly capture the idea of the year being divided into distinct, recurring periods.

In Chinese culture, `季节` is more than just a measure of weather; it's a foundational concept that traditionally dictates the rhythm of life. The most significant cultural aspect is the 24 Solar Terms (二十四节气, èrshísì jiéqì). This traditional calendar, a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, divides the year into 24 distinct periods, each about 15 days long. These terms, with names like “Start of Spring” (立春), “Grain Rain” (谷雨), and “Great Heat” (大暑), provided a precise guide for farmers, telling them when to plant, sow, and harvest. While modern Chinese society is less agrarian, this calendar still influences festivals and cultural understanding of the seasons. This contrasts with the Western view of seasons, which is primarily focused on meteorology, holidays, and activities like skiing or going to the beach. In China, the seasons are also inextricably linked to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The belief is that one should live in harmony with the `季节` to maintain health. This includes eating “seasonal” foods (e.g., “cooling” watermelon in summer, “warming” lamb stew in winter) and adjusting behavior to align with the natural energy of the time of year.

`季节` is a high-frequency, neutral word used in all registers of speech.

• Daily Conversation: It's commonly used to discuss weather, travel plans, clothing choices, and personal preferences. For example, you'll often hear people ask, “你最喜欢哪个季节?” (Which season is your favorite?).
• Business and Travel: In a commercial context, `季节` is often combined with other characters to create new terms.
  • 旺季 (wàngjì) - Peak Season: This refers to the busy season for tourism or a particular business. Hotels and flights are most expensive during the `旺季`.
  • 淡季 (dànjì) - Off-Season: This is the low season, with fewer tourists and lower prices.
• Descriptive and Figurative Language: `季节` can be used to describe the character of a place or a time. For instance, “毕业季” (bìyè jì - graduation season) is a common term for the period in late spring/early summer when students graduate.

• Example 1:
  • 中国有四个季节：春天、夏天、秋天和冬天。
  • Pinyin: Zhōngguó yǒu sì gè jìjié: chūntiān, xiàtiān