fǎdìng jiàrì: 法定假日 - Legal Holiday, Public Holiday

• Keywords: fǎdìng jiàrì, 法定假日, Chinese public holidays, legal holidays in China, statutory holiday China, China's national holidays, Golden Week, Spring Festival, National Day holiday, 调休, tiáoxiū, Chinese vacation days, make-up work days
• Summary: Learn about 法定假日 (fǎdìng jiàrì), the official public holidays in China mandated by law. This guide explains the major Chinese holidays like Spring Festival and National Day, unpacks the unique “make-up day” system (调休 tiáoxiū), and explores the cultural significance of these holidays for travel, family, and the national economy. Understand how all of China takes vacation at the same time and what that means for you.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): fǎdìng jiàrì
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: A national holiday that is officially established and guaranteed by a country's laws.
• In a Nutshell: 法定假日 (fǎdìng jiàrì) literally translates to “law-decreed holiday.” These are the “big ones” on the Chinese calendar—the handful of days each year when the entire country is legally required to have a day off from work. Think of them as China's equivalent of Christmas or Thanksgiving, but with a unique system where weekends are sometimes swapped to create longer vacation blocks. These holidays are central to modern Chinese life, dictating travel plans, family reunions, and even national economic strategy.

• 法 (fǎ): Law, rule, or legal standard. It points to the official, government-mandated nature of the holiday.
• 定 (dìng): To set, fix, or decide. It reinforces that these dates are fixed and decided by a legal authority.
• 假 (jià): Holiday or vacation. It's important to use the 4th tone, `jià`. The 3rd tone, `jiǎ`, means “fake.” So this is a “real” holiday!
• 日 (rì): Day.

The characters combine transparently to mean “law-decreed-holiday-day,” making the term's meaning very clear once you know the individual parts.

The concept of 法定假日 (fǎdìng jiàrì) is far more than just a day off; it's a cornerstone of modern Chinese society and economy.

• Collectivism in Practice: Unlike in the West where employees take individual vacation days throughout the year, China's holiday system is highly collectivist. The government sets a national schedule, and almost everyone is off at the same time. This facilitates the most important cultural activity: returning home for family reunions ( especially during Spring Festival).
• The “Make-up Day” System (调休 tiáoxiū): This is the most significant difference from Western holidays. To create long holiday blocks like the “Golden Weeks” (黄金周), the government will designate a preceding or following weekend day as an official workday. For example, to make a 3-day holiday for the Dragon Boat Festival that falls on a Wednesday, the government might grant Thursday and Friday off, but declare the following Sunday a workday. For outsiders, this is often confusing, as it can lead to a seven-day workweek. For people in China, it's a normal trade-off for a longer, uninterrupted break.
• Economic Engine: The longer 法定假日 blocks, particularly the National Day Golden Week, were strategically designed to boost domestic tourism and consumption. These periods see the largest spikes in travel, shopping, and dining of the entire year, representing a massive, coordinated engine for the economy.
• The World's Largest Human Migration: The Spring Festival 法定假日 triggers 春运 (chūnyùn), the Spring Festival travel rush. Hundreds of millions of people travel across the country to be with their families, putting immense strain on the nation's transportation infrastructure. It is a powerful modern spectacle driven by the ancient cultural value of family unity.

You'll encounter 法定假日 in many practical situations:

• Workplace and HR: Companies issue official notices detailing the 法定假日 schedule, including which days are off and which weekend days are now workdays (调休). Discussions about overtime pay (加班费 jiābānfèi) are common, as working on a 法定假日 legally entitles an employee to triple pay.
• Making Plans: A common conversation starter is asking what someone's plans are for an upcoming holiday. “国庆节这个法定假日你有什么打算?” (What are your plans for the National Day public holiday?).
• Travel and Tourism: During these periods, travel is chaotic and expensive. Tickets for trains and planes sell out instantly, and tourist attractions are packed. Savvy travelers in China either book months in advance or avoid traveling during these peak times altogether.
• Official Announcements: Government websites and news outlets formally announce the 法定假日 schedule for the upcoming year, usually in December of the preceding year.

