WINTER is the coldest season of the year. It begins at the winter solstice, the year’s shortest day, and ends at the vernal equinox, when day and night are equally long. In the Northern Hemisphere, winter begins on or about December 22 and ends on or about March 21. In the southern Hemisphere, winter begins on or about June 22 and ends on or about September 23. Winter occurs in different months in the Northern and Southern hemispheres because the orientation of each hemisphere with respect to the sun changes as the earth travels around the sun.

冬季是一年中最冷的季节。它从一年中最短的一天冬至开始，并在昼夜一样长的春分时结束。在北半球，冬季大致在12月22日开始，大约在3月21日结束。在南半球，冬季大致在6月22开始，大约在11月23日结束。在北半球和南半球，冬季发生在不同的月份，因为每个半球相对于太阳的朝向都会随地球围绕太阳的公转而改变。

Except in tropical and polar regions, winter is sharply different from the preceding fall and the succeeding spring. It is marked by low temperatures, snowfalls, cold waves, and reduced sunlight. Most plants slow their growth or become dormant, and many animals hibernate or migrate to warmer regions. See also SEASON.

除热带和极地地区外，冬季与前面的秋季和随后的春季截然不同。其特征是低温、降雪、寒潮和日照减少。大多数植物会减缓它们的生长，或处于休眠状态，而许多动物都会冬眠，或迁徙到更温暖的地方。也可参阅季节词条。

                                            2023年12月22日译

（译者注：该词条位列《大美百科全书》1985年版，第29卷，第56页）