Usage note
元旦是新年的第一天，大家会庆祝和休息。
Yuándàn shì xīnnián de dì yī tiān, dàjiā huì qìngzhù hé xiūxi.
New Year's Day is the first day of the new year, and everyone celebrates and rests.
Context note
元旦是一个快乐的节日，学校和公司通常放假。
Yuándàn shì yī gè kuàilè de jiérì, xuéxiào hé gōngsī tōngcháng fàngjià.
New Year's Day is a happy holiday, and schools and companies usually have a day off.
5 examples
元旦那天，我和家人一起吃了大餐。
yuán dàn nà tiān， wǒ hé jiā rén yì qǐ chī le dà cān。
On New Year's Day, I had a big meal with my family.
学校在元旦放假一天。
xué xiào zài yuán dàn fàng jiǎ yī tiān。
The school has a day off on New Year's Day.
元旦早上，我们去看烟花。
yuán dàn zǎo shàng， wǒ men qù kàn yān huā。
On New Year's Day morning, we went to watch fireworks.
我的元旦愿望是学习更多中文。
wǒ de yuán dàn yuàn wàng shì xué xí gèng duō zhōng wén。
My New Year's Day wish is to learn more Chinese.
元旦是一个新的开始。
yuán dàn shì yí gè xīn de kāi shǐ。
New Year's Day is a new beginning.
5 mini stories
元旦到了，小明很高兴。他和朋友一起放风筝。
yuán dàn dào le， xiǎo míng hěn gāo xìng。 tā hé péng yǒu yì qǐ fàng fēng zheng。
New Year's Day arrived, and Xiaoming was very happy. He flew kites with his friends.
元旦那天，小红帮妈妈做蛋糕。他们一起庆祝新年。
yuán dàn nà tiān， xiǎo hóng bāng mā ma zuò dàn gāo。 tā men yì qǐ qìng zhù xīn nián。
On New Year's Day, Xiaohong helped her mom make a cake. They celebrated the new year together.
小华在元旦收到一张贺卡。他开心地笑了。
xiǎo huá zài yuán dàn shōu dào yì zhāng hè kǎ。 tā kāi xīn dì xiào le。
Xiaohua received a greeting card on New Year's Day. He smiled happily.
元旦晚上，全家一起看电视节目。大家都很开心。
yuán dàn wǎn shàng， quán jiā yì qǐ kàn diàn shì jié mù。 dà jiā dōu hěn kāi xīn。
On New Year's Day evening, the whole family watched TV shows together. Everyone was very happy.
小丽在元旦写下了新年的计划。她想要多读书。
xiǎo lì zài yuán dàn xiě xià le xīn nián de jì huà。 tā xiǎng yào duō dú shū。
Xiaoli wrote down her new year's plans on New Year's Day. She wanted to read more books.
Mini dialogue
元旦计划
A
元旦你打算做什么？
Yuándàn nǐ dǎsuàn zuò shénme?
What do you plan to do on New Year's Day?
B
元旦我们全家去公园。
Yuándàn wǒmen quán jiā qù gōngyuán.
On New Year's Day, our whole family will go to the park.
元旦祝福
A
元旦快乐！
Yuándàn kuàilè!
Happy New Year's Day!
B
谢谢，也祝你元旦快乐！
Xièxie, yě zhù nǐ yuándàn kuàilè!
Thank you, happy New Year's Day to you too!
Related words and contrasts
similar
新年
xīn nián
New Year
新年 is a general term for New Year, while 元旦 specifically refers to January 1st.
contrast
春节
chūn jié
Spring Festival (Chinese New Year)
春节 is the lunar New Year, different from 元旦 which is the solar New Year.
related
除夕
chú xī
New Year's Eve
除夕 is New Year's Eve, the day before 元旦 or 春节.