🍉 小暑 Xiǎoshǔ – The First Signs of Summer Heat in China

📍小暑 (Xiǎoshǔ) is the 11th solar term in the Chinese calendar, starting around July 6.

The name means “Minor Heat,” marking the start of rising temperatures across China.

It’s a time when summer truly arrives, but the most intense heat is still to come.

🌱 What Does It Mean?

• 小 (xiǎo) = small, minor

• 暑 (shǔ) = heat

Together, 小暑 (Xiǎoshǔ) means “minor heat” — when things start getting hot, but the real heat hasn’t peaked yet.

🍉 How People Celebrate

To stay healthy and balanced during 小暑 (Xiǎoshǔ), people often:

• Eat cooling foods (like watermelon and bitter melon)

• Drink herbal teas to remove internal heat

• Avoid greasy or spicy food

• In some regions, farmers also begin early preparations for the autumn harvest.

🗣 Key Vocabulary & Expressions

• 小暑 (Xiǎoshǔ) – Minor Heat

• 炎热 (yánrè) – Hot and scorching

• 清热解暑 (qīngrè jiěshǔ) – Clear heat and relieve summer discomfort

• 凉茶 (liáng chá) – Herbal cooling tea

• 防中暑 (fáng zhòngshǔ) – Prevent heatstroke

💬 Try This!

Translate and read aloud:

我们要注意防中暑，多喝水，多休息。

(Wǒmen yào zhùyì fáng zhòngshǔ, duō hē shuǐ, duō xiūxi.)

→ We should watch out for heatstroke, drink more water, and rest more.

🇨🇳 Cultural Insight

小暑 (Xiǎoshǔ) teaches a lesson in timing and preparation.

Though it’s not the hottest time yet, signs are everywhere — storms, heat, exhaustion.

This solar term reminds us to adjust early, not wait until it’s too late.

It’s a good time to reflect on your pace and take better care of your body and energy.

⚖️ Just like nature, we need to balance heat with calmness.

🌟 Final Thoughts

小暑 (Xiǎoshǔ) is more than a weather pattern.

It’s a signal: big change is coming — so prepare yourself now.

In Chinese culture, wisdom means knowing when to act… and when to cool down.

🇨🇳 Curious about more Chinese traditions?

📚 Step into the blog series: Chinese Culture!