Understanding "日历" - Chinese Word Explanation

1. Basic Information

• Word: 日历
• Pinyin: rìlì
• Literal Meaning: "Day record" (日 = day, 历 = record/calendar)
• Primary Meaning: A calendar (typically a physical or digital tool showing dates, months, and sometimes holidays).

2. In-depth Explanation

Context and Usage

"日历" refers to a calendar used to track days, months, and years. It can be a wall calendar, desk calendar, or digital calendar. Unlike "年历" (niánlì, which focuses on the yearly layout), "日历" often emphasizes daily or monthly formats. It’s a common household and office item in China.

Character Breakdown

• 日 (rì): Means "day" or "sun."
• 历 (lì): Means "record," "history," or "calendar." Together, they form "day record," i.e., a tool to track days.

3. Example Sentences

1. Chinese: 我的桌子上放着一本日历。
   Pinyin: Wǒ de zhuōzi shàng fàngzhe yī běn rìlì.
   English: There is a calendar on my desk.

2. Chinese: 请查看日历，确认会议日期。
   Pinyin: Qǐng chákàn rìlì, quèrèn huìyì rìqī.
   English: Please check the calendar to confirm the meeting date.

3. Chinese: 这本日历上有中国传统节日。
   Pinyin: Zhè běn rìlì shàng yǒu Zhōngguó chuántǒng jiérì.
   English: This calendar includes traditional Chinese festivals.

Cultural Notes

In China, "日历" often features auspicious symbols, lunar dates (农历, nónglì), and traditional holidays like the Spring Festival or Mid-Autumn Festival. Many families still prefer paper calendars, though digital versions are becoming popular. Some calendars also include fortune-telling elements or "lucky days" (黄历, huánglì).

Conclusion

"日历" (rìlì) is a practical and culturally rich word for "calendar" in Chinese. Remember it as a "day record" (日 + 历) and practice using it in daily contexts like scheduling or checking dates.