腊月

• Pinyin: là yuè
• Hanzi breakdown: 腊 = 月 (meat/moon) + 昔 (past) — preserved meat/twelfth month; 月 = moon/month

Meaning

The twelfth lunar month; the month before Chinese New Year.

A culturally significant month in China, marked by preparations for Spring Festival. Many traditional customs occur during this month, including making preserved foods, cleaning, and family gatherings.

Examples

1. 腊月里家家户户都在准备年货。 During the twelfth lunar month, every household is preparing goods for the New Year.
2. 腊月二十三是传统的小年。 The 23rd of the twelfth lunar month is the traditional Little New Year.
3. 一到腊月，外出打工的人就开始往家赶了。 As soon as the twelfth lunar month arrives, migrant workers start heading home.

Usage Guide

Context: traditional calendar, Spring Festival, seasonal

Tone: cultural

Do Say

• 腊月天气最冷。(The twelfth lunar month has the coldest weather.)
• 腊月的集市特别热闹。(The markets in the twelfth lunar month are especially lively.)

Don't Say

• 把腊月等同于公历十二月。(腊月 is the 12th lunar month, which falls in January-February of the Gregorian calendar)

Origin & History

From ancient sacrificial customs. 腊 refers to end-of-year sacrifices to ancestors and gods, traditionally performed in the twelfth month.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal