Rain Water(Chinese: 雨水) signals the increase in rainfall and rise in temperature. With its arrival, lively spring-like scenery starts blossoming， the river water defreezes, wild geese move from south to north, and trees and grass turn green again.Rain Water this year starts on Feb 19 and ends on Mar 5.
雨水预示着降雨量的增加和气温的上升。随着它的到来，热闹的春色开始绽放，河水解冻，大雁从南到北迁移，树木和草又变绿了。今年的雨水从2月19日开始，到3月5日结束。
Here are four things you may not know about Rain Water.
1.Water as precious as oil 春雨贵如油
According to an old Chinese saying, the rainfall in spring is as precious as oil. In northern China, the spring drought is common and the precipitation of this season accounts for only 10 to 15 percent of annual average rainfall.Therefore, Rain Water is considered as a key period for irrigation when the day gets warmer and rainfall increases.
中国有句老话，春雨贵如油。在中国北方，春季干旱是常见的，春季降水量仅占年平均降雨量的10%至15%。因此，雨水被认为是灌溉的关键时期，这段时间的天气变暖，降雨量增加。
2.Return of cold spell 倒春寒
Extra care is needed to cope with a returning cold spell in the late spring that often happen during Rain Water period. The fast increase in air humidity due to rainfall can result in lower temperature and wet weather. It is strongly advised not to take off the thick coats too early and to keep warm, especially elderly and children.
在春末的“雨水期”，经常会出现寒流，因此需要格外小心应对。由于降雨，空气湿度迅速增加，会导致气温下降和潮湿天气。强烈建议不要过早脱下厚外套，注意保暖，尤其是老人和儿童。
3.Finding godfather “拉保保”
Another old custom is to find a godfather for little kids. Rainfall brings vitality to the earth.Therefore people in the past believed that this practice would give their kids healthy and safe growth.The custom can be traced back to the health services of the past. Because of the poor medical conditions, many children’s diseases could not be cured at all. Therefore, parents wanted a godfather to shower their blessings and good luck on their children. This old practice was popular in Sichuan area.
另一个古老的习俗是给小孩子找个干爹。雨水给大地带来生机；因此，过去的人们认为，这种做法会让他们的孩子健康和安全的成长。这一习俗可以追溯到过去的卫生服务。因为医疗条件不好，当时许多儿童的疾病根本无法治愈。因此，父母们想要借助于干爹的福气洒在他们的孩子身上。这个古老的习俗在四川地区很流行。
4.Nutritious porridge 营养粥
People in Beijing often eat porridge cooked with rehmannia glutinosa libosch, a kind of Chinese herb medicine, to resist cold and wet weather and eliminate heat from the blood. It is also good for people with constipation, arthritis and headaches. Therefore, a bowl of nutritious porridge is the best choice to nourish the body.
北京人经常喝地黄熬成的粥，地黄是一种中草药，用来抵御寒冷和潮湿，祛除血液中的热量。它对便秘、关节炎和头痛的人也有好处。因此，一碗营养粥是滋补身体的最佳选择。
（文/刘爽，图/刘爽，编辑/苏秀娟，审核/王俊华）
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