除夕

• Pinyin: chú xī
• Hanzi breakdown: 除 (remove, pass) + 夕 (evening)

Meaning

New Year's Eve (Chinese lunar calendar).

The evening before Chinese New Year, one of the most important times for family reunions. Traditions include eating reunion dinner, watching the Spring Festival Gala, staying up late, and setting off fireworks at midnight.

Examples

1. 除夕那天，全家人围在一起吃年夜饭。 On New Year's Eve, the whole family gathers together to eat the reunion dinner.
2. 每年除夕，爷爷都会给孩子们发红包。 Every New Year's Eve, grandpa gives the children red envelopes.
3. 除夕夜，我们一边看春晚一边包饺子。 On New Year's Eve night, we watch the Spring Festival Gala while making dumplings.

Usage Guide

Context: festivals, family, traditions

Tone: celebratory

Do Say

• 除夕快乐！(Happy New Year's Eve!)
• 你除夕回家过年吗？(Are you going home for New Year's Eve?)

Don't Say

• 把元旦前一天叫'除夕'是不对的——除夕专指农历新年前夕，不是公历的12月31日 (Calling December 31st 除夕 is incorrect — 除夕 specifically refers to lunar New Year's Eve, not the Gregorian calendar)

Origin & History

Compound of 除 (to remove, to pass) + 夕 (evening), literally 'the evening that removes the old year.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal