yīnlì: 阴历 - Lunar Calendar, Traditional Chinese Calendar

Keywords: yīnlì, 阴历, lunar calendar, Chinese calendar, traditional calendar, nónglì, 农历, Chinese New Year, Chinese festivals, what is yinli, yinli vs yangli

Summary: The 阴历 (yīnlì), commonly translated as the Lunar Calendar, is the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar that governs major holidays like Chinese New Year and the Mid-Autumn Festival. While modern China uses the Gregorian calendar for daily life, the 阴历 remains culturally vital for celebrating festivals, birthdays (especially for older generations), and following traditional customs like the Chinese zodiac. It is also frequently called the 农历 (nónglì), or agricultural calendar.

Pinyin (with tone marks): yīnlì

Part of Speech: Noun

HSK Level: HSK 4

Concise Definition: The traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar, often referred to as the lunar calendar.

In a Nutshell: The 阴历 is the calendar you need to know to figure out when traditional Chinese holidays happen. It's based on the cycles of the moon, which is why the date for Chinese New Year changes every year on our standard (Gregorian) calendar. It's the heartbeat of traditional Chinese culture, connecting people to festivals, food, and family traditions passed down through generations.

阴 (yīn): This character is associated with the concept of “Yin” from Yin-Yang theory. It represents shade, darkness, femininity, and the moon. In this context, it specifically refers to the moon.

历 (lì): This character means “calendar” or “experience/history.”

Together, 阴历 (yīnlì) literally translates to “moon calendar,” a straightforward name that describes its primary astronomical basis.

The 阴历 is the framework for the entire traditional Chinese cultural year. Unlike the Gregorian calendar which is purely civic, the 阴历 is deeply spiritual and cultural. It historically guided agriculture, telling farmers when to plant and when to harvest, which is why it's also called the 农历 (nónglì), or “agricultural calendar.”

Comparison to Western Culture: In the West, the Gregorian calendar (阳历 yánglì, “sun calendar”) is the undisputed standard for everything. The concept of a lunar calendar is mostly a historical or religious curiosity (e.g., determining the date of Easter). In China, the two calendars exist side-by-side. The 阳历 is for work, school, and official business. The 阴历 is for culture, family, and tradition. An older person might know their birthday only by the lunar date, causing a fun moment of conversion each year for their younger, more Western-calendar-oriented family members.

Related Values: The continued use of the 阴历 reflects a deep respect for tradition (传统 chuántǒng), ancestors (祖先 zǔxiān), and the natural cycles of the seasons. Festivals dictated by the 阴历 are primary occasions for family reunions (家庭团聚 jiātíng tuánjù), reinforcing the core cultural value of family centrality.

Calculating Festivals: This is the most common use. No one looks at the Gregorian calendar to know when the Dragon Boat Festival is; they check the 阴历 for the 5th day of the 5th lunar month.

Celebrating Birthdays: While young people mostly use their Gregorian birthday, it's very common for parents and grandparents to celebrate their “lunar birthday” (过阴历生日 guò yīnlì shēngrì). Some people celebrate both!

Astrology and Auspicious Dates: The Chinese Zodiac (生肖 shēngxiào) is determined by the lunar year of birth. Furthermore, traditionalists consult the 阴历 to select auspicious dates for major life events like weddings, opening a business, or moving into a new home.

Digital Calendars: Almost all Chinese digital calendars and phone apps display both the Gregorian date and the smaller, corresponding lunar date underneath it.

Mistake: “Lunar” vs. “Lunisolar”. While “lunar calendar” is the accepted English translation, it's technically a lunisolar calendar. A purely lunar calendar would drift through the seasons (like the Islamic calendar). The Chinese 阴历 cleverly adds an extra “leap month” (闰月 rùnyuè) every few years to keep it in sync with the solar year. This is why Chinese New Year is always in January or February, not in July. For a beginner, this is a cool fact to know but not essential for daily conversation.

Mistake: Confusing 阴历 (yīnlì) and 农历 (nónglì). In modern, everyday Chinese, these two terms are used interchangeably. There is no practical difference for a learner. 阴历 (“moon calendar”) emphasizes its astronomical basis, while 农历 (“agricultural calendar”) emphasizes its historical function. You will hear and see both used to refer to the same thing.

False Friends: Be careful not to directly equate a “lunar month” with a “solar month” (like January or March). A lunar month (e.g., 正月 zhēngyuè, the first lunar month) starts on the new moon and has a different length. The first day of a lunar month is called 初一 (chūyī), and the full moon usually falls on the fifteenth, 十五 (shíwǔ).

阳历 (yánglì) - The Gregorian/solar calendar. The direct counterpart to 阴历.

农历 (nónglì) - The agricultural calendar. An extremely common synonym for 阴历.

春节 (Chūnjié) - Spring Festival / Chinese New Year. The most important holiday determined by the 阴历.

中秋节 (Zhōngqiūjié) - Mid-Autumn Festival. A major holiday celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month.

节气 (jiéqì) - The 24 solar terms. A system within the 阴历 that tracks the sun's position and guides agriculture with great precision.

生肖 (shēngxiào) - The Chinese zodiac. The 12-year animal cycle is based on the lunar year.

闰月 (rùnyuè) - Intercalary month / Leap month. The “extra” month added every 2-3 years to keep the calendar aligned with the seasons.

初一 (chūyī) - The first day of a lunar month, corresponding to the new moon.

十五 (shíwǔ) - The fifteenth day of a lunar month, usually corresponding to the full moon.

元宵节 (Yuánxiāojié) - The Lantern Festival. Celebrated on the first full moon of the lunar new year (阴历正月十五).