Chinese calendar

[ chahy-neez kal-uhn-der, -nees ]

noun

1. the traditional calendar of China, in which the year consists of 12 lunar months with an intercalary month added seven times every 19 years to reconcile the lunar year of 354 days with the solar year of 365 days, time being reckoned in 60-year cycles with the first cycle dating from 2637 b.c.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Chinese calendar¹

First recorded in 1670–80