小寒，二十四节气中的第二十三个节气，意味着开始进入一年中最寒冷的时期。寒风凛冽刺骨。梅花悄然吐蕾绽放，在冰雪中傲然屹立。夜幕降临，星辰闪烁，月光皎洁，小寒的夜空下，万物沉睡，静待春的唤醒。
Minor Cold, the twenty-third of the 24 solar terms, marks the approach of the coldest period of the year. The cold wind chills to the bone. Plum blossoms quietly bud and bloom, standing proudly amid the snow and ice.
As night falls, stars twinkle and the moon shines brightly. Under the cold night sky of Minor Cold, all things sleep, waiting silently for the awakening of spring.
1. approach [ə'prəʊtʃ] v. 靠近；接近；临近n. 途径；方法（专升本词汇）
例句：Many kinds of birds fly south at the approach of winter.
很多鸟在冬天来临之际飞向南方。
Michael is always very logical in his approach.
迈克尔的处事方法一贯非常合情合理。
——《剑桥英语词典》
2. proudly ['praʊdli] adv. 自豪地（专升本词汇proud的变形）
例句：He proudly held out his trophy for us to admire.
他自豪地拿出他的奖杯让我们观赏。
——《剑桥英语词典》
寒风中，节日的气息悄然弥漫。人们忙着置办年货，写春联、挂窗花、张贴年画、买鞭炮等，迎接即将到来的春节，满怀对新的一年的憧憬和家人团聚的期盼。
In the cold wind, the festive atmosphere quietly spreads. People are busy preparing for the Chinese New Year, writing Spring Festival couplets, decorating windows with paper-cuts, putting up New Year pictures and buying fireworks.
They're eagerly awaiting the upcoming festival, filled with anticipation for the new year and a longing for family reunions.
3. atmosphere ['ætməsfɪə(r)] n. 大气; 氛围（专升本词汇）
例句：A few plants in an office will improve the atmosphere.
在办公室里摆些植物可以改善空气。
There's a very relaxed atmosphere in our office.
我们办公室的气氛非常轻松。——《剑桥英语词典》
4. couplet ['kʌplət] n. 对句；对联
例句：Look at the antithetical couplet on both sides of the doorway.
你看这对门口的对联。——《剑桥英语词典》
5. eagerly ['i：gəlɪ] adv. 热切地，殷切地（专升本词汇eager的变形）
例句：When the opportunity to form a new theatre with those artists presented itself, I accepted it eagerly.
当有机会与这些艺术家一起组团演出时，我殷切地接受了。——《剑桥英语词典》
6. longing['lɒŋɪŋ] n. 渴望；憧憬
例句：He gazed at her, his eyes full of longing.
他凝视着她，眼里充满了渴望。——《剑桥英语词典》
小寒与腊八节相近。每年农历腊月初八，家家户户围坐一桌，品尝热气腾腾的腊八粥。粥里的大米、红枣、花生和莲子等食材交织成一片温暖的味道，象征着团圆、吉祥，更蕴含着养生与祈福的双重意义。
Laba Festival, the eighth day of the 12th month on the Chinese calendar, is often around Minor Cold. Every year, Chinese families gather at the table to enjoy steaming Laba porridge on that day.
Rice, red dates, peanuts and lotus seeds, blend together to create a warm, comforting flavor, symbolizing reunion and good fortune, while also carrying the dual significance of health and blessings.
7. symbolize ['sɪmbəlaɪz] v. 象征；代表
例句：They symbolize immortality and longevity.
它们象征着不朽和长寿。——《剑桥英语词典》
8. significance [sɪɡ'nɪfɪkəns] n. 重要性；重要意义
例句：Few people realized the significance of the discovery.
很少有人意识到这一发现的重要性.
——《剑桥英语词典》
小寒是进补的好时机，宜适食用羊肉等具有温补作用的食物，并搭配大白菜、萝卜等蔬菜，有助于增强体质，抵御寒冷。
Minor Cold is an excellent time for replenishment. It is advisable to eat nourishing foods such as lamb, and pair them with vegetables like Chinese cabbage and radishes, which help strengthen the body and resist the cold.
9. advisable [əd'vaɪzəbl] adj. 明智的；可取的（专升本词汇）
例句：A certain amount of caution is advisable at this point.
此刻保持适度谨慎是明智的。——《剑桥英语词典》
10. strengthen ['streŋθn] v. 加强；巩固
例句：We will strengthen the protection of wet land.
我们将加强湿地保护。——《剑桥英语词典》
涮羊肉火锅、糖炒栗子和烤红薯，都是冬日里不可或缺的美味，温暖着人们的心与胃。外出时要注意保暖，平时可进行适度的运动锻炼，增强免疫力，保持身体健康。
Hot pot with lamb, sugar-roasted chestnuts, and roasted sweet potatoes are all essential winter treats, warming both the heart and the stomach. It is important to keep warm when you go out, and regular moderate exercise can help boost immunity and maintain overall health.
11. essential [ɪ'senʃl] adj. 本质的；必不可少的（专升本词汇）
例句：Water is essential for/to living things.
水对于生物来说是必不可少的。
——《剑桥英语词典》
尽管小寒象征严冬，但春意正在萌动，如大雁北迁，喜鹊筑巢，野鸡鸣叫。二十四节气中只有白露和小寒是完全以鸟类作为物候标识，古人认为鸟类能最先感知自然界的阴阳之气变化。
Although Minor Cold symbolizes the cold winter, signs of spring are already emerging. For example, wild geese migrate to the north, magpies start to build their nests, and pheasants start to tweet loudly.
Among the 24 solar terms, only White Dew and Minor Cold are marked as being bird-related in phenology. Ancient Chinese believed that birds were the first to sense the flows of the energy of yin and yang.
12. migrate [maɪˈɡreɪt] v. 迁徙；移栖
例句：These animals migrate annually in search of food.
这些动物为寻找食物每年都迁徙。
——《剑桥英语词典》
