ceon1 cau1春秋
Jyutpingceon1 cau1
Yalechēun chāu
Definition
The Spring and Autumn period in Chinese history, or a type of historical chronicle.
- the Spring and Autumn period in Chinese history (770–476 BC)
- annals; a chronological historical record
- literaryage; years; time passed
neutraltime
How it's used
Beyond the historical era, this term is frequently used in literary contexts to represent the passage of time or a person's age. It carries a slightly formal or poetic weight, often appearing in idioms or historical titles rather than casual daily conversation. When used to mean age, it implies a respectful or elevated tone, similar to referring to someone's years of experience.
Examples
This book records quite a few events from the Spring and Autumn period.
Related words
Common phrases
Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods
Master Lü's Spring and Autumn Annals
Common mistake
Learners often mistake it for a literal reference to the seasons of spring and autumn, but it is almost exclusively used as a historical proper noun or a metaphorical term for time. Do not use it to describe the actual weather or the seasons of the year.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
