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Festival 03 · Festival English Series
Tomb-Sweeping Day
清明節 · 緬懷祖先與春日的清新
I.

Today's Agenda

今日課程流程
01

The Story of Jie Zitui

A loyal minister, a great fire, and a day with no kitchen smoke.

介子推的故事:忠誠、烈火,與一個禁火的日子。

02

Honoring the Ancestors

Why families visit the tombs of those who came before.

敬重祖先:為什麼我們上山掃墓。

03

Sweeping & Offerings

Simple acts of remembrance — clean stones, fruit, and three sticks of incense.

清掃與供品:擦墓碑、擺水果、上三炷香。

04

The Spring Outing

Kites, picnics, and the clean spring air of April.

春遊踏青:放風箏、野餐、四月的清新空氣。

II.

The Story of Jie Zitui

介子推的故事

Long ago in ancient China, a prince was forced to leave his country. He wandered for nineteen years, often hungry and tired. A loyal minister named Jie Zitui went with him everywhere. Once, when the prince was starving, Jie Zitui even cut a piece of meat from his own leg to feed him.

Years later, the prince became king and wanted to thank Jie Zitui. But Jie Zitui had quietly taken his old mother to live in the mountains. The king set the mountain on fire, hoping Jie Zitui would come out. But Jie Zitui and his mother chose to stay where they were.

The king was heartbroken. He ordered that on that day every year, no one in the country would light a fire — they would only eat cold food. The day after became Tomb-Sweeping Day, when families honor those who came before them. Today, it is still a quiet, peaceful day for Chinese families everywhere.

春秋時代,重耳流亡十九年,忠臣介子推不離不棄,甚至割股奉君。後來重耳當上晉文公,想報恩,介子推卻帶母親隱居山中。文公放火燒山想逼他出來,介子推寧死不出。文公悲痛之餘,下令這一天禁火、只吃冷食,後來演變為清明節——一個寧靜地懷念先人的日子。

III.

Essential Vocabulary

必備單字(點 🔊 聽發音)

Festival Words · 節慶名詞

👴
Ancestor
/ˈæn.ses.tɚ/ · n.
祖先 · 先人
A family member who lived a long time ago.
"My great-grandfather is one of our ancestors."
🪦
Tomb
/tuːm/ · n.
墳墓 · 安息之地
A quiet place where family members rest.
"Grandfather's tomb is up on the green hill."
🕯️
Incense
/ˈɪn.sens/ · n.
香(燃燒的線香)
A thin stick that gives off sweet smoke when lit.
"We hold three sticks of incense and bow."
🧺
Picnic
/ˈpɪk.nɪk/ · n.
野餐
A simple meal eaten outside on a blanket.
"After the tomb visit, we have a family picnic."
🪁
Kite
/kaɪt/ · n.
風箏
A light toy that flies on the wind, held by a string.
"My kite flew higher than the trees today."
💭
Memory
/ˈmem.ər.i/ · n.
記憶 · 回憶
Something you remember from the past.
"Grandma kept his memory alive with stories."

Quiet Actions & Feelings · 動作與心情

🙏
Honor
/ˈɑː.nɚ/ · v.
敬重 · 致敬
To show deep respect for someone.
"On this day, we honor our ancestors."
📜
Remember
/rɪˈmem.bɚ/ · v.
紀念 · 想起
To keep a person or moment in your mind.
"I want to remember her every spring."
🙇
Bow
/baʊ/ · v.
鞠躬
To bend your head and back forward as a sign of respect.
"We bow three times in front of the tomb."
🍃
Peaceful
/ˈpiːs.fəl/ · adj.
平靜的 · 安詳的
Calm and quiet, with no noise or worry.
"The hill is peaceful in the morning light."
🤲
Solemn
/ˈsɑː.ləm/ · adj.
莊重的 · 嚴肅的
Serious, quiet, and full of meaning.
"Visiting the tomb is a solemn moment."
💛
Grateful
/ˈɡreɪt.fəl/ · adj.
感恩的
Feeling thanks for what someone has done.
"I am grateful for all our ancestors gave us."
IV.

Festival Highlights

六大清明習俗 · 注意金色標記的單字
🌿
Visiting the Family Tomb
掃墓
What
A quiet family walk to the resting place.
When
Early morning on Tomb-Sweeping Day.
Why
To honor the ancestors who came before us.
🧹
Sweeping the Grave
清掃墓地
What
Removing leaves and gently wiping the stone clean.
When
After arriving at the family tomb.
Why
A simple way to remember with our own hands.
🍎
Bringing Food Offerings
擺供品
What
Fruit, sweet rice cakes, and a cup of warm tea on the stone.
When
Placed quietly before the family bows.
Why
A peaceful meal shared across the generations.
🕯️
Burning Incense
上香
What
Three sticks of incense held gently in both hands.
When
After placing the food offerings.
Why
The smoke carries our memory upward.
🥬
Cold Food Day
寒食
What
Eating cold green rice cakes called qingtuan.
When
The day before Tomb-Sweeping Day.
Why
A solemn echo of the old Jie Zitui story.
🪁
Spring Outing
踏青放風箏
What
A family picnic and flying kites in open fields.
When
In the afternoon, after the morning tomb visit.
Why
A grateful hello to the fresh new spring.
V.

Roleplay Scripts

三個情境腳本 · 點 🔊 聽逐句範讀
SCENARIO 01
Visiting Grandfather's Tomb
Goal: Speak quietly and respectfully at the family tomb.
在祖父墓前安靜、禮貌地說話。
Child
Grandma, why does Grandpa rest up here on the hill?
Grandma
It is a peaceful place, with the wind and the green trees.
Child
I brought his favorite peach. May I leave it on his tomb?
Grandma
Yes, of course. Then we bow three times and say a quiet hello.
Child
Grandpa, thank you for everything. We will always remember you.
SCENARIO 02
Asking About an Ancestor
Goal: Ask thoughtful questions about a relative you never met.
向長輩請教自己沒見過的祖先。
Child
Mom, who was my great-grandmother? I never met her.
Mom
She was a brave farmer. She raised six children all by herself.
Child
Was she kind?
Mom
She was the most generous person in the whole village.
Child
I am so grateful. I want to honor her every Tomb-Sweeping Day.
SCENARIO 03
Flying Kites in the Afternoon
Goal: Move from a quiet morning to a joyful spring outing.
下午的踏青放風箏,氣氛從莊重轉為輕鬆。
Child
Dad, this kite is shaped like a swallow!
Dad
It is. Hold the string tightly and let the spring wind do the work.
Child
It's flying! It's flying very high!
Dad
In the old days, people believed kites carried away bad luck.
Child
Then I will fly mine even higher today!
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