Chinese Festivals and the Words You Need to Talk About Them

Festivals are one of the fastest ways to remember Chinese vocabulary. Each one comes with its own set of greetings, foods, and traditions, and the words you learn for 春节 will keep showing up in songs, movies, and daily conversation for the rest of your life. This guide walks through the three biggest festivals in Mainland China — and the language that makes them come alive.

XINSCHOOL was founded in Changchun, China in 2012 and is officially licensed by China’s Ministry of Education. With 13+ years of teaching Mandarin and more than 15,000 learners on its online platform, the school weaves festival language into its HSK curriculum so vocabulary sticks the first time you hear it.

春节 (Chūn Jié) — Chinese New Year

The 15-day celebration of the lunar new year is China’s biggest holiday.

• 红包 (hóng bāo) — red envelope, often given to children and unmarried younger relatives.
• 年夜饭 (nián yè fàn) — the family reunion dinner on New Year’s Eve.
• 恭喜发财 (gōng xǐ fā cái) — “wishing you wealth and prosperity,” the most common New Year greeting.
• 拜年 (bài nián) — to pay New Year visits to family and friends.

中秋 (Zhōng Qiū) — Mid-Autumn Festival

Held on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, when the moon is fullest.

• 月饼 (yuè bǐng) — mooncakes, the festival’s signature pastry.
• 团圆 (tuán yuán) — reunion, the festival’s central idea.
• 赏月 (shǎng yuè) — to admire the moon, a popular evening activity.

端午 (Duān Wǔ) — Dragon Boat Festival

Held on the 5th day of the fifth lunar month.

• 粽子 (zòng zi) — sticky rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves, savory or sweet.
• 龙舟 (lóng zhōu) — dragon boat; the festival’s iconic boat races.
• 纪念 (jì niàn) — to commemorate; the festival honors the poet Qu Yuan.

How XINSCHOOL teaches festival language online

In 4–8 person live classes on ClassIn, an experienced native Chinese teacher might open a 50-minute session on 春节, then run a guided role-play where learners practice handing over a 红包, saying 恭喜发财, and wishing someone a happy new year. The same pattern works for 中秋 storytelling around 月饼 and 端午 vocabulary through the legend of Qu Yuan.

Vocabulary like this lands in long-term memory because it is tied to a story, a sound, and a feeling — not just a flashcard.

FAQ

Is festival vocabulary on the HSK exam? Some is, especially the high-frequency words like 节日, 春节, 团圆, and family-related terms. The cultural depth comes from classroom practice, not the test.

I’m a complete beginner. Can I still learn this? Yes. Teachers introduce festival words at HSK 1 and 2, supported by pictures, gestures, and the simplest Chinese. You do not need a strong base to start.

Bring festival language into your Mandarin journey. Book a free online trial with XINSCHOOL and explore HSK 1 through HSK 6, Pinyin, Hanzi, and Business Chinese in small live classes. Follow MandarinClub汉语平台 for more Mandarin-learning content.