# 清明
## Chinese
### 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): qin$^1$ min$^2$
* Cantonese (Jyutping): cing$^1$ ming$^4$
* Hakka (Sixian, PFS): chhîn-mìn
* Puxian Min (Pouseng Ping'ing): cing$^1$ ming$^2$
* Southern Min
    (Hokkien, POJ): chheng-bêng
    (Teochew, Peng'im): cêng$^1$ mêng$^5$
* Wu (Northern, Wugniu): $^1$chin-min$_6$ / $^1$chin-min$_2$
* Mandarin
** (Standard Chinese)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: qīngmíng
*** Zhuyin: ㄑㄧㄥ ㄇㄧㄥˊ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: cingmíng
*** Wade–Giles: chʻing$^1$-ming$^2$
*** Yale: chīng-míng
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: chingming
*** Palladius: цинмин (cinmin)
*** Sinological IPA : /t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵/
** (Chengdu)
*** Sichuanese Pinyin: qin$^1$ min$^2$
*** Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: kinmin
*** Sinological IPA : /t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵ min²¹/
* Cantonese
** (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
*** Jyutping: cing$^1$ ming$^4$
*** Yale: chīng mìhng
*** Cantonese Pinyin: tsing$^1$ ming$^4$
*** Guangdong Romanization: qing$^1$ ming$^4$
*** Sinological IPA : /t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹/
* Hakka
** (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
*** Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: chhîn-mìn
*** Hakka Romanization System: qin$^ˊ$ min$^ˇ$
*** Hagfa Pinyim: qin$^1$ min$^2$
*** Sinological IPA: /t͡sʰin²⁴ min¹¹/
* Puxian Min
** (Putian, Xianyou)
*** Pouseng Ping'ing: cing$^1$ ming$^2$ [Phonetic: cing$^5$ ming$^2$]
*** Báⁿ-uā-ci̍: ching-míng
*** Sinological IPA : /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: cêng$^1$ mêng$^5$
*** Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: tsheng mêng
*** Sinological IPA : /t͡sʰeŋ³³⁻²³ meŋ⁵⁵/
* Wu
** (Northern: Shanghai)
*** Wugniu: $^1$chin-min$_6$
*** MiniDict: chin$^平$ min$^去$
*** Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): $^1$qin-min$_3$
*** Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵ min²¹/
** (Northern: Jiaxing)
*** Wugniu: $^1$chin-min$_2$
*** MiniDict: chin$^平$ min$^平$
*** Sinological IPA (Jiaxing): /t͡ɕʰin⁴⁴ min³¹/

#### Adjective

清明
* clear and bright
* sober and calm; (of a patient's mind) clear
* (of a government or administration) well-ordered
* peaceful (times)

