[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"daily-2026-07-21":3},{"date":4,"status":5,"dateLayer":6,"allowQuiz":18,"podcastTopicKey":36,"bundle":37},"2026-07-21","published",{"dateStr":4,"gregorianEn":7,"gregorianZh":8,"weekdayEn":9,"weekdayZh":10,"lunar":11,"lunarLabelZh":19,"lunarLabelEn":20,"zodiacAnimalEn":21,"zodiacAnimalZh":22,"zodiacYearEn":23,"ganzhiYear":24,"solarTermToday":25,"currentSolarTerm":26,"nextSolarTerm":30,"festivals":35},"July 21, 2026","2026年7月21日","Tuesday","星期二",{"year":12,"month":13,"day":14,"isLeapMonth":15,"monthName":16,"dayName":17,"inRange":18},2026,6,8,false,"六月","初八",true,"六月初八","8th day of the 6th lunar month","Horse","马","Year of the Horse","丙午",null,{"zh":27,"en":28,"dateStr":29},"小暑","Minor Heat","2026-07-07",{"zh":31,"en":32,"dateStr":33,"daysAway":34},"大暑","Major Heat","2026-07-23",2,[],"daily-2026-07-21",{"dateLayer":38,"hook":43,"word":76,"bands":90,"grammar":111,"quiz":129},{"dateStr":4,"gregorianEn":7,"gregorianZh":8,"weekdayEn":9,"weekdayZh":10,"lunar":39,"lunarLabelZh":19,"lunarLabelEn":20,"zodiacAnimalEn":21,"zodiacAnimalZh":22,"zodiacYearEn":23,"ganzhiYear":24,"solarTermToday":25,"currentSolarTerm":40,"nextSolarTerm":41,"festivals":42},{"year":12,"month":13,"day":14,"isLeapMonth":15,"monthName":16,"dayName":17,"inRange":18},{"zh":27,"en":28,"dateStr":29},{"zh":31,"en":32,"dateStr":33,"daysAway":34},[],{"tier":44,"category":45,"source":45,"titleEn":46,"titleZh":31,"titleZhPinyin":47,"noteEn":48,"allowGamify":18,"article":49,"insightEn":50,"todaySentenceZh":51,"todaySentencePinyin":52,"todaySentenceEn":53,"keyWords":54,"references":64,"cultureLink":73},7,"seasonal","Approaching Major Heat","dà shǔ","Approaching Major Heat (大暑) is a solar term marking the hottest period of the year in the traditional Chinese calendar, emphasizing the importance of staying cool and hydrated.","In just two days, we welcome the solar term known as Major Heat (大暑), one of the 24 solar terms in the traditional Chinese calendar. This period is characterized by soaring temperatures, often marking the peak of summer heat in many parts of China. It is a time when people pay special attention to health and hydration, adopting various methods to stay cool, including consuming herbal teas and lighter meals to balance the body's internal heat.[1]\n\nThe arrival of Major Heat is also a cultural moment, highlighting the traditional wisdom of adapting to seasonal changes. In ancient times, people would release (放) their livestock to graze freely, taking advantage of the abundant growth of grass during this period. This act of releasing was crucial for maintaining the health of the animals, ensuring they had enough nourishment during the hottest days.[2]\n\nToday, the word 放 (fàng), meaning \"to release,\" can still be associated with the idea of letting go or relaxing, both physically and mentally. As the temperatures rise, people are encouraged to release (放) their stresses and worries, embracing a slower pace of life to cope with the heat. Traditional Chinese practices such as Tai Chi or meditation are often recommended during this period to promote relaxation and mental clarity.\n\nUnderstanding the cultural context of solar terms like Major Heat allows learners to appreciate the deep connection between language, nature, and daily life in Chinese culture. By integrating words like 放 into the seasonal narrative, learners not only expand their vocabulary but also deepen their cultural insights.[3]","Major Heat is a time when traditional wisdom advises staying cool and relaxed.","放暑假了！","Fàng shǔjià le!","Summer vacation has started!",[55,56,60],{"hanzi":31,"pinyin":47,"en":32},{"hanzi":57,"pinyin":58,"en":59},"放","fàng","to release",{"hanzi":61,"pinyin":62,"en":63},"暑假","shǔjià","summer vacation",[65,68,70],{"n":66,"text":67},1,"Zhou Dunyi, 'The Twenty-Four Solar Terms', a classic Chinese text outlining the significance of each solar term.",{"n":34,"text":69},"Li Shizhen, 'Compendium of Materia Medica (《本草纲目》)', a comprehensive medical text mentioning seasonal practices.",{"n":71,"text":72},3,"Confucius, 'Analects', a collection of ideas and sayings that emphasize harmony with