儿童节

Hey everyone! I'm Xiao Yue. Welcome to a new episode of Simply Natural Chinese!

Hey everyone, I'm Leo. Xiao Yue, you look really happy today.

Haha, you caught me! Because today is a special day.

A special day? What's the date today?

Today is June 1st.

June 1st... what's special about this day?

Of course there is! Today is Children's Day!

Children's Day? That's the holiday for kids, right?

Yeah! We Chinese also call it "Liu Yi" — June 1st.

Why is it called "Liu Yi"?

Because it's June 1st, so everyone just calls it "Liu Yi" for short.

I see. But Xiao Yue, you're already a grown-up, so why are you so excited?

Haha, that's exactly today's topic — grown-ups celebrating Children's Day.

Grown-ups celebrating Children's Day? I really don't get this one.

No rush, let's take it slow. First, let me ask you — did you celebrate Children's Day as a kid?

Hmm... I grew up in the UK, and I don't think we have Children's Day.

Really? The UK doesn't have Children's Day?

Right, at least I never heard of it as a kid. We have Christmas and birthdays, but no holiday just for children.

That's a bit of a shame. In China, Children's Day is one of kids' favorite holidays.

What do kids do on that day?

A lot of schools give the day off, kids put on shows, and teachers and parents give them gifts.

Sounds lively. What about adults? Do adults get the day off too?

Adults usually don't. But in recent years, a lot of young people have started "celebrating" Children's Day too.

That's the part I don't get. Why would adults celebrate a kids' holiday?

Because a lot of young people feel like they want to be a kid again, just for a day.

Be a kid again? What do you mean?

There's a popular saying online right now: "I'm a baby too."

"Baby"? Doesn't "baby" mean a really little kid?

Haha, exactly. But these days a lot of young people joke, "I may be grown up, but I'm still a baby."

Haha, that's a cute way to put it. So they're just joking?

Half joking, half for real.

For real? Do they actually feel like they're still kids?

What they mean is, growing up is exhausting, so they want one day to just relax.

I'm starting to get it. Work is stressful, so they want to go back to a time with no pressure.

Exactly! As kids we didn't have to work or worry about so much — every day was happy.

On Children's Day, what do they actually do?

For example, friends say "Happy Children's Day" to each other.

Haha, grown-ups saying "Happy Children's Day" to other grown-ups?

Yeah, it sounds funny, but everyone loves it.

Anything else?

Some people also post their childhood photos to share with everyone.

Oh, that's fun. In the UK, we like posting childhood photos too.

See? People all over the world love looking back on their childhood.

True. By the way, do companies celebrate Children's Day too?

Some companies hand out candy or little toys to their employees.

Haha, giving candy to grown-ups — that's adorable.

So you see, Children's Day isn't just a kids' holiday anymore.

I get it. It's really a kind of... mindset, right?

Yes! You used the perfect word — "mindset." It's close to a Chinese phrase: "tóng xīn wèi mǐn."

"Tóng xīn wèi mǐn"? I don't know these four characters. What do they mean?

Don't worry, let me explain. "Tóng xīn" means a child's heart, and "wèi mǐn" means it hasn't faded away.

So "tóng xīn wèi mǐn" means you've grown up, but inside you're still like a kid?

Right, you learn fast! It's often used to praise someone for being sweet and easygoing.

I see. I think I'm a little "tóng xīn wèi mǐn" myself.

Haha, I could tell long ago.

Oh, and on Children's Day, a lot of young people buy themselves a gift.

Buy themselves a gift? Why not wait for someone else to give one?

Because once you grow up, nobody gives you Children's Day gifts anymore.

Haha, that's true. So did you buy yourself a gift today?

I did! I bought myself a little teddy bear.

A teddy bear? How big?

Not big, about this big. I put it in my dessert shop.

Haha, so when customers come to buy cake, they get to see a little bear too.

Yeah! A lot of customers say it's so cute.

What other gifts do young people like to buy these days?

A lot of people love buying "blind boxes."

"Blind box"? I've never heard that word.

A blind box is a box where you don't know what's inside when you buy it.

You don't know what's inside? Isn't that a little strange?

Haha, but that's the fun part. The moment you open it is the best.

Oh, I get it. It's like unwrapping a present, right?

Right, it's that feeling of surprise.

So what's usually inside?

Mostly little toys and figures — all really cute.

Sounds fun, I want to try one too.

Haha, see? Your inner kid is showing again. Leo, so what would you buy for yourself?

Let me think... I'd probably buy some snacks.

Snacks? What kind of snacks?

The kind I loved as a kid, like chocolate and candy.

Haha, you're a kid who never grew up too.

Can't help it — eating those snacks brings back my childhood.

That's a lovely feeling. We have a Chinese word for it: "huái niàn."

"Huái niàn" — does it mean missing the past?

Right, it means missing people and things from before.

So can I say, "I miss my childhood"?

Absolutely! That sounds really natural.

Xiao Yue, besides buying gifts, what else do adults do for Children's Day?

Some people go to an amusement park.

An amusement park? You mean the place with lots of rides?

Right, with roller coasters and carousels — lots of adults love going too.

Haha, I love carousels too, even though I'm all grown up.

See, that's a young heart. Some people also rewatch the cartoons from their childhood.

Rewatch childhood cartoons? I've done that too!

Really? What did you rewatch?

I watched a British cartoon I loved as a kid.

How did it feel?

It felt amazing. It was like I was suddenly seven or eight again.

Yes, that's the feeling. We call it "chóng wēn" — reliving it.

"Chóng wēn"? Does it mean doing something you did before, again?

Right, like rewatching a movie or replaying an old song.

I learned another new word — thanks, Xiao Yue.

You're welcome! Actually, reliving your childhood doesn't have to cost much.

So how can you do it without spending money?

For example, listen to an old song from your childhood, or flip through old photos.

That's a great idea — simple and happy.

Yeah. Speaking of cartoons, I still rewatch mine now and then.

What cartoons did you watch as a kid?

We watched Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf, and Boonie Bears.

Those names sound really fun.

Every day after school, the first thing I did was turn on the TV and watch cartoons.

Haha, same here — I'd only do my homework after the cartoons.

Right! That's probably the same for all kids.

So what was your favorite cartoon?

Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf, of course — I watched it over and over.

Xiao Yue, so what snacks did you like as a kid?

Oh, so many! My favorite was crispy instant-noodle snacks.

"Crispy noodles"? Is it a kind of noodle?

It's a snack — no cooking needed, you just open it and eat it, and it's crunchy.

Sounds delicious.

And every pack came with a little card — we kids loved collecting them.

Oh, I get it! In the UK, snacks sometimes came with little toys too.

Yes, exactly that feeling! Collecting cards was one of my biggest childhood joys.

Besides snacks, what did you like to play as a kid?

I loved playing outside with friends — often until it got dark.

What games did you usually play?

Chinese jump rope, hide and seek, and lots more.

What game is "zhuō mí cáng"?

One person looks for everyone, the others hide, and whoever gets found loses.