Essential Mandarin Chinese Phrasebook & Dictionary. Catherine Dai
待维修
Dài Wéixiū
Out of Order
收款处
Shōukuǎn Chù
Cashier
免费入场
Miǎnfèi Rùchǎng
Free Entrance
当心恶狗
Dāngxīn è Gǒu
Beware of the Dog
油漆未干
Yóuqī Wèi Gān
Wet Paint
无人
Wúrén
Vacant
入口
Rùkǒu
Entrance
紧急出口
Jǐnjí Chūkǒu
(Emergency) Exit
有人
Yǒurén
Engaged
行人
Xíngrén
Pedestrians
时刻表
Shíkèbiǎo
Timetable
兑换
Duìhuàn
Exchange
危险
Wēixiǎn
Danger
医院
Yīyuàn
Hospital
急救室
Jíjiùshì
First Aid (Hospital)
事故急诊室
Shìgù Jízhěnshì
Accident and Emergency (Hospital)
消防局
Xiāofángjú
Fire Station
自动扶梯
Zìdòng fútī
Escalator
安全出口
Ānquán Chūkǒu
Fire Escape
旅行咨询处
Lǚxíng Zīxúnchù
Tourist Information Bureau
请勿抽烟
Qǐngwù Chōuyān
No Smoking
请勿乱丢垃圾
Qǐngwù Luàndiū Lājī
No Littering
易燃
Yìrán
Fire Hazard
请勿打扰
Qǐngwù Dǎrǎo
Please Do Not Disturb
请勿触摸
Qǐngwù Chùmō
Please Do Not Touch
停 (止)
Tíng (Zhǐ)
Stop
候机／候车室
Hóujī/Hóuchē
Waiting Room
禁止钓鱼
Jìnzhǐ Diàoyǘ
No Fishing
禁止打猎
Jìnzhǐ Dǎliè
No Hunting
紧急刹车
Jǐnjíshāchē
Emergency Brake
致命
Zhìmìng
Danger to Life
1.8 Legal holidays
Apart from Chinese New Year which is celebrated throughout China with one week off from work, other holidays are mostly observed in the cities with time off to celebrate the festivities. There are two types of festivals, traditional and modern.
The former follow the lunar calendar which identifies the months sequentially as the First Month, the Second Month, etc. Chinese New Year or the Spring Festival varies every year but falls between the last ten days of January and the first ten days of February each year.
Modern holidays in China include National Day (October 1) and Labor Day (May 1). National Day and Labor Day are celebrated with a week and three days off work respectively, when people are encouraged to spend and go for holidays in an attempt to stimulate the economy. On these occasions, government institutions and head offices of banks are closed for business. However, local bank branches are open for about five hours a day for one to three days. Shopping centers are open till midnight while supermarkets and medium-sized shops keep normal opening hours. Local shops and convenience stores vary, some might operate for fewer hours during the holidays.
January 1 [Yīyuè yīhào]: New Year’s Day Xīnnián/Yuándàn 新年/元旦
January/February (Lunar Calendar: First Day of the First Month) [Nónglì Zhēngyuè Chūyī]: Chinese New Year Chūnjié 春节
January/February (Lunar Calendar: Fifteenth Day of the First Month) [Nónglì Zhēngyuè shíwǔrì]: The Lantern Festival Yuánxiāojié 元宵节
March 8 [Sānyuè bāhào]: Women’s Day Fùnǚjié 妇女节
April 2-4 (Usually the 15th day after the Spring Equinox, date may vary) [Sìyuè èr-sìhào]: Festival of Sweeping Ancestors’ Graves Qīngmíngjié 清明节
May 1 [Wǔyuè yīhào]: Labor Day Láodòngjié 劳动节
May 4 [Wǔyuè sìhào]: Youth Festival Qīngniánjié 青年节
June 1 [Liùyuè yīhào]: Children’s Day Értóngjié 儿童节
June (Lunar Calendar: Fifth Day of the Fifth Month) [Nónglì Wǔyuè wǔrì]: Dragon Boat Festival Duānwǔjié 端午节
July 1 [Qīyuè yīhào]: Foundation Day of Chinese Communist Party Jiàndǎngjié 建党节
August 1 [Bāyuè yīhào]: Foundation Day of the People’s Liberation Army Jiànjūnjié 建军节
September/October (Lunar Calendar: Fifth Day of the Eighth Month) [Nónglì Bāyuè shíwǔrì]: The Mid-Autumn Festival Zhōngqiūjié 中秋节
October 1 [Shíyuè yīhào]: National Day Guóqìngjié 国庆节
2. Meet and Greet
2.1 Greetings
2.2 Asking a question
2.3 How to reply
2.4 Thank you
2.5 I’m sorry