Learn the 4 Seasons in Chinese in 5 Minutes (2026)

If your child is learning Mandarin, seasons are a surprisingly useful place to start. They show up in school stories, weather talk, clothing choices, and holiday conversations—so kids get lots of natural repetition.

You can use this post in one quick sitting: learn the four seasons, copy a few ready-to-say phrases, and practice with mini word lists by season. For a more accurate seasonal/climate breakdown in Chinese culture, many families also learn the 24 Solar Terms (二十四节气)—we’ve（Lingoace） covered them in another blog post if you’d like to go deeper.

The 4 Seasons in Chinese

Tip: Kids will hear both 天 (tiān) and 季 (jì) forms. The 天 form is extremely common in everyday speech.

Copy-and-say (super easy):

• 我喜欢___。Wǒ xǐhuān ___. (I like ___.)

• 的时候，我会。___ de shíhou, wǒ huì ___. (In ___, I will ___.)

Examples:

• 我喜欢春天。Wǒ xǐhuān chūntiān.

• 夏天的时候，我会游泳。Xiàtiān de shíhou, wǒ huì yóuyǒng.

“Season” in Chinese: 季节 and 四季

Parents often see “season” written in two common ways:

• 季节 (jìjié) = season (general word)

• 四季 (sìjì) = the four seasons (literally “four seasons”)

Kid-friendly question to use at dinner:

• 你最喜欢哪个季节？Nǐ zuì xǐhuān nǎge jìjié?

The 5-Minute Phrases Kids Use Most

Tip: To say “in (a season),” kids can use …的时候 (when it’s…) or just say the season and add a simple sentence.

Quick sentence frames:

• 春天的时候，天气___。Chūntiān de shíhou, tiānqì ___.

• 这个冬天很___。Zhège dōngtiān hěn ___.

Spring Words in Chinese

Tip: Spring talk for kids is usually weather + nature + activities.

Copy-and-say:

• 春天的时候，我去___。Chūntiān de shíhou, wǒ qù ___. (In spring, I go to ___.)

Summer Words in Chinese

Tip: Summer is perfect for “I like / I want / I can” sentences—kids feel motivated.

Copy-and-say:

• 夏天的时候，我会___。Xiàtiān de shíhou, wǒ huì ___. (In summer, I will ___.)

Fall/Autumn Words in Chinese

Tip: Fall sentences often sound great with “I see…” and “I wear…”

Copy-and-say:

• 秋天的时候，我穿___。Qiūtiān de shíhou, wǒ chuān ___. (In fall, I wear ___.)

Winter Words in Chinese

Tip: Winter is great for practicing simple “it’s cold / I want warm…” lines.

Copy-and-say:

• 冬天的时候，我想___。Dōngtiān de shíhou, wǒ xiǎng ___. (In winter, I want to ___.)

Seasons vocabulary is one of those topics kids can use constantly—weather, school stories, weekend plans, even what they’re wearing. But a very common “stuck point” is this: children recognize the words, yet their sentences still don’t come out smoothly. That’s where a more systematic, professional learning path can save families a lot of trial and error.

You can consider LingoAce as one option: teachers guide kids step by step in turning vocabulary into real spoken sentences, and parents can sit in to observe lessons—so it’s easier to judge fit in a real-life context. If you’re still comparing choices, starting with a free trial class is a low-pressure way to decide your next step after one real lesson.

Bonus Culture Box: 24 Solar Terms in One Minute

Beyond the four seasons, Chinese culture also uses the idea of 二十四节气 (èrshísì jiéqì)—the “24 solar terms”—to describe seasonal changes more precisely across the year. You don’t need to memorize them for everyday conversation, but it’s fun context for curious kids.

Two examples you might hear:

• 立春 (lìchūn): “Start of Spring”

• 冬至 (dōngzhì): “Winter Solstice”

FAQ

How do you say “season” in Chinese?

The most common word is 季节 (jìjié). If you mean “the four seasons,” people often say 四季 (sìjì).

What are spring, summer, fall, winter in Chinese?

They are 春天 (chūntiān), 夏天 (xiàtiān), 秋天 (qiūtiān), and 冬天 (dōngtiān).

Is it 秋天 or 秋季?

Both exist. 秋天 is very common in daily speech. 秋季 can sound slightly more formal or “written/official.” Kids can safely start with 秋天.

How do you say “in spring / this winter” in Chinese?

A simple beginner-friendly pattern is:

• “in spring” = 春天的时候 (chūntiān de shíhou)

• “this winter” = 这个冬天 (zhège dōngtiān)

What are the 24 solar terms?

They’re a traditional set of 24 markers used to describe seasonal change through the year (二十四节气). You can treat them as a cultural bonus rather than core vocabulary.

Conclusion

You don’t need a huge vocabulary list to make real progress. If your child can say the four seasons and a few simple weather/activity lines, they can start using Mandarin in daily life right away. For the next week, try this tiny plan: pick one season per day, use two sentence frames, and repeat them at breakfast or on the drive to school.

If you’d like a more guided path to help your child move from “knowing words” to “speaking naturally,” the free trial option mentioned above can be a practical next step—especially if you want to observe a lesson and see what kind of feedback your child gets.