Ma Nian Master: Spring Festival Gala lingo to seize the moment

Become Chinese in time for the Chinese New Year! The Spring Festival Gala is just around the corner. Join CGTN's Guo Meiping and pick up the must-know words so that you can watch the show like a pro.

1. 直播 zhíbō – Live Broadcast

Zhibo means live broadcast. China does its Spring Festival Gala, or Chunwan, live, making it a shared, lived experience for the nation. No retakes, no rewinds – just everyone following along together. It's the one show that truly unites families across the country, all watching the same moments unfold at the same time.

2. 零点 língdiǎn – Midnight

Lingdian refers to midnight, or "zero o'clock" – one of the most meaningful moments of Chunwan. Fun fact, or maybe not so fun for the Chunwan hosts: timing the Lingdian segment is also a major technical challenge. Their script has to track perfectly with the clock striking midnight.

3. 拜年 bàinián – New Year Greetings

Once the New Year is here, people exchange blessings and good wishes. This heartwarming tradition is called Bainian. It isn't just a performative "Happy New Year." It's a ritual straight from the heart. 

Since 2026 is the Year of the Horse, here's a perfect greeting for midnight on February 17:  马年快乐 (Ma Nian Kuai Le)! Happy New Year of the Horse!

Videographer: Han Xu

Graphic designers: Huang Ruiqi, Yu Peng