“好雨知时节，当春乃发生。”雨水是中国传统二十四节气（the 24 traditional Chinese solar terms）中的第二个节气。此时气温回升，雨量渐增，像是严冬的冷风解冻后化为雨水降落下来。雨水的英文表达为Rain Water，也是非常直白啦。
Rain Water signals the increase in rainfall and rise in temperature. With its arrival, lively spring-like scenery starts blossoming: the river water defreezes, wild geese move from south to north, and trees and grass turn green again.
“雨水”标志着降雨量的增多和气温的回升。雨水节气来临之际，盛春之景开始勃发：河水解冻，大雁北归，草木转绿。
关于雨水节气的小知识，一起来看看吧。
春雨贵如油
春雨对农作物的生长极为重要，中国古代谚语中也有“春雨贵如油”的说法。
In northern China, the spring drought is common and the precipitation of this season accounts for only 10 to 15 percent of annual average rainfall. Therefore, Rain Water is considered as a key period for irrigation when the day gets warmer and rainfall increases.
在北方地区，“春旱”是常见的。春季的降水量只占年平均降水量的10%-15%。因此，随着天气转暖，降雨增多，雨水节气就被视为灌溉农田的关键时期。
drought /draʊt/ 干旱
precipitation /prɪˌsɪpɪˈteɪʃn/ 降水
irrigation /ˌɪrɪˈɡeɪʃn/ 灌溉
雨水，是二十四节气中的第二个节气，一般在每年公历2月18-20日，这时太阳黄经位于330°。此时，气温回升、冰雪融化、降水增多，故取名为雨水。
“Rain Water” (雨水, Yu Shui) is the second solar term. In Gregorian calendar, it usually falls between the 18th and 20th of February when the sun reaches the celestial longitude of 330°. This term marks the start of warming days, thawing snow and increasing rainfalls, hence the name “Rain Water.”
节气特征 Features
雨水时节，天气回暖，降水量逐渐增多。但是此时北方冷空气活动仍很频繁，天气变化多端，乍暖还寒。
Around this time, the days get warmer with increasing precipitation. But in northern China, frequent cold air still induces Sudden temperature drop.
雨水，表示两层意思，一是天气回暖，降水量逐渐增多了，二是在降水形式上，雪渐少了，雨渐多了。雨水节气的气候特点，总的趋势是由冬末的寒冷向初春的温暖过渡。雨水后，春风送暖，但天气变化不定，是全年寒潮过程出现最多的时节之一，忽冷忽热，乍暖还寒。
“Rain Water” signals two changes in precipitation. As the days get warmer, the precipitation not only increases, but also comes more in the form of rains than snow. At this time of the year, the chilly winter is giving way to the warm spring. While being blessed with warm spring breezes, the period following “Rain Water” also accounts for the most frequent cold waves in the whole year, as well as unpredictable temperature fluctuations.
《月令七十二候集解》中说：“雨水，正月中。天一生水。春始属木，然生木者必水也，故立春后继之雨水。且东风既解冻，则散而为雨矣。”
According to the Variorum of Seventy Two Pentads of the Solar Terms, “The term ‘Rain Water’ arrives at the middle of lunar January. Heaven engenders water. Spring is a season of wood, and wood must be nourished by water. ‘The Start of Spring’ (立春, Li Chun) is therefore followed by ‘Rain Water.’ East wind has defrosted the land, and the melted ice then sprinkles down as rains.”
传统习俗Traditional Customs
拉保保 保险子女长命百岁Find Godfathers for Children
旧社会，人们迷信命运，为儿女求神问卦，看自己的儿女好不好带，尤独子者更怕夭折，一定要拜个干爹，按小儿的生辰年月日时,以及五行的金、木、水、火、土，找算命先生算算命上相合相克的关系，如果命上缺木，拜干爹取名字时就要带木字，才能保险儿子长命百岁。此举一年复一年，久而盛开一方之俗，传承至今更名“拉保保”。
In the old days, superstitions about fate prevailed. Fearing the immature death of their offspring, parents would ask fortunetellers to reveal the fates of their children, especially if they had only one son. In that case, they would find a “godfather” (a nominal father who basically serves as a symbolic protector) for the son. The fortuneteller would identify the missing element in the boy’s fate based on his birth date and the “Five Elements” of metal, wood, water, fire and earth. If the missing element was wood, the “godfather” would give the child a name with the character “木” (Mu, wood) or other characters containing “木” to protect the child. Years later, this practice has become a custom in some localities, and the “godfather” is called “Bao Bao” (保保, protector) in the local dialect.
接寿 女婿拜望岳父岳母Expect the Visit from Sons-In-Law
雨水节的另一个主要习俗则是女婿、女儿去给岳父岳母送节。送节的礼品则通常是两把藤椅，上面缠着一丈二尺长的红带，这称为“接寿”，意思是祝岳父岳母长命百岁。如果是新婚女婿送节，岳父岳母还要回赠雨伞，让女婿出门奔波，能遮风挡雨，也有祝愿女婿人生旅途顺利平安的意思。
Another major custom for “Rain Water” is the visit from sons-in-law and married daughters. The son-in-law would gift the parents-in-law two rattan chairs wrapped with a red ribbon of about four meters long. This is a gesture of wishing the parents-in-law longevity. If the young couple were newly wedded, the parents-in-law would gift the son-in-law an umbrella to shelter him from winds and rains, meaning they wish him a safe journey and prosperous life.