Example 1: 我们公司严格遵守国家的法定假日安排。 Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī yángé zūnshǒu guójiā de fǎdìng jiàrì ānpái. English: Our company strictly follows the national legal holiday schedule. Analysis: This is a formal sentence you might see in a company handbook. It emphasizes compliance with the official, government-mandated schedule. Example 2: 春节是中国最重要的法定假日。 Pinyin: Chūnjié shì Zhōngguó zuì zhòngyào de fǎdìng jiàrì. English: Spring Festival is China's most important public holiday. Analysis: A simple, factual statement that classifies Spring Festival. Example 3: 今年的国庆节法定假日有七天，我们去旅游吧！ Pinyin: Jīnnián de Guóqìngjié fǎdìng jiàrì yǒu qī tiān, wǒmen qù lǚyóu ba! English: This year's National Day public holiday is seven days long, let's go traveling! Analysis: This shows how people refer to the holiday block as a whole. The seven days are a combination of the actual holiday and “make-up” days. Example 4: 请注意，虽然我们放假三天，但周日需要调休上班。 Pinyin: Qǐng zhùyì, suīrán wǒmen fàngjià sān tiān, dàn zhōurì xūyào tiáoxiū shàngbān. English: Please note, although we have a three-day holiday, we have to work on Sunday as a make-up day. Analysis: While this sentence doesn't use the term 法定假日 itself, it describes the direct consequence of it—the 调休 (tiáoxiū) system. This is a crucial concept to understand. Example 5: 在法定假日工作，你应该能拿到三倍工资。 Pinyin: Zài fǎdìng jiàrì gōngzuò, nǐ yīnggāi néng nádào sānbèi gōngzī. English: If you work on a statutory holiday, you should be able to get triple pay. Analysis: This highlights the legal and financial implications of the term. It's not just a regular day off. Example 6: 政府刚刚公布了明年的法定假日放假通知。 Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ gānggāng gōngbùle míngnián de fǎdìng jiàrì fàngjià tōngzhī. English: The government just released the public holiday schedule announcement for next year. Analysis: This shows how the term is used in official contexts and news reports. Example 7: 除了法定假日，我还有十天年假。 Pinyin: Chúle fǎdìng jiàrì, wǒ hái yǒu shí tiān niánjià. English: Besides the public holidays, I also have ten days of annual leave. Analysis: This sentence clearly distinguishes between collective public holidays (法定假日) and personal vacation time (年假 niánjià). Example 8: 很多商店在法定假日期间会搞促销活动。 Pinyin: Hěnduō shāngdiàn zài fǎdìng jiàrì qījiān huì gǎo cùxiāo huódòng. English: Many stores will run promotional campaigns during the public holiday period. Analysis: This points to the commercial and economic impact of these holidays. Example 9: 我宁愿在周末加班，也不想在法定假日工作，因为我想陪家人。 Pinyin: Wǒ nìngyuàn zài zhōumò jiābān, yě bùxiǎng zài fǎdìng jiàrì gōngzuò, yīnwèi wǒ xiǎng péi jiārén. English: I would rather work overtime on a weekend than work on a public holiday, because I want to be with my family. Analysis: This sentence reveals the cultural value placed on spending these specific holidays with family, differentiating them from a normal weekend. Example 10: 银行和政府机关在法定假日都会关门。 Pinyin: Yínháng hé zhèngfǔ jīguān zài fǎdìng jiàrì dōu huì guānmén. English: Banks and government offices will all be closed on public holidays. Analysis: A practical piece of information for anyone living or traveling in China.

• 法定假日 vs. 年假 (niánjià - Annual Leave): This is the most common mistake. 法定假日 are the holidays everyone gets at the same time (e.g., National Day). 年假 (niánjià) is your personal, paid vacation time that you schedule with your boss.
  • Incorrect: 我下周想用我的一个法定假日。(I want to use one of my public holidays next week.)
  • Correct: 我下周想请一天年假。(I want to request a day of annual leave next week.)
• 法定假日 vs. 周末 (zhōumò - Weekend): While both are non-working days, they are legally and culturally distinct. A 法定假日 has a higher cultural weight and, legally, requires higher overtime pay (typically 300%) compared to a weekend (typically 200%).
• Forgetting about 调休 (tiáoxiū): Foreigners often get excited seeing a “7-day holiday” on the calendar but forget to check for the make-up workdays. You might happily make plans for a long trip, only to be told by your boss that you have to come into the office on Sunday. Always check the full, official announcement!
• Pronouncing 假 (jià) incorrectly: Remember, for “holiday,” the character 假 is pronounced `jià` (4th tone). If you say `jiǎ` (3rd tone), you are saying “fake day” (`假日 jiǎ rì`), which will cause confusion.

• 调休 (tiáoxiū) - The all-important system of “make-up days” where weekends are swapped with weekdays to create longer holiday blocks.
• 黄金周 (huángjīnzhōu) - “Golden Week,” a 7-day or 8-day holiday, most famously the National Day holiday in October.
• 放假 (fàngjià) - The common verb meaning “to have a holiday” or “to be on vacation.”
• 年假 (niánjià) - Annual leave; personal paid vacation days. The direct contrast to the collective 法定假日.
• 周末 (zhōumò) - Weekend. A regular break, distinct from a special legal holiday.
• 加班 (jiābān) - To work overtime. This is often discussed in relation to holiday pay.
• 春运 (chūnyùn) - The “Spring Festival travel rush,” the massive migration that happens around the Spring Festival holiday.
• 春节 (Chūnjié) - Spring Festival / Chinese New Year. The most important 法定假日.
• 国庆节 (Guóqìngjié) - National Day (October 1st). The other major 法定假日 that forms a Golden Week.
• 带薪休假 (dàixīn xiūjià) - Paid leave. A more formal term that covers both 法定假日 and 年假.