清明

Chinese

		clear; distinct; complete clear; distinct; complete; pure	clear; bright; to understand clear; bright; to understand; next; the Ming dynasty
trad. (清明)		清	明
simp. #(清明)		清	明
anagram		明清

Etymology

From 清 (OC *sʰleŋ, “clear; pure”) + 明 (OC *mraŋ, “bright”). Attested in Shijing ("(of governance) to be methodical, orderly"), Xunzi ("(of water) clear and bright"), Classic of Rites ("sober, calm"; "(of voice) clear"), Lost Book of Zhou ("(the date of) Qingming, from brightness, clearness of the scenery"), Guoyu ("southeasterly winds").

Pronunciation 1

• Mandarin

  (Standard)

  (Pinyin): qīngmíng

  (Zhuyin): ㄑㄧㄥ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

  (Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): qin¹ min²

• Cantonese (Jyutping): cing¹ ming⁴
• Hakka (Sixian, PFS): chhîn-mìn
• Puxian Min (Pouseng Ping'ing): cing¹ ming²
• Southern Min

  (Hokkien, POJ): chheng-bêng

  (Teochew, Peng'im): cêng¹ mêng⁵

• Wu (Northern, Wugniu): ¹chin-min₆ / ¹chin-min₂

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: qīngmíng
    • Zhuyin: ㄑㄧㄥ ㄇㄧㄥˊ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: cingmíng
    • Wade–Giles: chʻing¹-ming²
    • Yale: chīng-míng
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: chingming
    • Palladius: цинмин (cinmin)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵/
  • (Chengdu)
    • Sichuanese Pinyin: qin¹ min²
    • Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: kinmin
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵ min²¹/
• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)⁺
    • Jyutping: cing¹ ming⁴
    • Yale: chīng mìhng
    • Cantonese Pinyin: tsing¹ ming⁴
    • Guangdong Romanization: qing¹ ming⁴
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹/
• Hakka
  • (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
    • Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: chhîn-mìn
    • Hakka Romanization System: qin^ˊ min^ˇ
    • Hagfa Pinyim: qin¹ min²
    • Sinological IPA: /t͡sʰin²⁴ min¹¹/
• Puxian Min
  • (Putian, Xianyou)
    • Pouseng Ping'ing: cing¹ ming² [Phonetic: cing⁵ ming²]
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡sʰiŋ⁵³³⁻²¹ miŋ¹³/
• Southern Min
  • (Hokkien)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: chheng-bêng
    • Tâi-lô: tshing-bîng
    • Phofsit Daibuun: zhengbeeng
    • IPA (Xiamen): /t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² biɪŋ²⁴/
    • IPA (Quanzhou): /t͡sʰiɪŋ³³ biɪŋ²⁴/
    • IPA (Zhangzhou): /t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² biɪŋ¹³/
    • IPA (Taipei): /t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ biɪŋ²⁴/
    • IPA (Kaohsiung): /t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ biɪŋ²³/
  • (Teochew)
    • Peng'im: cêng¹ mêng⁵
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: tsheng mêng
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡sʰeŋ³³⁻²³ meŋ⁵⁵/
• Wu
  • (Northern: Shanghai)
    • Wugniu: ¹chin-min₆
    • MiniDict: chin^平 min^去
    • Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): ¹qin-min₃
    • Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵ min²¹/
  • (Northern: Jiaxing)
    • Wugniu: ¹chin-min₂
    • MiniDict: chin^平 min^平
    • Sinological IPA (Jiaxing): /t͡ɕʰin⁴⁴ min³¹/

Adjective

清明

1. clear and bright
2. sober and calm; (of a patient's mind) clear
3. (of a government or administration) well-ordered
4. peaceful (times)

Synonyms

• (well-ordered): (literary) 道明 (dàomíng)

Derived terms

• 清明河 (Qīngmínghé)
• 神志清明

Pronunciation 2

• Mandarin

  (Standard)

  (Pinyin): Qīngmíng

  (Zhuyin): ㄑㄧㄥ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

  (Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): Qin¹ min²

• Cantonese (Jyutping): cing¹ ming^4-2 / cing¹ ming⁴
• Gan (Wiktionary): qin¹ min
• Hakka

