导读:小寒是一年中第23个节气，从今年的1月5日开始，到1月19日结束。小寒是一年中最冷的时候，本文列举了关于小寒你可能不知道的6件事。
The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. Minor Cold (Chinese: 小寒), the 23rd solar term, begins this year on Jan 5 and ends on Jan 19.
中国传统的农历将一年分为24个节气。小寒（Minor Cold）是一年中第23个节气，从今年的1月5日开始，到1月19日结束。
During Minor Cold, most areas in China have entered the bitter cold stage of winter. The ground and rivers are frozen. The cold air from the north moves southward continuously.
在小寒期间，中国大部分地区都已进入寒冬时节。土地和河流都被冰冻了起来。北方的冷空气不断向南移动。
Here are six things you should know about Minor Cold.
以下是关于小寒以应该知道的6件事。
Sanjiu
一、“三九”。
Although "Minor Cold" means less cold than the following solar term, "Major Cold", there is an old saying in China that goes, "The days of the Sanjiu period are the coldest days." "Sanjiu period" refers to the third nine-day period (the 19th-27th days) after the day of the Winter Solstice, which is in Minor Cold. Actually Minor Cold is normally the coldest period of winter. It is important to keep warm during this period.
尽管“小寒”是意思是和下个节气“大寒”相比不那么冷，但是中国有一句老话说“数九寒天，冷在三九”。“三九时节”指的是冬至过后第三个九天（第19到27天），而“三九”就在小寒内。事实上小寒通常是冬天最冷的时候。在这期间保暖很重要。
Cuisines fit for Minor Cold
二、小寒美食味飘香。
From the perspective of dietary health care, during Minor Cold people should eat some hot food to benefit the body and defend against the invasion of cold weather — hot foods like trout, pepper, cinnamon, leeks, fennel and parsley. Now is the best time to have hot pot and braised mutton with soy sauce. But it is sensible to notice that too much spicy food may cause acute gastritis.
从美食保健的角度来看，小寒期间人们应该吃一些性温的食物来滋补身体、抵御严寒天气入侵--性温的食物有鳟鱼、辣椒、肉桂、韭菜、茴香和欧芹等等。现在是吃火锅和红烧羊肉的最好时节。但也应该注意吃太多辛辣食物会导致急性胃炎。
Winter exercise
三、冬练。
There is an old Chinese saying that goes, "Get exercise in the coldest days of winter." Generally, Minor Cold is the coldest period in China, which is the best time for exercising and improving one’s physique. To keep warm, the children of China have special games to play, such as hoop rolling and the cockfighting game.
中国有一句老话叫“冬练三九”。一般来说，小寒是中国最冷的时候，也是锻炼增强体质的最好时候。为取暖中国孩子们会玩一些特别的游戏，例如滚铁环和斗鸡等。
Eating huangyacai
四、吃黄芽菜。
In Tianjin, there is a custom to have huangyacai, a kind of Chinese cabbage, during Minor Cold. There are large amounts of Vitamins A and B in huangyacai. As huangyacai is fresh and tender, it is fit for frying, roasting and braising.
天津有在小寒期间吃黄芽菜（一种中国大白菜）的习俗。黄芽菜含有丰富的维生素A和维生素B。黄芽菜非常鲜嫩，适合炒、烧、焖等做法。
Eating glutinous rice
五、吃糯米饭。
According to tradition, the Cantonese eat glutinous rice in the morning during Minor Cold. Cantonese people add some fried preserved pork, sausage and peanuts and mix them into the rice. According to the theories of Traditional Chinese Medicine, glutinous rice has the effect of tonifying the spleen and stomach in the cold season.
按照传统，广东人在小寒期间的早上要吃糯米饭。广东人会将一些炸好的猪肉、香肠和花生加到糯米饭中。根据中医理论，在寒冷季节糯米饭有补脾益胃的功效。
Eating vegetable rice
六、吃菜饭。
In ancient times, people in Nanjing took Minor Cold quite seriously, but as time went by, the celebration of Minor Cold gradually faded. However, the custom of eating vegetable rice is still followed today.
在古代，南京人对待小寒非常郑重，但是随着时间的推移，对小寒的庆祝逐渐消失了。但是，吃菜饭的习俗仍然沿用至今。
The rice is steamed and is unspeakably delicious. Among the ingredients, aijiaohuang (a kind of green vegetable), sausage and salted duck are the specialties in Nanjing.
这种米饭是蒸熟的，有一种不可言说的美味。在配料中，矮脚黄（一种绿色蔬菜）、香肠和盐水鸭是南京特产。
