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