Definition

1. Noun:
   • Start of Autumn: One of the 24 solar terms in the traditional lunisolar calendar, marking the official beginning of the autumn season.
   • A specific seasonal node: Represents the point when the sun reaches the celestial longitude of 135°, typically occurring around August 7th or 8th in the Gregorian calendar.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Hôm nay là tiết lập thu. (Today is the Start of Autumn.)
  • Lập thu thời tiết bắt đầu mát mẻ hơn. (At the Start of Autumn, the weather begins to get cooler.)
  • Chúng tôi thường ăn một bữa thịnh soạn vào ngày lập thu. (We often have a hearty meal on the day of the Start of Autumn.)

Advanced Usage

• Cultural Significance: In East Asian tradition, "Lập Thu" is not just an astronomical marker but also a cultural event associated with seasonal foods and health practices to prepare the body for the cooler season.
• Agricultural Context: The term signals a key transition for farmers, indicating a shift in crops and harvest activities.

Variants and Related Words

• Tiết lập thu (n): The solar term of the Start of Autumn. This is a more formal or explicit variant.
  • Tiết lập thu năm nay đến sớm. (This year's Start of Autumn solar term comes early.)

Synonyms

• Beginning of Autumn: The direct English equivalent for this solar term.
• Start of Fall: An alternative, using the common North American term for the season.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Lập thu ăn đậu, lập đông ăn hồng: A traditional saying meaning "Eat beans at Start of Autumn, eat persimmons at Start of Winter," highlighting customary seasonal foods.
  • Theo tục ngữ, "lập thu ăn đậu, lập đông ăn hồng". (According to the proverb, "eat beans at Start of Autumn, eat persimmons at Start of Winter.")