##### Synonyms

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

##### Derived terms

* 清明河 (Qīngmínghé)
* 神志清明

### Pronunciation 2

* 清明 (Written Standard Chinese)
* 清明 (Cantonese)
* Chhîn-mìn (Hakka)
* Chĭng-mìng (Eastern Min)
* Chheng-bêng (Southern Min)
* 清明 (Wu)
* Mandarin
    (Standard)
       (Pinyin): Qīngmíng
       (Zhuyin): ㄑㄧㄥ ㄇㄧㄥˊ
    (Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): Qin$^1$ min$^2$
* Cantonese (Jyutping): cing$^1$ ming$^{4-2}$ / cing$^1$ ming$^4$
* Gan (Wiktionary): qin$^1$ min
* Hakka
    (Sixian, PFS): Chhiâng-miàng / Chhîn-mìn
    (Hailu, HRS): ciang$^ˋ$ miang
    (Meixian, Guangdong): qin$^1$ min$^2$
* Jin (Wiktionary): qing$^1$ ming$^1$
* Northern Min (KCR): Chéng-mêng
* Eastern Min (BUC): Chĭng-mìng
* Puxian Min (Pouseng Ping'ing): cia$^1$ mia$^2$ / ciaⁿ$^1$ mia$^2$
* Southern Min
    (Hokkien, POJ): Chhiⁿ-miâ / Chhuiⁿ-miâ / Chheⁿ-miâ / Chheng-bêng
    (Teochew, Peng'im): cêng$^1$ mêng$^5$
* Wu (Northern, Wugniu): $^1$chin-min$_6$ / $^1$chin-min$_2$
* Xiang (Changsha, Wiktionary): cin$^1$ min$^2$
* Mandarin
** (Standard Chinese)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: Qīngmíng
*** Zhuyin: ㄑㄧㄥ ㄇㄧㄥˊ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: Cingmíng
*** Wade–Giles: Chʻing$^1$-ming$^2$
*** Yale: Chīng-míng
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: Chingming
*** Palladius: Цинмин (Cinmin)
*** Sinological IPA : /t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵/
** (Chengdu)
*** Sichuanese Pinyin: Qin$^1$ min$^2$
*** Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: Kinmin
*** Sinological IPA : /t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵ min²¹/
* Cantonese
** (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
*** Jyutping: cing$^1$ ming$^{4-2}$ / cing$^1$ ming$^4$
*** Yale: chīng míng / chīng mìhng
*** Cantonese Pinyin: tsing$^1$ ming$^{4-2}$ / tsing$^1$ ming$^4$
*** Guangdong Romanization: qing$^1$ ming$^{4-2}$ / qing$^1$ ming$^4$
*** Sinological IPA : /t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹⁻³⁵/, /t͡sʰɪŋ⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹/
* Gan
** (Nanchang)
*** Wiktionary: qin$^1$ min
*** Sinological IPA : /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: qiang$^1$ miang$^2$ / qin$^1$ min$^2$
*** Sinological IPA: /t͡sʰi̯aŋ²⁴ mi̯aŋ¹¹/, /t͡sʰin²⁴ min¹¹/
** (Hailu, incl. Zhudong)
*** Hakka Romanization System: ciang$^ˋ$ miang
*** Sinological IPA: /t͡sʰiaŋ⁵³ miaŋ⁵⁵/
** (Meixian)
*** Guangdong: qin$^1$ min$^2$
*** Sinological IPA: /t͡sʰin⁴⁴⁻³⁵ min¹¹/
* Jin
** (Taiyuan)
*** Wiktionary: qing$^1$ ming$^1$
*** Sinological IPA (old-style): /t͡ɕʰiŋ¹¹ miŋ¹¹/
* Northern Min
** (Jian'ou)
*** Kienning Colloquial Romanized: Chéng-mêng
*** Sinological IPA : /t͡sʰeiŋ⁵⁴ meiŋ³³/
* Eastern Min
** (Fuzhou)
*** Bàng-uâ-cê: Chĭng-mìng
*** Sinological IPA : /t͡sʰiŋ⁵⁵ miŋ⁵³/
* Puxian Min
** (Putian)
*** Pouseng Ping'ing: cia$^1$ mia$^2$ [Phonetic: cia$^5$ mia$^2$]
*** Báⁿ-uā-ci̍: chiaⁿ-miá
*** Sinological IPA : /t͡sʰia⁵³³⁻²¹ mia¹³/
** (Xianyou)
*** Pouseng Ping'ing: ciaⁿ$^1$ mia$^2$ [Phonetic: ciaⁿ$^5$ mia$^2$]
*** Sinological IPA : /t͡sʰĩã⁵³³⁻²¹ mia¹³/
* Southern Min
** (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/
** (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/
* Chhiⁿ-miâ/Chhuiⁿ-miâ/Chheⁿ-miâ - vernacular;
* Chheng-bêng - literary.

#### Proper noun

清明
* Qingming (fifth of the 24 solar terms in the Chinese calendar, occurring from April 4 or 5 to 18 or 19)
* (～節) Tomb Sweeping Day (annual Chinese festival observed on the first day of Qingming)
* (～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

* → 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

* “清明”, 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]‎ (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: [se̞ːme̞ː]

### Proper noun

清(せい)明(めい) • (Seimei)
* 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)

### References

* ↑ Yamada, Tadao et al., editors (2011), 新明解国語辞典 [Shin Meikai Kokugo Jiten] (in Japanese), Seventh edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN
* ↑ Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN
* ↑ NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute, editor (1998), NHK日本語発音アクセント辞典 [NHK Japanese Pronunciation Accent Dictionary] (in Japanese), Tokyo: NHK Publishing, Inc., →ISBN
* ↑ “清明”, in 日本国語大辞典 [Nihon Kokugo Daijiten]‎ (in Japanese), 2nd edition, Tokyo: Shogakukan, 2000-2002, released online 2007, →ISBN, concise edition entry available here

## 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)
* 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
* 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)