春回大地

Pronunciation: chūn huí dà dì Literal meaning: Spring returns to the great earth

Origin & Usage

春 is 'spring', 回 is 'to return', and 大地 is 'the great earth' or 'the land'. The phrase means that winter is over and warmth and new life are coming back. It has no single classical source. The Hanyu dictionary points to a line by the Song poet Zhou Zizhi (周紫芝), 'snow has passed the treetops but the plum is still in bloom; spring has returned to the ground, though the willows don't yet know it' (树头雪过梅犹在，地上春回柳未知), which uses the image but not the fixed four-character phrase. The Taiwan dictionary also gives a figurative use: things turning for the better after hard times. Because Chinese New Year is the Spring Festival (春节), it is a natural opening for New Year cards, couplets and speeches, and suits any audience.

Examples

English: "As spring returns to the land, we wish you a fresh start and a bright new year."

Chinese: 春回大地，万物复苏，祝大家新春快乐！