A comparison of how New Year’s Eve is celebrated in China and Japan, highlighting different cultural focuses.
Yuko, did you spend December 31st in Shanghai? Chinese people usually call it ‘New Year’s Eve.’
Yes, I did! It’s very different from Japan. In Japan, this day is quiet and very traditional.
New Year’s Eve in China is quite lively. Many young people watch New Year countdown shows and count down together.
I noticed that people are mostly with friends, rather than necessarily with family.
That’s right, because the most important New Year in China is the Spring Festival, not January 1st.
Japan is just the opposite. January 1st is the most important, and people also visit shrines.
In China, New Year’s Day is relatively simple, with no fixed customs. People often just say ‘Happy New Year’ on WeChat.
I see. China has two New Years—New Year’s Day and the Spring Festival. The cultural difference is really big.
Why use the app
Access 1,000+ dialogues and all study tools
Ask the AI, use repeat playback, save vocabulary, and track your progress
1,000+ dialogues and 500+ Easy Mandarin News articles are available.
Use repeat playback, adjust audio speed, and save words to flashcards.
Get instant explanations for grammar, usage, and sentence structure.