It’s Mother’s Day this Sunday. I would like to talk about some Chinese words about it this week.

Mother in Chinese is 母亲(mǔqīn), or more orally 妈妈(māma).

Mother’s day 母亲节(mǔqīnjié).

Mother’s Day is on the second Sunday of May. 五月(wǔyuè)的(de)第(dì)二(èr)个(gè)星期日(xīngqīrì)是(shì)母亲节(mǔqīnjié). My student told me she’ll cancel our class this weekend because her son will have dinner with her on that Day. My mom’s birthday is also in May. I’ll go home to have dinner with her this weekend too. I think I’ll buy some carnations for her.

Right now in China, people will usually give carnations to mom on Mother’s Day.

Carnation 康乃馨(kāngnǎixīn)

我(wǒ)要(yào)送(sòng)妈妈(māma)一(yí)束(shù)康乃馨(kāngnǎixīn)。

束(shù) bonch

I’ll give my mom a bounch of carnation.

一(yí)束(shù)花(huā)

一(yí)束(shù)康乃馨(kāngnǎixīn)

But in traditional Chinese culture, we use tawny daylily as a symbol of mother’s love.

Mother’s love 母爱(mǔ’ài)

In Chinese, tawny daylily is called 萱草(xuāncǎo) or 忘忧草(wàngyōucǎo). 忘(wàng) means to forget; 忧(yōu) means sadness or sorrow. So giving 萱草(xuāncǎo) to mother has the meaning of wishing her get rid of all the sadness and sorrow.

萱草(xuāncǎo)代表(dàibiǎo)母爱(mǔ’ài).

tawny daylily represents mother’s love.

Happy Mother’s Day!母亲节快乐(mǔqīnjié kuàilè)!

What gift will you give your mother on Mother’s Day?母亲节你会送妈妈什么礼物(Mǔqīnjié nǐ huì sòng māma shénme lǐwù)?

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