  (Sixian, PFS): Chhiâng-miàng / Chhîn-mìn

  (Hailu, HRS): ciang^ˋ miang

  (Meixian, Guangdong): qin¹ min²

• Jin (Wiktionary): qing¹ ming¹
• Northern Min (KCR): Chéng-mêng
• Eastern Min (BUC): Chĭng-mìng
• Puxian Min (Pouseng Ping'ing): cia¹ mia² / ciaⁿ¹ mia²
• Southern Min

  (Hokkien, POJ): Chheng-bêng / Chhiⁿ-miâ / Chhuiⁿ-miâ / Chheⁿ-miâ

  (Teochew, Peng'im): cêng¹ mêng⁵

• Wu (Northern, Wugniu): ¹chin-min₆ / ¹chin-min₂
• Xiang (Changsha, Wiktionary): cin¹ min²

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: Qīngmíng
    • Zhuyin: ㄑㄧㄥ ㄇㄧㄥˊ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: Cingmíng
    • Wade–Giles: Chʻing¹-ming²
    • Yale: Chīng-míng
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: Chingming
    • Palladius: Цинмин (Cinmin)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵/
  • (Chengdu)
    • Sichuanese Pinyin: Qin¹ min²
    • Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: Kinmin
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵ min²¹/
• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)⁺
    • Jyutping: cing¹ ming^4-2 / cing¹ ming⁴
    • Yale: chīng míng / chīng mìhng
    • Cantonese Pinyin: tsing¹ ming^4-2 / tsing¹ ming⁴
    • Guangdong Romanization: qing¹ ming^4-2 / qing¹ ming⁴
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹⁻³⁵/, /t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹/
• Gan
  • (Nanchang)
    • Wiktionary: qin¹ min
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡ɕʰin⁴² min²/
• Hakka
  • (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
    • Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: Chhiâng-miàng / Chhîn-mìn
    • Hakka Romanization System: qiang^ˊ miang^ˇ / qin^ˊ min^ˇ
    • Hagfa Pinyim: qiang¹ miang² / qin¹ min²
    • Sinological IPA: /t͡sʰi̯aŋ²⁴ mi̯aŋ¹¹/, /t͡sʰin²⁴ min¹¹/
  • (Hailu, incl. Zhudong)
    • Hakka Romanization System: ciang^ˋ miang
    • Sinological IPA: /t͡sʰiaŋ⁵³ miaŋ⁵⁵/
  • (Meixian)
    • Guangdong: qin¹ min²
    • Sinological IPA: /t͡sʰin⁴⁴⁻³⁵ min¹¹/
• Jin
  • (Taiyuan)⁺
    • Wiktionary: qing¹ ming¹
    • Sinological IPA (old-style): /t͡ɕʰiŋ¹¹ miŋ¹¹/
• Northern Min
  • (Jian'ou)
    • Kienning Colloquial Romanized: Chéng-mêng
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡sʰeiŋ⁵⁴ meiŋ³³/
• Eastern Min
  • (Fuzhou)
    • Bàng-uâ-cê: Chĭng-mìng
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡sʰiŋ⁵⁵ miŋ⁵³/
• Puxian Min
  • (Putian)
    • Pouseng Ping'ing: cia¹ mia² [Phonetic: cia⁵ mia²]
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡sʰia⁵³³⁻²¹ mia¹³/
  • (Xianyou)
    • Pouseng Ping'ing: ciaⁿ¹ mia² [Phonetic: ciaⁿ⁵ mia²]
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡sʰĩã⁵³³⁻²¹ mia¹³/
• Southern Min
  • (Hokkien: Xiamen, Kaohsiung, Yilan, Tainan, Taichung)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Chheng-bêng
    • Tâi-lô: Tshing-bîng
    • Phofsit Daibuun: zhengbeeng
    • IPA (Xiamen): /t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² biɪŋ²⁴/
    • IPA (Yilan, Tainan): /t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ biɪŋ²⁴/
    • IPA (Kaohsiung): /t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ biɪŋ²³/
  • (Hokkien: Xiamen, Taipei, Sanxia, Kinmen, Magong, Hsinchu)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Chhiⁿ-miâ
    • Tâi-lô: Tshinn-miâ
    • Phofsit Daibuun: chvimiaa
    • IPA (Taipei): /t͡sʰĩ⁴⁴⁻³³ miã²⁴/
    • IPA (Xiamen, Kinmen): /t͡sʰĩ⁴⁴⁻²² miã²⁴/
  • (Hokkien: Quanzhou, Jinjiang, Philippines, Lukang)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Chhuiⁿ-miâ
    • Tâi-lô: Tshuinn-miâ
    • Phofsit Daibuun: zhvuimiaa
    • IPA (Quanzhou, Jinjiang, Lukang): /t͡sʰuĩ³³ miã²⁴/
    • IPA (Philippines): /t͡sʰuĩ³³ mia²⁴/
  • (Hokkien: Zhangzhou)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Chheⁿ-miâ
    • Tâi-lô: Tshenn-miâ
    • Phofsit Daibuun: zhvemiaa
    • IPA (Zhangzhou): /t͡sʰɛ̃⁴⁴⁻²² miã¹³/
  • (Teochew)
    • Peng'im: cêng¹ mêng⁵
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: tsheng mêng
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡sʰeŋ³³⁻²³ meŋ⁵⁵/
• Wu
  • (Northern: Shanghai)
    • Wugniu: ¹chin-min₆
    • MiniDict: chin^平 min^去
    • Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): ¹qin-min₃
    • Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵ min²¹/
  • (Northern: Jiaxing)
    • Wugniu: ¹chin-min₂
    • MiniDict: chin^平 min^平
    • Sinological IPA (Jiaxing): /t͡ɕʰin⁴⁴ min³¹/
• Xiang
  • (Changsha)
    • Wiktionary: cin¹ min²
    • Sinological IPA ^(key) (old-style): /t͡sʰin³³ min¹³/
    • Sinological IPA ^(key) (new-style): /t͡ɕʰin³³ min¹³/

