“谷雨”是二十四节气中的第六个节气，也是春季的最后一个节气，此时降雨量明显增加，正好满足了谷物类农作物生长的需要，所以“谷雨”节气的英文翻译为Grain Rain。

1. 谷雨的来历

“谷雨”这个名字来源于一个民间传说。黄帝时期，官员仓颉创造书写汉字时，无数谷米从天而降，如同下雨一般。因此，皇帝把这天命名为“谷雨”。

The term "Grain Rain" is originated from a folk story. When Cang Jie, an official from the Yellow Emperor period, created writing characters, grain came down from sky like rainfall. Therefore, the Yellow Emperor named this day as the "Grain Rain".

“谷雨”这个节气的名称来源于俗语“雨生百谷”，由此可以看出，在这段时间内雨水对于庄稼的生长是何等重要。谷雨的到来代表着寒冷天气的终结和温度的攀升。

Grain Rain originates from the old saying, "Rain brings up the growth of hundreds of grains," which shows that this period of rainfall is extremely important for the growth of crops. The Grain Rain signals the end of cold weather and a rapid rise in temperature.

2. 谷雨的习俗

喝谷雨茶

中国南方有个习俗：人们要在谷雨当天饮茶。谷雨期间的春茶富含维生素和氨基酸，对身体散热和明目都有帮助。还有一种说法：谷雨喝茶可抵挡厄运。

There is an old custom in southern China that people drink tea on the day of Grain Rain. Spring tea during Grain Rain is rich in vitamins and amino acids, which can help to remove heat from the body and is good for the eyes. It is also said that drinking tea on this day would prevent bad luck.

吃香椿

中国北方人有谷雨吃香椿的传统。俗话说：“雨前椿芽嫩如丝”，这种蔬菜营养丰富，有助于增强免疫系统，还有利于健胃护肤。

People in northern China have the tradition to eat the vegetable toona sinensis during Grain Rain. An old Chinese saying goes "toona sinensis before the rain is as tender as silk". The vegetable is nutritious and can help to strengthen the immune system. It is also good for the stomach and skin.

赏谷雨花

谷雨前后也是牡丹花开的重要时段，因此牡丹花也被称为“谷雨花”。至今，山东菏泽、河南洛阳等地都会在谷雨时节举行牡丹花会，供人们观赏游玩。

Peony flowers bloom around the time of the Grain Rain; so they are also known as "Grain Rain flowers". To this day, peony festivals are held in places such as Heze in Shandong and Luoyang in Henan for people to admire the flowers during the Grain Rain.

3. 谷雨的相关词汇

grain   [greɪn]

n. 谷物，粮食；谷粒，籽粒；（木材、大理石等的）纹理

v. 把…作成细粒；染透

rain  [reɪn]

n. 雨；(热带地区的)雨季，雨天；雨点般降落的东西

v.（雨）降下，（使）降落；大量地给，（使）大量落下

solar  [ˈsəʊlə(r)]

adj. 太阳的，日光的；根据太阳决定或测定的

n. 日光浴室

celestial  [səˈlestiəl]

adj. 天的，天空的

n. 神仙

longitude  [ˈlɒŋgɪtju:d]     

n. 经度，经线；[天] 黄经

degree  [dɪˈgri:]

n. 程度；学位；[乐] 音阶，度；[数] 度，度数

folk  [fəʊk]

n. 民族；人们；家属，亲戚；民间音乐

adj. 民间的；流传民间的

character   [ˈkærəktə(r)] 

n. 性格；角色；特点；字母

v. 刻，印；使具有特征

rainfall  [ˈreɪnfɔ:l]   

n. 降雨量；阵雨，降雨

crop   [krɒp]

n. 农作物；产量；庄稼；平头

v. 种植；收割；修剪；剪短；收成；收获

basin   [ˈbeɪsn]    

n. 盆地；流域；盆；水坑，池塘

bless  [bles]    

v. 祝福；保佑；赞美；为…祈福