清明

Mandarin

simpl. and trad.
清明

Etymology

From 清 (qīng, OC *sl̥eŋ, "(of water) clear, pure") and 明 (míng, OC *mraŋ, "bright"). Attested in Shijing ("(of governance) to be methodical, orderly"), Xunzi ("(of water) clear and bright"), Classic of Rites ("sober, calm"; "(of voice) clear"), Lost Book of Zhou ("(the date of) Qingming, from brightness, clearness of the scenery"), Guoyu ("southeasterly winds").

Adjective

清明 (traditional and simplified, Pinyin qīngmíng)

1. clear and bright
2. sober and calm; (of a patient's mind): clear
3. (of a government or administration) well ordered
4. peaceful (times)

Derived terms

• 神志清明

Proper noun

清明 (traditional and simplified, Pinyin Qīngmíng)

1. Qingming or Pure Brightness, the fifth of the 24 solar terms in the Chinese lunar calendar (二十四節氣|二十四节气[er4 shi2 si4 jie2 qi5] 5th-19th April)
2. the Qingming festival (Pure Brightness Festival) or Tomb Sweeping Day (a Chinese spring festival corresponding to Easter, on April 5 or 6, during which people visit their family graveyards)