Definition
春秋 (chūn qiū) literally means 'spring and autumn', but it's also a common classical metaphor for 'the years of one's life' (age) or 'a year' in general. In historical contexts it refers specifically to the Spring and Autumn period (c. 770–476 BCE) or the Confucian classic <em>Spring and Autumn Annals</em>. The seasonal reading is the most concrete; the temporal extensions require cultural familiarity.
n.
spring and autumn (the two seasons, often standing for the year as a whole)year (age of a person)the Spring and Autumn period (c. 770–476 BCE) or the <em>Spring and Autumn Annals</em>
Examples
- 春秋，。Yéye suī yǐ bāshíliù chūn qiū, réngrán měitiān dúshū xiězì.Although Grandpa is already eighty-six years old, he still reads and writes every day.
- 春秋，，。chūn qiū shíqī, zhūhóu zhēngbà, bǎijiā zhēngmíng.During the Spring and Autumn period, feudal lords vied for hegemony and a hundred schools of thought contended.
- ，春秋。Cǐchù fēngjǐng yōuměi, chūn qiū liǎng jì zuì wéi yírén.The scenery here is beautiful; spring and autumn are the most pleasant seasons.
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