占稻色 占卜当年稻谷的丰歉Foretell the Harvest by Popping rice
占稻色，就是通过爆炒糯谷米花，来占卜当年稻谷收获的丰歉。“成色”的好坏，就看爆出的糯米花多少，爆出来的糯米花越多，则是收成越好；而爆出来的米花越少，则意味着收成不好，米价将贵。后来，用“爆米花”占卜收成的习俗，大多数地方逐渐淡化，演变成年底做“煎堆”的习俗。清代屈大均的《粤东笔记》记载：“广州之俗，岁终以烈火爆开糯谷，名曰炮谷。以为煎堆心馅。煎堆者，以糯粉为大小圆入油煎之。”之所以这么做，是因为“花”与“发”谐音，有发财的征兆。
This custom is about foretelling the harvest of rice by popping glutinous rice. More popped rice grains indicates a better harvest, and less popped grains poorer harvest and higher rice prices. This custom has faded in some places and been replaced by another custom of “pan-frying glutinous rice balls.” Qu Dajun of Qing Dynasty wrote in the Essays on Eastern Guangdong, “At the end of the year, Guangdong locals would light up a strong fire to pop glutinous rice. These ‘fire-cracked rice’ would be stuffed into glutinous rice balls, which are to be pan-fried before serving.” This custom is believed to bring wealth, because popped rice grains look like small flowers, and the Chinese characters for “flower” (花, Hua) and “getting rich” (发, Fa) are similar in pronunciation.
回娘家 出嫁的女儿拜望父母Expect the Visit from Married Daughters
在川西一带，出嫁的女儿这天带上礼物回娘家拜望父母。其中典型的礼品被称作“罐罐肉”，即用砂锅炖了猪脚、雪山大豆、海带，再用红纸、红绳封了罐口送给父母，以对他们的养育之恩表示感谢和敬意。久不怀孕的妇女，则由母亲为其缝制一条红裤子，贴身穿，据说这样可保尽快怀孕生子。这个习俗现仍在农村流行。
In western Sichuan Province, married daughters would visit their parents on the day of “Rain Water.” They usually bring a gift called “pot meat,” which is a casserole containing pig feet, beans and kelp. The pot is sealed with red paper and rope to show the daughter’s gratitude and respect. Should the daughter be infertile, her mother would give her a pair of red hand-made underpants, which are believed to expedite pregnancy. This custom still prevails in rural China.
节气养生Healthy Tips
这个节气开始，气温逐渐回升、降水也逐渐增多。雨水节气养生三要素要记住，即防“倒春寒”、健脾祛湿和准备养阳。雨水时节空气湿润，肝旺而脾弱，所以应少酸多甜，以养脾胃。饮食方面可选择香椿、百合、豌豆苗、红笋、山药等，而粥类素来有健脾利湿的功效，在雨水节气前、中、后三天服用养生粥，对润和脾胃大有益处。胡萝卜南瓜粥、薏苡仁党参粥、山药红枣粥都是不错的选择。
The solar term of “Rain Water” heralds higher temperatures and more precipitation. For this period, three healthy tips are recommended: stay prepared for “sudden cold waves;” strengthen the spleen and remove dampness from the body; and nourish the “Yang” in the body. Moist air is good for the liver but bad for the spleen. To nourish the spleen and stomach, one should choose sweet over sour. Good food choices include Chinese toon sprouts, lily bulbs, pea shoots, red bamboo sprouts and Chinese yam. Having porridge before, on and after the day of “Rain Water” is also good for the spleen and stomach, because porridge nourishes the spleen and expels dampness. Good ingredient combinations for porridge are carrot and pumpkin, coix seed and condonopsis root, as well as Chinese yam and red date.
雨水后天气转暖，风多物燥，早晚较冷，人体常会出现皮肤、口舌干燥，嘴唇干裂等现象，故应多吃新鲜蔬菜、多汁水果以补充人体水分。
The days after “Rain Water” are warm, windy and dry, with chilly mornings and evenings. In these days, it is common to have dry skin, thirsty mouth, and peeling lips. One should eat fresh vegetables and juicy fruits to supplement water.
雨水后，春寒料峭，老人小孩要“春捂”预防“倒春寒”。“春捂”最重要的是捂好腿和脚，很多人习惯减衣服时先减几条裤子，其实人体下半身的血液循环较差，容易遭风寒侵袭，尤其是抵抗力弱的老人和儿童，受寒后，易引起感冒、哮喘等疾病。
Sudden cold waves are also common in the days after “Rain Water.” The elderly and children should be prepared for “sudden cold waves in spring” by staying warm. The key is to keep the legs and feet warm. Many people would wear fewer pants when temperature rises, but the lower body is actually more vulnerable to the cold because pumping blood upward is hard work for the circulation. If not prepared, the feeble elderly and children are likely to catch a cold or asthma.
春夜喜雨杜甫好雨知时节，当春乃发生。随风潜入夜，润物细无声。野径云俱黑，江船火独明。晓看红湿处，花重锦官城。Happy Rain on a Spring Night（许渊冲 译）Good rain knows its time right;It will fall when comes spring.With wind it steals in night;Mute, it moistens each thing.O’er wild lanes dark cloud spreads;In boat a lantern looms.Dawn sees saturated reds;The town’s heavy with blooms.
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