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🐉 端午节安康！(duān wǔ jié ān kāng!) - Dragon Boat Festival

Celebrate the traditional Dragon Boat Festival and learn about 屈原 (Qū Yuán), the legendary poet, along with festival traditions like 粽子 and dragon boat races

Chinese lesson from Saturday, May 31, 2025
端午节 Dragon Boat Festival - Man sharing 粽子 with woman

端午节安康

Dragon Boat Festival 2025

Celebrating 2,300 years of tradition - sharing 粽子 with love

🏮 Festival Illustration Gallery

Explore the beautiful traditions and cultural richness of the Dragon Boat Festival through authentic illustrations

Festival Traditions - 粽子 sharing between man and woman

Sharing 粽子

The tradition of sharing rice dumplings

节日传统

Discover the heartwarming tradition of sharing 粽子 (rice dumplings), the most iconic food of Dragon Boat Festival, symbolizing love, care, and community bonds.

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Mother and daughter hanging protective herbs - 艾草 and 菖蒲

Protective Herbs

Mother and daughter hanging 艾草

挂艾草传统

Experience the ancient tradition of hanging protective herbs - 艾草 (wormwood) and 菖蒲 (calamus) - as a mother teaches her daughter this sacred family ritual.

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📚 Key Phrase: 端午节安康 (duān wǔ jié ān kāng)

📖

Grammar Focus

🐉 端午节 (duān wǔ jié) literally means 'Beginning of Summer Festival' and is one of China's most important traditional holidays. The greeting 端午节安康 (duān wǔ jié ān kāng) is preferred over 端午节快乐 (duān wǔ jié kuài lè) because the festival commemorates tragedy and sacrifice.
Festival Pattern: 节日 + 安康/快乐 = Festival greetings
• 端午节安康 (duān wǔ jié ān kāng) - Dragon Boat Festival well-being
• 春节快乐 (chūn jié kuài lè) - Happy Spring Festival
❓ Choice questions with 还是 (hái shì):
The pattern A，还是 B？ presents two options for the listener to choose from.
• 你喜欢咸粽子还是甜粽子？(nǐ xǐ huān xián zòng zi hái shì tián zòng zi?) - Do you like salty or sweet zongzi?
• 你去北京还是上海？(nǐ qù běi jīng hái shì shàng hǎi?) - Are you going to Beijing or Shanghai?
我们纪念楚国诗人屈原
wǒ men jì niàn chǔ guó shī rén qū yuán
We commemorate the Chu Kingdom poet Qu Yuan
端午节安康
duān wǔ jié ān kāng
Happy Dragon Boat Festival (traditional greeting)
¡Feliz Festival del Barco Dragón! (saludo tradicional)

词汇 Vocabulary

端午节安康
duān wǔ jié ān kāng
English:
Happy Dragon Boat Festival (traditional greeting)
Español:
¡Feliz Festival del Barco Dragón! (saludo tradicional)
今天是端午节
jīn tiān shì duān wǔ jié
English:
Today is Dragon Boat Festival
Español:
Hoy es el Festival del Barco Dragón
粽子
zòng zi
English:
Rice dumplings (traditional Dragon Boat Festival food)
Español:
Tamales de arroz (comida tradicional del festival)
包粽子
bāo zòng zi
English:
To wrap rice dumplings
Español:
Envolver tamales de arroz
你喜欢吃咸粽子，还是甜粽子？
nǐ xǐ huān chī xián zòng zi, hái shì tián zòng zi?
English:
Do you like to eat salty or sweet rice dumplings?
Español:
¿Te gusta comer tamales salados o dulces?
赛龙舟
sài lóng zhōu
English:
Dragon boat racing
Español:
Carreras de barcos dragón
挂艾草
guà ài cǎo
English:
To hang wormwood (festival tradition)
Español:
Colgar artemisa (tradición del festival)
我们纪念楚国诗人屈原
wǒ men jì niàn chǔ guó shī rén qū yuán
English:
We commemorate the Chu Kingdom poet Qu Yuan
Español:
Conmemoramos al poeta del Reino Chu, Qu Yuan
端午节放三天假
duān wǔ jié fàng sān tiān jià
English:
Dragon Boat Festival has a three-day holiday
Español:
El Festival del Barco Dragón tiene tres días de vacaciones
今天是什么日子
jīn tiān shì shén me rì zi
English:
What day is today? / What's special about today?
Español:
¿Qué día es hoy? / ¿Qué tiene de especial hoy?
特别的日子
tè bié de rì zi
English:
Special day
Español:
Día especial
令人印象深刻
lìng rén yìn xiàng shēn kè
English:
Impressive, memorable
Español:
Impresionante, memorable

