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    Chinese Grammar

    Understanding the noun 时节 (shíjié) for 'season'

    Description & Modification
    Time Expressions

    Explanation

    时节 (shíjié) means "season" or "time of year" and has a literary, poetic quality. It combines 时 (time) and 节 (segment/festival) and often appears in classical poetry and literary descriptions of weather or agricultural cycles. It is more evocative than the everyday word 季节.

    Examples

    • 清明时节雨纷纷，路上行人欲断魂。

      Qīngmíng shíjié yǔ fēnfēn, lù shàng xíngrén yù duànhún.

      During the Qingming season it rains one after another; travelers on the road are broken-hearted with sorrow.

    • 这个时节的水果又甜又便宜。

      Zhège shíjié de shuǐguǒ yòu tián yòu piányi.

      Fruits in this season are both sweet and cheap.

    • 收获的时节到了，农民们都很忙。

      Shōuhuò de shíjié dào le, nóngmínmen dōu hěn máng.

      The harvest season has arrived, and the farmers are all very busy.

    Understanding the noun 时节 (shíjié) for 'season' | Chinese Grammar