芒种 Grain in Ear： 仲夏至此始，未来皆可期
芒种，字面意思是“有芒的麦子快收，有芒的稻子可种”，因此“芒种”又叫“忙种”，是一个典型反映农业物候现象的节气，是二十四节气中的第九个节气，夏季的第三个节气。
“芒种”节气的英文翻译为：
我们来看看如何用英文描述芒种这一节气，学会用英文讲述节气的故事，传播中国文化。
The traditional Chinese calendar divides a year into 24 solar terms. Mángzhǒng (pīnyīn) or more commonly pronounced as Mángzhòng, literally "grain in ear" in English, is the 9th solar term. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 75° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 90°. It more often refers in particular to the day when the Sun is exactly at the celestial longitude of 75°. In the Gregorian calendar, it usually begins around June 5 (June 6 East Asia time) and ends around June 21.
传统农历将一年划分为24个节气。芒种，读作 Mángzhǒng，或 Mángzhòng，英文为grain in ear，是一年中第8个节气。太阳到达天经75°时开始，到达经度90°时结束。它更经常指的是太阳正好位于天经75°的那一天。在公历中，通常从6月5日（东亚时间6月6日）左右开始，到6月21日左右结束。
Each solar term can be divided into 3 pentads (候). They are: first pentad (初候), second pentad (次候) and last pentad (末候). Pentads in Mangzhong include:
每个节气可分为三候：初候、次候和末候。芒种的三候为：
First pentad 初候
螳螂生
The praying mantis is produced
Second pentad 次候
䴗（jú）始鸣
The shrike begins to give its notes
Last pentad 末候
反舌无声
The mocking bird ceases to sing
The arrival of Grain in Ear signifies the ripening of crops such as barley and wheat. It is also a busy period for farmers.
芒种的到来意味着大麦和小麦等作物的成熟。对农民来说，这也是一个繁忙的时期。
Rainfall increases during Grain in Ear compared to the previous eight solar terms. Regions in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River are about to enter the Plum Rains season. Plum Rains is a good period for growing rice, vegetables and fruits.
与前八个节气相比，穗粒期降雨量增加。长江中下游地区即将进入梅雨季节。梅雨是种水稻、蔬菜和水果的好季节。
An old proverb has it that “Getting busy with farm work in Grain in Ear,” which is prevailing in many provinces. Grain in Ear is especially critical for planting rice. There is a saying in Guizhou that goes, “If you don’t plant rice in Grain in Ear, planting will be in vain.”
我国很多省份都流行的谚语说：“芒种忙忙种”。芒种是种植水稻的关键时节。贵州有句俗话说：“芒种不种，再种无用。”
"An Miao" (meaning seedling protection) is a traditional farming activity of southern Anhui province that has been practiced since the early Ming Dynasty. Every year when Grain in Ear comes, they hold the sacrificial ceremony to pray for good harvests in the fall. People make different types of bread from wheat flour and color them with vegetable juice. The bread is used as a sacrificial offering to pray for a good harvest and people's safety.
“安苗”（意为）是皖南的农事习俗活动，始于明初。每到芒种时节，种完水稻，为祈求秋天有个好收成，各地都要举行安苗祭祀活动。家家户户用新麦面蒸发包，把面捏成五谷六畜、瓜果蔬菜等形状，用蔬菜汁染上颜色，作为祭祀供品，祈求五谷丰登、村民平安。
During Grain in Ear, as the flowers withered away, people in old times used to hold sacrificial ceremonies to bid farewell to the flora and show their gratitude. Today, this custom does not exist in many areas of China. We can only read about the liveliness and excitement of the ceremony in some of the ancient novels.
旧时民间多在芒种日举行祭祀花神仪式，饯送花神归位，同时表达对花神的感激之情。如今这一风俗已不在。我们只能从古代的小说中读到这一仪式的鲜活情形。