Proper noun

清明

1. Qingming (fifth of the 24 solar terms in the Chinese calendar, occurring from April 4 or 5 to 18 or 19)
2. (～節) Tomb Sweeping Day (annual Chinese festival observed on the first day of Qingming)
3. (～村) Qingming (a village in Wanquan, Honghu, Jingzhou, Hubei, China)

Synonyms

• (Tomb Sweeping Day): 清明節／清明节 (Qīngmíngjié), 掃墳節／扫坟节 (Sǎofénjié); 掃墓節／扫墓节 (Sǎomùjié); (Hokkien) 三日節／三日节, 三月節／三月节

Derived terms

• 清明前後北風起，百日可見風颱雨 / 清明前后北风起，百日可见风台雨
• 清明明，好收成，穀雨雨，夏收好 / 清明明，好收成，谷雨雨，夏收好
• 清明毋播播穀雨，收成無夠飼老鼠 / 清明毋播播谷雨，收成无够饲老鼠
• 清明無轉厝無祖，過年無轉厝無某 / 清明无转厝无祖，过年无转厝无某
• 清明燥
• 清明田，穀雨豆 / 清明田，谷雨豆
• 清明穀雨，寒死老鼠 / 清明谷雨，寒死老鼠
• 清明穀雨，寒死虎母 / 清明谷雨，寒死虎母
• 清明菜
• 清明蒜，無人問 / 清明蒜，无人问
• 清明龜 / 清明龟

Descendants

Sino-Xenic (清明):

• → Japanese: 清明(せいめい) (Seimei)
• → Okinawan: 清明(しーみー) (Shīmī)
• → Korean: 청명(淸明) (Cheongmyeong)
• → Vietnamese: Thanh minh (清明)

Others:

• → Indonesian: cengbeng
• → Thai: เชงเม้ง (cheng-méng), เช็งเม้ง (cheng-méng)
• → Zhuang: Cingmingz

See also

• 二十四節氣／二十四节气 (Èrshísì Jiéqì, “The twenty-four solar terms”):
  • Spring: 立春 (Lìchūn)、雨水 (yǔshuǐ)、驚蟄／惊蛰 (Jīngzhé)、春分 (Chūnfēn)、清明 (qīngmíng)、穀雨／谷雨 (Gǔyǔ)
  • Summer: 立夏 (Lìxià)、小滿／小满 (Xiǎomǎn)、芒種／芒种 (mángzhòng)、夏至 (xiàzhì)、小暑 (Xiǎoshǔ)、大暑 (Dàshǔ)
  • Autumn: 立秋 (Lìqiū)、處暑／处暑 (Chǔshǔ)、白露 (báilù)、秋分 (Qiūfēn)、寒露 (Hánlù)、霜降 (Shuāngjiàng)
  • Winter: 立冬 (Lìdōng)、小雪 (xiǎoxuě)、大雪 (dàxuě)、冬至 (dōngzhì)、小寒 (Xiǎohán)、大寒 (Dàhán)

