“Chinese New Year’s Eve” in Chinese
除夕 (Chuxi) is a word literally translated as «the evening (or eve) of expulsion/removal». This name has an ancient and fascinating history rooted in mythology and folk beliefs. There are two main explanations for its origin: a mythological one, associated with the monster Xi, and a linguistic one, based on the characters’ meanings.
1. The Legend of the Monster Xi (年兽与夕兽)
The most popular legend says that in ancient times there was a terrifying monster named Xi (夕) or Nian (年).
- Who or what is Xi? The answer lies in the legend.
The Legend of the Kind Old Woman and the Mysterious Elder
Long ago, on another New Year’s Eve, terror returned to a Chinese village. The people knew that that night a monster named Nian (or, in some versions, its offspring Xi) would emerge from the depths of the sea to devour livestock and people. As usual, the villagers gathered their belongings so they could leave for the distant mountains at sunset and wait out the terrible night there.
A poor old woman lived in this village. She had neither family nor livestock, and her only possessions were a dilapidated hut and rags. When the villagers began to leave, she too went beyond the village boundary, but she had nowhere to go and no one to go with. She lacked the strength to reach the mountain shelters, so she decided to stay and meet her fate in her own hut.
She was about to turn back when she suddenly saw a frail old man with a staff beside the road. He sat on a stone, exhausted and seemingly about to faint.
— Honored elder, — the woman said to him, — why are you not going into the mountains with everyone else? The monster will come tonight; staying here is deadly dangerous!
The old man raised his clouded eyes to her and mumbled: — I am too old, kind woman. My legs will not support me. It seems I am fated to meet my death here.
The old woman’s heart tightened with pity. «How can I leave him alone?» she thought. «We are both destined to die anyway, so let us face death together, so that at least the elder will be less afraid.»
She helped the old man up and took him to her hovel. She had no food for her guest, but gave him her last water and wrapped him in her torn blanket. The elder thanked her, then said:
— You alone in the entire village showed me mercy. In return, I will reveal the secret of survival. I know this beast’s weakness. It fears three things: the color red, loud crackling, and bright light.
With these words, the elder transformed. He was no ordinary traveler, but a powerful celestial spirit or sage sent by fate.
— Take red paper and paste it on the door, — he instructed. — Wrap yourself in red cloth. Light even the thinnest candle. And when the beast approaches, strike this hollow bamboo stick that I will give you.
The old woman followed every instruction exactly. When night fell and the roaring monster burst into the village, it immediately noticed her hut’s bright red door. The beast stopped and growled, but was afraid to approach. Then the old woman lit a candle, and its light blinded the monster. She stepped onto the threshold and began hitting the bamboo with a stick. A deafening crack rang out. The monster Nian (or Xi) roared in terror and fled the village, retreating into the sea until the following year.
The next morning, when the villagers returned from the mountains, they expected to find ashes. But the village was intact, and the old woman sat unharmed on her doorstep. She told them of her miraculous escape. From then on, people stopped fleeing to the mountains. On New Year’s Eve, they dressed in red, hung red paired inscriptions on their doors (春联) and lit candles and burned bamboo to drive away evil with loud crackling. Thus, one old woman’s mercy and kindness taught people how to conquer fear and protect their homes.
- Confusion with Nian. The beast is often called Nian (年). In that case, the logic changes slightly: the monster’s name is Nian, and victory over it takes place on the eve of its arrival. Yet the character «Xi» (夕) remains in the name of the day. Sometimes legends present Xi as Nian’s son or helper, but the essence is the same: the name is associated with deliverance from danger.
2. The Linguistic Explanation (Analyzing the Characters)
Linguistically, the name 除夕 (Chúxī) is very straightforward to explain:
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The character «Chu» (除) has several meanings:
- Remove, expel, eliminate, cleanse.
- Change, transition (for example, replacing the old with the new).
- Palace steps (an obsolete meaning that adds a sense of elevation to the process).
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The character «Xi» (夕) means:
- Evening, sunset.
- Eve, final night (often in compound words denoting the eve of a holiday).
Thus, the literal and most precise translation of 除夕 is «The night (or evening) of cleansing/expulsion».
What exactly is being «expelled» or «cleansed»?
The phrase contains a profound meaning:
- Expelling evil spirits and misfortune from the past year. Red decorations, fireworks, and noise were intended to cleanse the home and family of all the bad things accumulated during the year.
- Getting rid of the old to make room for the new. It is a transitional moment, the boundary between the old and new year. «Chu» (除) also means change and renewal.
Connection with Traditions
The most important tradition of this day is the family dinner (年夜饭— nianyefan). The whole family gathers around one table, even if some members live far away. It symbolizes unity as the old year departs and the new one arrives. After dinner, it is customary to stay awake all night (守岁 — shousui). This vigil has two meanings:
- Protecting the older family members (according to belief, staying awake prolongs their lives).
- Welcoming the New Year fully prepared, having seen off the old year and driven away all adversity.
Conclusion: The name 除夕 (Chuxi) combines an ancient myth about fighting a monster with the profound philosophical meaning of renewal through release from everything old and negative. It is an evening of cleansing, protection, and preparation for a new cycle of life.
Examples of Using 除夕
除夕 is widely used in modern Chinese. Here are several examples of how to use it:
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Naming the date and occasion:
- Today is Chinese New Year’s Eve.
- Chinese: 今天是除夕。
- Transcription: Jintian shi Chuxi.
- Pinyin: Jīntiān shì Chúxī.
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Describing the family tradition (the evening’s main event):
- On New Year’s Eve, our whole family gathers for dinner.
- Chinese: 除夕夜，我们全家团聚吃年夜饭。
- Transcription: Chuxi ye, women quanjia tuanju chi nianyefan.
- Pinyin: Chúxī yè, wǒmen quánjiā tuánjù chī niányèfàn.
- Note: 年夜饭 (Niányèfàn) is the «New Year’s Eve dinner», the culmination of the holiday.
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Describing the tradition of staying awake:
- On New Year’s Eve, we stay up until midnight to welcome the new year.
- Chinese: 除夕我们要守岁，迎接新年的到来。
- Transcription: Chuxi women yao shousui, yingjie xinnian de daolai.
- Pinyin: Chúxī wǒmen yào shǒusuì, yíngjiē xīnnián de dàolái.
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In greeting cards and wishes:
- Happy New Year’s Eve! (A wish for this particular evening).
- Chinese: 除夕快乐！
- Transcription: Chuxi kuaile!
- Pinyin: Chúxī kuàilè!
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Discussing the program of events:
- Every year I watch the New Year’s Eve Gala on television.
- Chinese: 我每年除夕都看春节联欢晚会。
- Transcription: Wo meinian Chuxi dou kan Chunjie Lianhuan Wanhui.
- Pinyin: Wǒ měinián Chúxī dōu kàn Chūnjié Liánhuān Wǎnhuì.
- Note: Chunwan (春晚) is the famous New Year television show watched by the entire country.