农历 (nóng lì) literally means 'agricultural calendar' — 农 (nóng) means 'agriculture' or 'farming', and 历 (lì) means 'calendar' or 'almanac'. It refers to China’s traditional lunisolar calendar, which tracks both the moon’s phases and the sun’s annual cycle. Unlike the Gregorian calendar used internationally, the 农历 determines dates for festivals like Spring Festival (Chinese New Year), Mid-Autumn Festival, and Dragon Boat Festival — all of which fall on different Gregorian dates each year.

This calendar has been used in China for over two millennia and remains deeply embedded in cultural life: farmers historically relied on it to time planting and harvesting, and families still consult it for auspicious days for weddings, moving house, or starting new ventures. Though modern China officially uses the Gregorian calendar for administration and daily scheduling, the 农历 continues to shape seasonal rhythms, folklore, and communal celebrations across Chinese-speaking communities worldwide.