Job Discussion Forums

panman36 · Joined: 04 Jun 2008 Posts: 48

Sorry if this is the wrong forum for this. I was looking for the off-topic forum and I couldn't find it for some reason. I really have to know about this.

Could someone explain how the birthdays work in china? If I was born on oct. 1 1988, on what day would my birthday be celebrated this year in china? How old would I be? US there a formula for this? Thanks.

The_Kong · Joined: 15 Apr 2014 Posts: 349

jm21 · Joined: 26 Feb 2008 Posts: 406

From what I've been told the lunar birthdate is the more important one, but some people will celebrate both. Probably some that don't celebrate at all. My gf's best friend celebrates one with one boyfriend and the other with her other boyfriend. It's a very convenient arrangement for those with multiple suitors I would think.

I think the age ends up just being a few days off usually. Maybe a couple weeks.

If you're not logged in you can't see the off topic forum.

mysterytrain · Joined: 23 Mar 2014 Posts: 366

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

A bit off the thread purpose, but a useful resource I use for English majors is getting them to find their Western Zodiac sign and then locating people in class who they are compatible with.
I link it to the Chinese birth year tradition also.
I know it is fanciful, but it does give students a look into Western popular culture.

BleedingBlue · Joined: 22 Oct 2014 Posts: 87

El Macho · Joined: 30 Jan 2006 Posts: 200

This is not a stupid question. You bring up two points:

1. Lunar calendar birthdays. Some, if not many, Chinese people keep track of their day of birth on the lunar calendar. Since the lunar and Gregorian calendars are not the same, the birthday is celebrated on a different day every year.

2. Counting age. Chinese people seem to count gestation as life, so a newborn is one year old. When people ask your age you can just say "I was born in '88" and they can count it however they want.