文化 Cultural Insights

🐉 端午节 (Dragon Boat Festival) is not just about food and fun - it's a deeply meaningful holiday that honors 屈原 (Qū Yuán), one of China's greatest patriotic poets. The festival embodies core Chinese values: 爱国 (patriotism), 正直 (integrity), and 忠诚 (loyalty). When greeting people during this festival, Chinese people prefer saying "端午节安康" (peaceful Dragon Boat Festival) rather than "快乐" (happy) because the holiday commemorates a tragic sacrifice. The tradition of eating 粽子 represents the people's love for Qu Yuan - they threw rice into the river so fish wouldn't eat his body. Today, the North-South divide over sweet vs. salty zongzi creates friendly culinary debates across China. Dragon boat racing has become an international sport, spreading Chinese culture worldwide while maintaining its original meaning of community unity in times of crisis.

📖 Reading Practice

📖 端午节的故事 - The Story of Dragon Boat Festival

Jīn tiān shì duān wǔ jié, tè bié de rì zi.
今天是端午节，特别的日子。
Zhè ge jié rì jì niàn chǔ guó shī rén qū yuán.
这个节日纪念楚国诗人屈原。
Qū yuán shì yí gè ài guó de shī rén, hěn zhōng chéng.
屈原是一个爱国的诗人，很忠诚。
Tā bèi fàng zhú le, hěn shāng xīn.
他被放逐了，很伤心。
Zuì hòu, tā tóu jiāng zì shā le.
最后，他投江自杀了。
Rén men hěn nán guò, pǎo qù zhǎo tā.
人们很难过，跑去找他。
Tā men sài lóng zhōu, dǎ gǔ, wǎng jiāng lǐ rēng mǐ fàn.
他们赛龙舟，打鼓，往江里扔米饭。
Xiàn zài wǒ men bāo zòng zi, jì niàn tā.
现在我们包粽子，纪念他。
Nǐ xǐ huān chī xián zòng zi hái shì tián zòng zi?
你喜欢吃咸粽子还是甜粽子？
Duān wǔ jié ān kāng!
端午节安康！

📝 Vocabulary from this reading:

放逐
fàng zhú
to exile, to banish
投江
tóu jiāng
to throw oneself into the river
忠诚
zhōng chéng
loyal, faithful
爱国
ài guó
patriotic

📚 Additional Learning Content

📜 The Legend of 屈原 (Qū Yuán) - The Patriotic Poet

🏛️ Historical Background

Name: 屈原 (Qū Yuán, c. 340-278 BCE)

Title: 楚国大臣 - Minister of Chu Kingdom

Era: 战国时期 - Warring States Period

Famous Work: 离骚 (Lí Sāo) - "Encountering Sorrow"

⚔️ The Tragic Story

• Qu Yuan was a loyal minister who warned against the rising Qin Kingdom

• Political rivals slandered him, leading to his exile by the king

• He wrote beautiful, patriotic poetry during his banishment

• When Chu capital fell to Qin forces, he despaired for his country

• On the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, he drowned himself in 汨罗江 (Miluo River)

🚣 The People's Response

• Local fishermen rushed out in boats to search for his body

• They beat drums and splashed water to scare away evil spirits

• People threw rice into the water to feed the fish (so they wouldn't eat Qu Yuan)