References

• “Entry #20344”, in 教育部臺灣台語常用詞辭典 [Dictionary of Frequently-Used Taiwanese Taigi] (overall work in Mandarin and Hokkien), Ministry of Education, R.O.C., 2025.
• 小川尚義 (OGAWA Naoyoshi), editor (1931–1932), “清明”, in 臺日大辭典 [Taiwanese-Japanese Dictionary]‎^[2] (overall work in Hokkien and Japanese), Taihoku: Government-General of Taiwan, →OCLC
• “Entry #3339”, in 臺灣客語辭典 [Dictionary of Taiwan Hakka] (overall work in Chinese and Hakka), Ministry of Education, R.O.C., 2022.

Japanese

Kanji in this term
清	明
せい Grade: 4	めい Grade: 2
on'yomi

Alternative spelling
淸明 (kyūjitai)

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) せーめー [sèéméé] (Heiban – [0])
• IPA^(key): [se̞ːme̞ː]

Proper noun

清(せい)明(めい) • (Seimei) 

1. Qingming ("Pure Brightness"), the fifth of the 24 solar terms in the Chinese lunisolar calendar, occurring from the 4th or 5th of April until the 18th or 19th

See also

• 二(に)十(じゅう)四(し)節(せっ)気(き) (Nijūshi Sekki, “The twenty-four solar terms”):
  • Spring: 立(りっ)春(しゅん) (Risshun), 雨(う)水(すい) (Usui), 啓(けい)蟄(ちつ) (Keichitsu), 春(しゅん)分(ぶん) (Shunbun), 清(せい)明(めい) (Seimei), 穀(こく)雨(う) (Kokuu)
  • Summer: 立(りっ)夏(か) (Rikka), 小(しょう)満(まん) (Shōman), 芒(ぼう)種(しゅ) (Bōshu), 夏(げ)至(し) (Geshi), 小(しょう)暑(しょ) (Shōsho), 大(たい)暑(しょ) (Taisho)
  • Autumn: 立(りっ)秋(しゅう) (Risshū), 処(しょ)暑(しょ) (Shosho), 白(はく)露(ろ) (Hakuro), 秋(しゅう)分(ぶん) (Shūbun), 寒(かん)露(ろ) (Kanro), 霜(そう)降(こう) (Sōkō)
  • Winter: 立(りっ)冬(とう) (Rittō), 小(しょう)雪(せつ) (Shōsetsu), 大雪(たいせつ) (Taisetsu), 冬(とう)至(じ) (Tōji), 小(しょう)寒(かん) (Shōkan), 大寒(だいかん) (Daikan)

Okinawan

Kanji in this term
清	明
しー Grade: 4	みー Grade: 2
on'yomi

Alternative spelling
淸明 (kyūjitai)

Proper noun

清(しー)明(みー) (Shīmī) 

1. Qingming ("Pure Brightness"), the fifth of the 24 solar terms in the Chinese lunisolar calendar, occurring from the 4th or 5th of April until the 18th or 19th

Vietnamese

chữ Hán Nôm in this term
清	明

Proper noun

清明

1. chữ Hán form of Thanh minh (“Qingming”).

See also

• Hai mươi tư tiết khí (𠄩𨒒四節氣, “The twenty-four solar terms”):
  • Spring: Lập xuân (立春)、Vũ thủy (雨水)、Kinh trập (驚蟄)、Xuân phân (春分)、Thanh minh (清明)、Cốc vũ (穀雨)
  • Summer: Lập hạ (立夏)、Tiểu mãn (小滿)、Mang chủng (芒種)、Hạ chí (夏至)、Tiểu thử (小暑)、Đại thử (大暑)
  • Autumn: Lập thu (立秋)、Xử thử (處暑)、Bạch lộ (白露)、Thu phân (秋分)、Hàn lộ (寒露)、Sương giáng (霜降)
  • Winter: Lập đông (立冬)、Tiểu tuyết (小雪)、Đại tuyết (大雪)、Đông chí (冬至)、Tiểu hàn (小寒)、Đại hàn (大寒)