BILINGUAL VIDEO丨Minor Cold: The climate is getting colder
双语视频丨今日小寒，最冷的时候来了？
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With the new year just beginning, we usher in a new solar term - Minor Cold. Minor Cold is the 23rd solar term of the 24 traditional Chinese solar terms, which begins on January 6 this year and ends on January 19. For most areas of China, it marks the start of the coldest days of the year.
新年伊始，我们迎来了小寒节气。小寒是中国传统二十四节气中的第23个节气，始于1月6日，止于1月19日。中国大部进入严寒时期，一年之中最寒冷的时段就此开启。
During the Minor Cold period, the temperature is freaking cold with piercing cold wind blowing. During this period, everything has withered away. Especially in North China, there are only trees with withered leaves standing on both sides of the road. But flowers that bloom during this period will bring some vitality to the cold winter, for example, plum blossoms.
小寒时节，天寒地冻，寒风凛冽，万物开始逐渐凋零。尤其是在中国北方地区，道路两旁枯枝林立的景象随处可见。然而，在寒冬腊月盛开的鲜花，则为这个寒冷的冬日增添了一丝生机，比如：梅花。
Ancient Chinese people show special preference to plum blossoms. Wang Mian, a Yuan Dynasty poet, once wrote a poem to depict plum blossoms. Let's read it together.
中国古代文人对梅花情有独钟。元代诗人王冕曾写下一首著名的咏梅诗，值得一读！
Mume Blossoms Painted in Ink by Yuan Dynasty poet Wang Mian
墨梅
【元】王冕
Near my inkstand-washing pool stands a mume tree,
吾家洗砚池头树，
Each flower in full bloom reveals an inky dye.
朵朵花开淡墨痕。
It does not need you to praise its fair hue you see,
不要人夸好颜色，
But only leaves a pure spirit between earth and sky.
只留清气满乾坤。
As the ancient Chinese poem goes, the plum will not compete with other flowers in spring, and let those flowers envy each other. Plum can survive in sub-zero climate and prefer to grow in coldness. Together with orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum, plum blossoms, which top the ten most famous flowers of China, are known as the Four Noble Ones. Besides, along with the pine and bamboo, the plum blossoms are considered one of the Three Friends of Winter. Plum blossoms enter their yearly florescence in winter and spring. The essence of plum blossoms can be extracted. Flowers, leaves, roots and fruits can be used as medicine. Plum fruits have such functions as relieving cough, preventing diarrhea, promoting fluid and quenching thirst. In traditional Chinese culture, plum blossoms symbolize purity, tenacity and modesty.
“无意苦争春，一任群芳妒。”梅花可以在零下10-15度的低温下生存，喜好寒冷节气，是中国十大名花之首，与兰花、竹子、菊花一起列为“四君子”，与松、竹并称为“岁寒三友”。梅花一般在冬春季节开花，鲜花可提取香精，花、叶、根和种均可入药，果实亦有止咳、止泻、生津、止渴之效。在中国传统文化中，梅以它高洁、坚强、谦虚的品格，催人奋进。（杨佳欣）