圣诞快乐(Shèngdàn kuàilè)！Merry Christmas! I am joined by Stephen here again today. Please listen to our podcast here:

Although it isn’t a national festival here in China, many Chinese people would also like to celebrate it Christmas. And it is also a chance for various promotional activities in the shops and shopping malls. You will find beautiful lights and Christmas decorations in and out of all of the malls, restaurants and shops. So let’s learn some words about Christmas.

Christmas in Chinese is 圣诞节(Shèngdànjié).

In Chinese, 圣(shèng) usually refers to sages and men of virtue.  For example, we respectfully refer to Confucius 孔子(kǒngzǐ) as 孔圣人(kǒngshèngrén). 诞(dàn) means to give birth to, or birthday.  And 节(jié) means festival or holiday. So 圣诞节(shèngdànjié) is how we say Christmas in Chinese. 

Merry Christmas is 圣诞快乐(Shèngdànkuàilè).

Christmas tree is 圣诞树(Shèngdànshù). It’s also a very popular decoration you can see here in China during Christmas. 

Stephen is curious whether Chinese children also believe in Santa Claus.

I don’t think so. Some people say Santa doesn’t come here because our houses don’t have chimneys. 

Santa Claus in Chinese is “Christmas old man” 圣诞老人(Shèngdàn lǎorén).

老人(lǎorén) means old man. But it’s also a term of endearment. The name Santa Claus isn’t translated.  Since Santa is depicted as an old man with a white beard who rode a reindeer rides a sleigh pulled by reindeer to give giving gifts to children on Christmas, we just refer to him as the 圣诞(Shèngdàn)老人(lǎorén).

And “Rudolf the red nose reindeer” in Chinese is:

鲁道夫(lǔdàofū) Rudolf

红鼻子(hóngbízi)驯鹿(xùnlù) the red-nosed reindeer

Christmas Eve in Chinese is 平安夜(píng’ānyè). You can also say 圣诞前夜(shèngdàn qiányè). 夜(yè) means night. 圣诞前夜(shèngdànqiányè) is the night before Christmas. But it’s easier to say 平安夜(ping’anyè). 

平安(píng’ān) means peaceful. 平安夜(píng’ānyè) is the translation of the Christmas carol “Silent Night”.

Young people exchange gifts at Christmas. But it isn’t a tradition yet. And there is a special new tradition for Christmas in China - to give apples to people as a gift.

The Chinese word apple 苹果(píngguǒ) sounds like the word for peace 平安(píng’ān). People in China give apples to their love ones on Christmas Eve for good wishes.

Zhōngguó rén huì zài píng'ān yè sòng gěi biérén píngguǒ. 

中国人会在平安夜送给别人苹果。

Chinese people will give apples as a gift on Christmas Eve. 

Nǐ xiǎng shōudào shénme shèngdàn lǐwù?

你想收到什么圣诞礼物？

What do you want for Christmas this year?

Leave a message and let us know! And if you are interested in a systematic study of Chinese with our BLCU teachers, please find more information here.

圣诞快乐(Shèngdàn kuàilè) marry Christmas!