日曆 / 日历
rìlì
The Chinese word for calendar is 日曆 / 日历 (rìlì). If unsure, use 日曆 / 日历. Wiktionary also lists 曆 / 历 (lì) and 曆法 / 历法 (lìfǎ).
Meaning: system by which time is divided (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 日曆 / 日历 | rìlì | |
| 曆 / 历 | lì | |
| 曆法 / 历法 | lìfǎ | |
| 月份牌 | yuèfènpái | colloquial |
The term is used to describe a system by which time is divided.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 日曆 / 日历 is composed of 日, which means sun or day and 曆, which means calendar or to pass through time.
Which one should you use?
While 日曆 / 日历 refers to the physical object or the concept of a calendar, 曆法 / 历法 refers specifically to the mathematical or astronomical system used to calculate time. Additionally, 月份牌 is a colloquial term.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
曆法 / 历法 is a formal way to say calendar, specifically referring to the principles and systems behind measuring time. 月份牌 is a colloquial form.
Is it said differently in some regions?
日曆 is the traditional Chinese spelling, while 日历 is the simplified Chinese spelling used in mainland China.
How do you pronounce it?
rìlì
Did you know?
- In historical China, the right to create and distribute the 日曆 was a state monopoly, as controlling time was seen as a symbol of imperial power.
- Traditional Chinese culture uses a 'lunisolar' calendar, which tracks both the phases of the moon and the position of the sun to keep the seasons aligned.
- The term 月份牌 originally referred to 'calendar posters' from the early 20th century that combined dates with glamorous advertisements and art deco style.
Examples in context
- 我每天都看日历，知道今天是几号。I look at the calendar every day to know the date.
- 我对历法的研究很感兴趣。I'm very interested in the study of calendars.
- 我把所有的活动写在日程表上，这样不会忘记了。I write all my activities in the calendar, so that I won't forget them.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “calendar” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
