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“小寒”是二十四节气中的第23个节气，冬季的第5个节气，干支历子月的结束与丑月的起始。斗指子；太阳黄经为285°；于每年公历1月5-7日交节。冷气积久而寒，小寒是天气寒冷但还没有到极点的意思，它与大寒、小暑、大暑及处暑一样，都是表示气温冷暖变化的节气。小寒节气的特点就是寒冷，但是却还没有冷到极致。
我们来看看如何用英文描述小寒这一节气，学会用英文讲述节气的故事，传播中国文化。The traditional Chinese calendar divides a year into 24 solar terms. Xiǎohán(pīnyīn), literally "Minor Cold", is
the 23rd solar term. It begins when the
Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 285° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 300°. It more often refers in particular to the day when
the Sun is exactly at the celestial longitude of 285°, which in the Gregorian calendar is around January 5.
传统农历将一年划分为24个节气。小寒，拼音为Xiǎohán，是第23个节气。它始于太阳到达黄经285，结束于太阳到达黄经300°。它更常指的是太阳正处于黄经285°的日子，在公历中，通常在1月5日左右。
Each
solar term can be divided into 3 pentads. They are: first pentad,
second pentad and last pentad. Pentads in Xiaohan include:每个节气可分为三候：初候、次候和末候。小寒的三候为：First pentad 初候:
雁北乡
Wild geese start to fly north to home
雉始雊
Pheasants begin to chirp
Minor Cold means that the weather is cold but not extremely cold. It is also a solar term indicating the change of temperature.小寒是天气寒冷但还没有到极点的意思，它也是表示气温冷暖变化的节气。Many Chinese sayings use the weather and climate situation during Minor Cold to predict the weather in the following spring.有很多中国谚语描述了以小寒时期的天气和气候状况来预测来年春天的天气。During Minor Cold, people always start stocking New Year goods, including Spring Festival couplets, New Year pictures, paper-cuts for window decoration, fire crackers, incense and lanterns.
小寒期间，人们开始准备新年用品，包括春联、年画、窗花剪纸、鞭炮、香火和灯笼。Mutton hot pot, chestnuts and baked sweet potatoes are three recommended foods for Minor Cold. According to traditional Chinese medicine theories, people need to eat food that contains more yang energy to prevent cold from harming their organs. The yang energy in the three types of food is strengthened through their method of cooking: boiling, stir frying and baking.羊肉火锅、栗子和烤红薯是小寒的三大推荐食物。根据传统中医理论，人们需要吃含有更多阳气的食物，以防止寒气损害他们的器官。这三种食物中的阳气分别经过烹煮、炒制和烘烤得到了增强。Another important traditional food for Minor Cold is Laba porridge. It is made from many kinds of nuts, cereals and dried fruits. Local people in Beijing often cook Laba porridge on the night of the seventh day of the twelfth lunar month. After one night's slow simmering, all the ingredients melt into the porridge in the morning of the eighth day, becoming a warm delicacy to enjoy in cold days.
另一种小寒期间的重要传统食物是腊八粥。它由多种坚果、谷物和干果制成。老北京人经常在农历十二月初七晚上就煮上腊八粥。经过一个晚上的慢炖，所有的配料在腊八早上都已溶入了粥中，在寒冷的日子里成为一道温暖的美味。Minor Cold is also the busiest time for doctors and pharmacies of traditional Chinese medicine. Many people need them to prepare new medicines, which will be consumed before the Lunar New Year.小寒也是中医医生和中药房最繁忙的时候。许多人需要请他们准备年前服用的新药。Brew a pot of tea at home and find your inner peace when cold wind rages outside during this period.这一时节，在家中泡一壶茶，在外面的寒风肆虐时，发现你内心的平静。Now it's your time to open your mouth and practice!Have fun learning English!
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