母亲节

mǔ qīn jié
Mother's Day

明天是母亲节,我要给妈妈买束花。

Tomorrow is Mother's Day; I'm going to buy my mom a bouquet of flowers.


formal

An annual holiday celebrating mothers and motherhood, typically involving gift-giving and family gatherings.

每年五月的第二个星期日是中国的母亲节。

The second Sunday of May is Mother's Day in China.

In China, Mother's Day is observed on the second Sunday of May, similar to many Western countries.

Collocations

庆祝母亲节celebrate Mother's Day母亲节礼物Mother's Day gift母亲节快乐Happy Mother's Day

Antonyms

Related Phrases

感恩母亲phrase
gratitude toward mothers
孝顺word
filial piety; to be obedient and caring to parents

Pro Tip

Cultural Context

In China, Mother's Day is not a public holiday but is widely recognized in urban areas. Gifts like carnations (康乃馨, kāngnǎixīn) are traditional, symbolizing love and respect.

Gold Rule

Word Order in Chinese Holidays

Chinese holiday names typically follow the pattern '[Honoree] + 节' (e.g., '教师节' for Teacher's Day). The honoree is usually a person or group, not an abstract concept.

Word Origin

The term '母亲节' is a direct compound of '母亲' (mǔqīn, mother) and '节' (jié, festival/day). It follows the Chinese tradition of naming holidays by combining the honoree with '节' (e.g., '儿童节' for Children's Day). The holiday was influenced by Western Mother's Day traditions in the early 20th century.

Usage Notes

In Chinese culture, Mother's Day is less commercialized than in Western countries but is still widely observed with family visits, phone calls, or small gifts. The day emphasizes filial piety (孝道, xiàodào), a core Confucian value.

Word Breakdown

mother
root
+
parent/relative
root
+
festival/day
root
汉英词典