Simple English Guide to Common Words and Phrases for the Mid-Autumn Festival

The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the most important traditional holidays in China. Just like a mooncake filled with delicious flavors, the language people use during this festival is full of feelings about family, good wishes, and missing loved ones. Whether greeting each other or sending messages, these popular words and phrases carry warm cultural meanings that have lasted for thousands of years.

Key Festival Words

月饼(yuè bǐng),mooncake : The most famous food of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Common phrases: "吃月饼(chī yuè bǐng)" ,"送月饼(sòng yuè bǐng)"

Example sentences:

1. Did you eat mooncakes for the Mid-Autumn Festival?
   你中秋节吃月饼了吗？
   nǐ zhōng qiū jié chī yuè bǐng le ma？
2. What flavor of mooncake do you like best?
   什么味的月饼好吃
   shén me wèi de yuè bǐng hǎo chī？
3. Mooncakes with rose filling are so tasty!
   玫瑰馅料的月饼可好吃了！
   méi guī xiàn liào de yuè bǐng kě hǎo chī le！

月亮(yuè liang), moon: The symbol of the festival.

Common phrase: "赏月(shǎng yuè)"

Example sentences:

1. The moon is really round tonight.
   今晚的月亮真圆。
   jīn wǎn de yuè liang zhēn yuán。
2. The moon is even rounder on the sixteenth day of the lunar month.
   十五的月亮十六圆。
   shí wǔ de yuè liang shí liù yuán。
3. Let’s admire the moon together!
   我们一起赏月吧！
   wǒ men yī qǐ shǎng yuè ba！

团圆/团聚(tuán yuán / tuán jù), reunion/togetherness: The main spirit of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Common phrase: "团团圆圆（tuán tuán yuán yuán)"

Example sentences:

1. It’s important for families to be together and happy.
   一家人就是要团团圆圆，和和美美的。
   yī jiā rén jiù shì yào tuán tuán yuán yuán，hé hé měi měi de。
2. Being with family during the Mid-Autumn Festival makes me feel lucky.
   中秋跟家人团聚是很幸福的事。
   zhōng qiū gēn jiā rén tuán jù shì hěn xìng fú de shì。

Popular Mid-Autumn Festival Greetings

"Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!"
“中秋快乐！”
"zhōng qiū kuài lè!"

"Wishing you a happy family reunion this Mid-Autumn!"
"中秋团圆！"
"zhōng qiū tuán yuán!"

"Hope you and your family have a joyful and united Mid-Autumn Festival!"
"祝你和家人中秋团圆幸福！"
"zhù nǐ hé jiā rén zhōng qiū tuán yuán xìng fú！"

"Let’s admire the moon and eat mooncakes together tonight!"
"今晚一起赏月吃月饼呀!"
"jīn wǎn yī qǐ shǎng yuè chī yuè bǐng ya!"

"Are you going home for the Mid-Autumn Festival?"
"中秋回家过节吗？"
"zhōng qiū huí jiā guò jié ma?"

Example Conversations

Before the festival

A: "The Mid-Autumn Festival is coming. Are you going home for the holiday?"  
     "中秋节快到了，你回家过节吗？"
     "zhōng qiū jié kuài dào le，nǐ huí jiā guò jié ma？"

B: "Yes! I can finally be with my family this year. What about you?"  
    "回啊！今年终于能团圆了。你呢？"
    "huí a！jīn nián zhōng yú néng tuán yuán le。nǐ ne？"

A: "I can’t go back. I’ll have to make a video call. Holidays always make me miss home more."
     "我回不去，只能打个视频电话了，每逢佳节倍思亲啊。"
     "wǒ huí bù qù，zhǐ néng dǎ gè shì pín diàn huà le，měi féng jiā jié bèi sī qīn a。"

Festival greetings (by message):

"Dear XXX, Happy Mid-Autumn Festival! Wishing you and your family a happy reunion, good health, and all the best!"
"亲爱的XXX，中秋快乐！祝你和家人月圆人团圆，身体健康，万事如意！"
"qīn ài de XXX，zhōng qiū kuài lè！zhù nǐ hé jiā rén yuè yuán rén tuán yuán，shēn tǐ jiàn kāng，wàn shì rú yì！"

On the day of the festival:

A: "Come to my place tonight to admire the moon! I bought your favorite custard mooncakes."  
     "晚上来我家一起赏月吧，我买了你最爱吃的流心奶黄月饼。"
     "wǎn shang lái wǒ jiā yī qǐ shǎng yuè ba，wǒ mǎi le nǐ zuì ài chī de liú xīn nǎi huáng yuè bǐng。"

B: "That’s great! This Mid-Autumn Festival will be so much fun!"
     "太好了！那这个中秋过的肯定很热闹！"
     "tài hǎo le！nà zhè ge zhōng qiū guò de kěn dìng hěn rè nao！"

In short, from the simple 'Happy Mid-Autumn Festival' to the poetic hope for 'family reunion under the full moon,' these common phrases create the special feeling of the Mid-Autumn Festival. If you get the chance, you should definitely experience the warm and joyful atmosphere of this Chinese holiday!