As the heat of the Great Heat reaches its peak, various proverbs and sayings are often used to describe the intense summer temperatures. Here are some common Chinese proverbs related to the Great Heat, along with their English translations:
大暑天气热，小暑汗如雨
- English Translation: “During the Great Heat, the weather is so hot that during the Little Heat, sweat pours down like rain.”
大暑不热，五谷不结
- English Translation: “If it’s not hot during the Great Heat, the five grains won’t grow.”
大暑不雨，小暑干
- English Translation: “If there’s no rain during the Great Heat, there will be drought during the Little Heat.”
大暑前后，热浪滚滚
- English Translation: “Before and after the Great Heat, a heat wave rolls over.”
大暑天，蚊子飞上天
- English Translation: “During the Great Heat, mosquitoes fly as high as the sky.”
These proverbs reflect the cultural understanding and observations about the weather during the Great Heat, which falls around July 23rd or 24th according to the Chinese lunar calendar.