• Later, rice was wrapped in leaves to prevent fish from eating it

• This became the tradition of 粽子 (zòng zi) and 赛龙舟 (dragon boat racing)

💭 Cultural Legacy

Poetry: Father of Chinese romantic poetry

Patriotism: Symbol of loyalty to one's country

Integrity: Choosing death over compromise of principles

Literature: His works influenced Chinese literature for 2,000+ years

🌟 Famous Quote from Qu Yuan:
路漫漫其修远兮，吾将上下而求索
"The road ahead is long and arduous, but I will search high and low"

🎊 端午节 Traditional Activities & Customs

Zongzi

粽子 (Zòng zi)

What: Pyramid-shaped rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo/reed leaves

Sweet Types: Red bean paste, dates, sweet rice

Savory Types: Pork, egg yolk, chestnuts, mushrooms

Meaning: Originally thrown in river to feed fish

Regional Differences:

• North China: Sweet varieties preferred

• South China: Savory varieties popular

🐉

赛龙舟 (Dragon Boat Racing)

Origin: Fishermen racing to find Qu Yuan's body

Boats: Decorated with dragon heads and tails

Teams: 20-22 paddlers + 1 drummer + 1 steerer

Modern: International sport with world championships

Racing Commands:

• 准备 (zhǔn bèi) - Get ready

• 开始 (kāi shǐ) - Start!

• 加油 (jiā yóu) - Go! Come on!

🌿

挂艾草 (Hanging Wormwood)

Plant: 艾草 (ài cǎo) - Chinese mugwort/wormwood

Where: Hung on doors and windows

Purpose: Ward off evil spirits and diseases

Belief: Summer brings insects and illness

Other Protective Items:

• 菖蒲 (chāng pú) - Sweet flag

• 五彩绳 (wǔ cǎi shéng) - Five-color thread

• 香包 (xiāng bāo) - Fragrant sachets

📅 Festival Timeline & Modern Celebration

Traditional Calendar:
  • • Date: 农历五月初五 (5th day, 5th lunar month)
  • • 2025: May 31st (Western calendar)
  • • Season: Early summer
  • • Weather: Hot, humid - disease prevention important
Modern Celebration:
  • • Holiday: 3-day national holiday in China
  • • Tourism: Dragon boat festivals worldwide
  • • Food: Zongzi available in all Chinese cities
  • • Sports: International dragon boat competitions

作业 Homework & Practice

📝 Homework for next class:

1. 📚 Learn about 屈原's (qū yuán) story and practice telling it in Chinese using key vocabulary: 楚国 (chǔ guó), 诗人 (shī rén), 爱国 (ài guó), 投江 (tóu jiāng)

2. 🥟 Try making or buying 粽子 (zòng zi) and decide if you prefer sweet 甜 (tián) or savory 咸 (xián) varieties. Practice the choice question: 你喜欢咸粽子还是甜粽子？(nǐ xǐ huān xián zòng zi hái shì tián zòng zi?)

3. 🎊 Practice the festival greetings and learn the difference between 安康 (ān kāng) and 快乐 (kuài lè). Use 端午节安康 (duān wǔ jié ān kāng) appropriately

4. 🐉 Research dragon boat racing events in your area. Learn racing vocabulary: 赛龙舟 (sài lóng zhōu), 准备 (zhǔn bèi), 开始 (kāi shǐ), 加油 (jiā yóu)

5. 📝 Create sentences using the festival vocabulary: 包粽子 (bāo zòng zi), 挂艾草 (guà ài cǎo), 纪念 (jì niàn), 特别的日子 (tè bié de rì zi)

6. 🗣️ Practice the choice question pattern with 还是 (hái shì) using different topics beyond food

💡 Cultural Challenge: Learn the famous quote from 屈原 (qū yuán): 路漫漫其修远兮，吾将上下而求索 and understand its meaning in the context of perseverance and dedication.

Practice Checklist:

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