Photo by Mikelmania from Pixabay.com, CCO
The Chinese phrase 晨练 is composed of two characters: 晨 (chén) that means morning, dawn; and 练 (liàn) that means to practice, to exercise. Together 晨练 (chén liàn) means morning exercise.
晨练是早上进行的健身运动。
Chén liàn shì zǎo shang jìn xíng de jiàn shēn yùn dòng.
Morning exercise is the fitness workout one does in the morning.
The benefits of exercise are endless: improving health, strengthening the body, shaping the body, increasing self-confidence, raising the mood, and more. It’s true for 晨练 and it’s true for 黄昏练 (huáng hūn liàn, evening exercise). No matter how old you are or when during the day you exercise, you will always enjoy these benefits.
晨练有利身体健康。
Chén liàn yǒu lì shēn tǐ jiàn kāng.
Morning exercise is good for your health.
Compulsory 早操 (zǎo cāo, morning exercise) are part of every Chinese kindergarten and school. For the grown-ups, the public park replaces the schoolyard. Many people from all over China, especially the middle-aged and elderly people, went to the parks to work out at the beginning of the day. The morning scenes in central parks around China are lively. Early birds arrive even before six o’clock and start exercise (锻炼 duàn liàn). Many use the outdoor exercise bars for warming up, stretching, massaging, and performing some incredible fitness movements. Several videos went viral showing grandpas and grandmas (大爷大妈 dà yé dà mā) in great shape, displaying flexibility and strength. As in this video:
晨曦，公园就已经好热闹。
Chén xī, gong yuán jiù yǐ jīng hǎo rè nào.
At dawn, the park is already very lively.
中老年人参加晨练活动。
Zhōng lǎo nián rén shēn jiā chén liàn huó dòng.
Middle-aged and elderly people take part in morning exercise activities.
Beside the impressive 大爷大妈 working out on the exercise bars, you can also see people practicing many kinds of sports: square dancing, badminton, diabolo, devil sticks dance, jianzi, and so on.
Text vocabulary
晨练 chén liàn = morning exercise
黄昏练 huáng hūn liàn = evening exercise
早操 zǎo cāo = morning exercise
锻炼 duàn liàn = to work out, to exercise
进行 jìn xíng = to do, to conduct
健身运动 jiàn shēn yùn dòng = fitness activity