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The twenty-four Chinese solar terms represent the twenty-four different positions of the Earth in its orbit. As it takes days for the earth to circle the sun, there is only one festival every fifteen days, and each festival represents a different change in climate, weather and time of year. The dates of the beginning of the 24 solar terms remain almost the same year after year in the solar calendar, differing by a day or two at most, precisely because the solar terms, like the solar calendar, are based on the Earth's revolution around the Sun in a year.

      二十四節氣以(yǐ)地(dì / de)球圍繞太陽公轉的(de)一(yī / yì ／yí)個(gè)周期作爲(wéi / wèi)一(yī / yì ／yí)個(gè)輪回，基本概括了(le／liǎo)一(yī / yì ／yí)年中不(bù)同時(shí)節太陽在(zài)黃道(dào)上(shàng)位置的(de)不(bù)同、寒來(lái)暑往的(de)準确時(shí)間、降雨降雪等自然現象發生的(de)規律，以(yǐ)及記載了(le／liǎo)大(dà)自然中一(yī / yì ／yí)些物候現象的(de)時(shí)刻。

The names and meanings of the 24 seasonal division points are:

• the Beginning of Spring 立春

• the Beginning of Summer 立夏

• the Beginning of Autumn 立秋

• the Beginning of Winter 立冬

They mark the start of four seasons. 它們表示四季的(de)開始。

· the Vernal Equinox 春分

· the Autumnal Equinox 秋分

They are the two points where the day and night are equal. 春分、秋分是(shì)一(yī / yì ／yí)年中晝夜一(yī / yì ／yí)樣長的(de)兩天。

· the Summer Solstice 夏至

It has the longest day and shortest night in a year. 夏至是(shì)一(yī / yì ／yí)年中白天最長、黑夜最短的(de)一(yī / yì ／yí)天。

· the Winter Solstice 冬至

It has the longest night and shortest day in a year. 冬至是(shì)一(yī / yì ／yí)年中黑夜最長、白天最短的(de)一(yī / yì ／yí)天。

· the Rain Water 雨水

It means the start of the spring rains. 開始下春雨的(de)意思。

· the Waking of Insects 驚蟄

It indicates that the spring thunder awakens hibernating insects. 表示春雷響過以(yǐ)後，冬眠的(de)昆蟲被驚醒了(le／liǎo)。

· the Pure Brightness 清明

It means the onset of spring when a bright and clean spring scene replaces the cold, withered and yellow scene of winter. 是(shì)說(shuō)春天到(dào)了(le／liǎo)，明淨的(de)春色代替了(le／liǎo)冬季寒冷枯黃的(de)景象。

· the Grain Rain 谷雨

It indicates that from that day, there will be more rainfall, which is beneficial to the growth of crops. 表示從此雨水增多，對莊稼的(de)生長很有好處。

· the Grain Budding 小滿

It shows that crops that will ripen in summer start to show plump seeds. 表示在(zài)夏季成熟的(de)農作物籽粒開始飽滿。

· the Grain in Ear 芒種

It tells people that the wheat has ripened. 告訴人(rén)們小麥已經成熟了(le／liǎo)。

· the Slight Heat 小暑

· the Great Heat 大(dà)暑

They indicate the full onset of summer, with the Great Heat being the hottest day of the year. 表示天氣炎熱的(de)程度，大(dà)暑是(shì)一(yī / yì ／yí)年中最熱的(de)時(shí)候。

· the Limit of Heat 處暑

It shows that scorching summer days will soon be gone. 表示炎熱的(de)天氣快要(yào / yāo)結束了(le／liǎo)。

· the White Dew 白露

It tells people that the weather is turning cold. 告訴人(rén)們天就(jiù)要(yào / yāo)冷了(le／liǎo)。

· the Cold Dew 寒露

As this intensifies, we move on to the Cold Dew. 當天寒加劇，就(jiù)到(dào)了(le／liǎo)寒露。

· the Frost's Descent 霜降

It means the appearance of the first frost of the season. 開始下霜的(de)意思。

· the Slight Snow 小雪

· the Great Snow 大(dà)雪

They mean the arrival of the snowy season. 表示到(dào)了(le／liǎo)下雪的(de)時(shí)節。（“小”和(hé / huò)“大(dà)”意味着雪量大(dà)小的(de)差别）

· the Slight Cold 小寒

· the Great Cold 大(dà)寒

They indicate the degree of coldness in winter, with the Great Cold being the coldest day of the season. 表示冬天寒冷的(de)程度，大(dà)寒是(shì)一(yī / yì ／yí)年中最冷的(de)時(shí)候。