【Learn Chinese】Easter Vocabulary in Chinese

While Easter is a Christian holiday that is widely celebrated in many parts of the world, it is not typically celebrated in China. However, learning festival-related words in Chinese can be a fun way to introduce the holiday to your Chinese friends and deepen cultural understanding of each other.
In this article, we’ll share essential Chinese vocabulary words related to Easter that will help you impress and connect with your Chinese language partners closely.

Easter 复活节
The Chinese term for Easter is 复活节 (fù huó jié), which literally translates to “resurrection festival.” This name reflects the central theme of Easter, as it commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Let’s take a closer look at each character in the name:
复活节 (fù huó jié) is celebrated on the first Sunday following the first full moon that occurs on or after the vernal equinox, which is usually around March 21st. As a result, the date of Easter can fall anywhere between March 22nd and April 25th each year.

Bunny 兔子
While not all Christian holidays are associated with specific animals, the Easter bunny has become an iconic symbol of the Easter holiday.
To say bunny in Chinese is 兔子 (tù zi). 兔 means “rabbit” or “hare,” and 子 acts as a noun suffix with no meaning. How about “Easter bunny” in Chinese? That’s easy! you can say 复活节兔子 (fùhuójié tùzi; Easter + bunny). The Easter bunny is often associated with chocolate and Easter egg hunts in Western cultures.

Dyed egg 彩蛋
Dyed eggs are a beloved Easter tradition with roots in early Christian practices. Today, there are many traditions associated with Easter eggs, such as dyeing them in various colors, hunting for them, and giving them as gifts to children.
To say “dyed egg” in Chinese, you can use the term 彩蛋 (cǎi dàn). The character 彩 means “colored,” while 蛋 means “egg.” However, be aware that 彩蛋 can have other meanings in different contexts, such as a “bonus scene” or “end credits scene” in a movie or show. To specifically refer to an “Easter egg,” it’s better to use the full term 复活节彩蛋 (fùhuójié cǎi dàn; Easter + dyed egg).

Hot-cross bun 十字面包
Easter is traditionally celebrated with a variety of foods such as chocolate Easter bunnies and eggs, roast lamb, Easter bread, and decorated Easter cakes.
The hot-cross bun is one of the most iconic Easter foods, especially in the UK. These sticky, glazed buns are marked with pastry crosses on the top. While the traditional fruity buns are still popular, modern versions with savory flavors have also become popular. Interestingly, despite the name HOT as in hot-cross buns, these buns can be enjoyed at any temperature, whether fresh from the oven, toasted, or chilled from the refrigerator.
So, you might be interested in how to say “hot-cross bun” in Chinese and share such food traditions with them. It’s 十字面包 (shí zì miàn bāo). 十字 means “cross-shaped,” and 面包 means “bread.”