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0Summer is here — and in China, the hottest time of the year has a special name: 三伏天 (sān fú tiān) . In this episode, host Daisy takes you through everything you need to know about China’s “dog days” — from what 三伏天 actually means, to how the dates are calculated each year, to traditional foods, the famous 三伏贴 (sān fú tiē) therapy, and even some fun 顺口溜 (rhymes) to practice your pronunciation.
You’ll learn:
What 三伏天 means and why it’s called the “dog days” in English 🐶
How the dates are calculated — and why 2026 has a 40‑day “extended” 三伏天
Traditional northern Chinese eating habits: dumplings, noodles, and Chinese style pancakes
The TCM practice of 冬病夏治 (winter illnesses, summer treatment) and 三伏贴
Three catchy 顺口溜 to practice and impress your Chinese friends
This episode is perfect for Mandarin learners who want to learn practical vocabulary, understand seasonal Chinese culture, and practice listening with clear, natural Chinese.
If you’re interested in an intensive class in Hangzhou, a summer camp in Hangzhou, or HSK preparation in Hangzhou, Chinese Surfing’s summer program is now open for registration!
🎧 Timestamps & Key Takeaways
– Opening: What is 三伏天?
Daisy introduces the topic — the hottest, most humid days of the year in China. In English, it’s called “dog days.”
📖 Keywords: 三伏天 (sān fú tiān), dog days
– When is 三伏天 in 2026?
入伏 (rù fú) – the first day of 三伏天: July 15, 2026
初伏 (chū fú): July 15 – July 24 (10 days)
中伏 (zhōng fú): July 25 – August 13 (20 days)
末伏 (mò fú): August 14 – August 23 (10 days)
Total: 40 days — an “extended version” of 三伏天. 中伏 overlaps with 大暑 (Great Heat), the hottest solar term of the year.
📖 Keywords: 入伏 (rù fú), 初伏 (chū fú), 中伏 (zhōng fú), 末伏 (mò fú), 大暑 (dà shǔ)
Why do the dates change every year?
三伏天 is calculated using the traditional 干支纪日法 (Gānzhī calendar) and the 24 solar terms. 初伏 starts on the 3rd 庚日 (Gēng day) after 夏至 (Summer Solstice), and 末伏 starts on the 1st 庚日 after 立秋 (Start of Autumn). 初伏 and 末伏 are always 10 days, but 中伏 can be 10 or 20 days — making the whole 三伏天 either 30 or 40 days long.
– 头伏饺子二伏面，三伏烙饼摊鸡蛋
This northern Chinese saying tells you what to eat during each phase:
头伏饺子 (dumplings) – appetizing and satisfying, shaped like ancient gold ingots (元宝) for good luck
二伏面 (noodles) – hot noodles make you sweat, which helps release dampness from the body
三伏烙饼摊鸡蛋 (pancakes with eggs) – nutritious and energy‑rich
📖 Keywords: 饺子 (jiǎozi), 面条 (miàntiáo), 烙饼 (làobǐng), 开胃 (kāiwèi), 解馋 (jiěchán)
– 三伏贴: TCM’s “Winter Illness, Summer Treatment”
三伏贴 (sān fú tiē) is a TCM therapy: small herbal patches placed on specific 穴位 (acupuncture points) during the hottest days.
The theory behind it: 冬病夏治 (dōng bìng xià zhì) — treat winter illnesses in summer when the body’s 阳气 (yáng qì) is at its peak.
Common conditions treated: chronic cough, allergic rhinitis, asthma, joint pain.
Usually applied once per 伏, 6–8 hours each time. Many people do this for 3 consecutive years for best results.
📖 Keywords: 三伏贴 (sān fú tiē), 冬病夏治 (dōng bìng xià zhì), 穴位 (xuéwèi), 阳气 (yáng qì), 抵抗力 (dǐkàng lì)
– Three 顺口溜 to practice
顺口溜 (shùn kǒu liū) are catchy, rhyming phrases that are fun and easy to remember. Daisy shares three:
① How hot is it?
一伏热，二伏燥，三伏烤，夏日炎炎真难熬！
(First 伏 is hot, second is dry, third is roasting — summer heat is really hard to bear!)
② What to eat
一伏吃冰棒，二伏喝绿豆汤，三伏啃西瓜，消暑降温好方法！
(First 伏 eat popsicles, second drink mung bean soup, third eat watermelon — great ways to cool down!)
③ Sweating like crazy
一伏汗如雨，二伏汗如瀑，三伏汗如海，泳池边成了最热闹的场所！
(First 伏 sweat like rain, second like a waterfall, third like the sea — the pool becomes the busiest place!)
📖 Keywords: 顺口溜 (shùn kǒu liū), 押韵 (yā yùn), 比喻 (bǐ yù), 夸张 (kuā zhāng)
E-mail Daisy to get Useful Vocabulary from this episode (by HSK Level) 📖
daisy@chinese-surfing.com
💬 Join the Conversation
What do you call the hottest days of summer in your language/country?
Have you ever tried 三伏贴 or any other TCM therapy?
Which 顺口溜 was your favorite? Can you repeat it?
Leave a comment on your podcast platform or share your thoughts in your Chinese learning group!
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📜 Want the full PDF script of this episode?
📧 Email: daisy@chinese-surfing.com