nature.",{"category":74,"label":75},"traditions","Understanding Chinese Solar Terms",{"slug":77,"hanzi":57,"pinyin":58,"meaning":59,"pos":78,"level":71,"audioUrl":79,"faq":80},"hsk-3/%E6%94%BE-fang4","v","https://mandarintemple.com/wp-content/uploads/katemt_audio/f/Fang/fang4.wav",[81,84,87],{"question":82,"answer":83},"Can 放 be used in both formal and informal contexts?","Yes, 放 can be used in both contexts, but be mindful of the specific phrases and verbs that might be more appropriate in formal situations.",{"question":85,"answer":86},"Is there a difference between 放 and 释放 (shìfàng)?","Yes, 释放 specifically means 'to release' in a more formal or technical context, while 放 is more general and can refer to physical placement or letting go.",{"question":88,"answer":89},"How do I use 放 in a sentence?","You can use 放 in sentences like '我放书在桌子上' (Wǒ fàng shū zài zhuōzi shàng), meaning 'I put the book on the table.'",{"1-2":91,"3-4":96,"5-6":101,"7-9":106},{"sentenceZh":92,"pinyin":93,"en":94,"explainEn":95},"他放了风筝。","Tā fàng le fēngzheng.","He released the kite.","A simple sentence showing the basic use of 放.",{"sentenceZh":97,"pinyin":98,"en":99,"explainEn":100},"放牛在草地上。","Fàng niú zài cǎodì shàng.","Release the cattle on the grass.","Shows 放 with animals, linking to traditional practices.",{"sentenceZh":102,"pinyin":103,"en":104,"explainEn":105},"放下你的担心。","Fàngxià nǐ de dānxīn.","Let go of your worries.","An abstract use of 放 to suggest emotional release.",{"sentenceZh":107,"pinyin":108,"en":109,"explainEn":110},"他决定放手一搏。","Tā juédìng fàngshǒu yī bó.","He decided to give it his all.","A nuanced use of 放 in an idiomatic expression.",{"title":112,"pattern":113,"explainEn":114,"usageNote":115,"examples":116},"Using 放 with nouns","放 + noun","The verb 放 is used to indicate releasing or letting go of something.","Use 放 with nouns to express the action of releasing or freeing them.",[117,121,125],{"zh":118,"pinyin":119,"en":120},"放猫出去。","Fàng māo chūqù.","Let the cat out.",{"zh":122,"pinyin":123,"en":124},"放手吧。","Fàngshǒu ba.","Let go.",{"zh":126,"pinyin":127,"en":128},"放学了。","Fàngxué le.","School is over.",{"items":130,"reflectionPrompt":198},[131,141,149,157,167,172,181,190],{"id":132,"kind":132,"type":133,"prompt":134,"options":135,"answerIndex":139,"explainEn":140},"meaning","mc","What does 放 mean?",[59,136,137,138],"to hold","to create","to destroy",0,"放 means 'to release' or 'to let go'.",{"id":142,"kind":142,"type":133,"prompt":143,"options":144,"answerIndex":139,"explainEn":148},"pinyin","How is 放 pronounced?",[58,145,146,147],"fáng","fāng","fèng","放 is pronounced as 'fàng'.",{"id":150,"kind":150,"type":133,"prompt":151,"options":152,"answerIndex":139,"explainEn":156},"translate","How do you write \"to release\" in Chinese?",[57,153,154,155],"抓","拿","看","The correct translation for \"to release\" is 放.",{"id":158,"kind":158,"type":133,"prompt":159,"options":160,"answerIndex":139,"explainEn":165,"audioText":166},"listening","Listen. What does the sentence mean?",[161,162,163,164],"He put down the book.","He picked up the book.","He wrote in the book.","He read the book.","放下 means 'to put down'.","他放下书。",{"id":168,"kind":168,"type":168,"prompt":169,"answer":57,"accept":170,"explainEn":171},"fill","他___风筝。(He ___ the kite.)",[57],"放 is the correct verb for releasing or letting go.",{"id":173,"kind":173,"type":133,"prompt":174,"options":175,"answerIndex":139,"explainEn":180},"reading","放假了！ — What does this sentence mean?",[176,177,178,179],"Vacation has started!","The cat is outside!","The door is open!","The sun is shining!","放假 means 'vacation' or 'holiday'.",{"id":182,"kind":182,"type":133,"prompt":183,"options":184,"answerIndex":139,"explainEn":189},"culture","What is a traditional activity during Major Heat?",[185,186,187,188],"Drinking herbal tea","Skiing","Lighting fireworks","Planting rice","Drinking herbal tea is a traditional activity to stay cool during Major Heat.",{"id":191,"kind":191,"type":191,"prompt":192,"ordered":193,"explainEn":197},"order","Arrange into a correct sentence",[57,194,195,196],"了","风筝","他","The correct sentence order for 'He released the kite.' is '他放了风筝'.","How do you keep cool during hot summer days?"]