Xiaoman, or Small Grain, is the second solar term for summer after Lixia, or Summer Begins, when wheat starts to growin north China. Xiaoman usually occurs on May 20-22 when the sun's elliptical longitude reaches 60° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 75°. This yearit falls on May 21.
小满是夏季第二个节气，紧随立夏之后。此时，北方的小麦开始逐渐成熟。小满节气通常在每年的5月20日至22日之间，太阳到达黄经60度时便进入小满节气，在越过75度时便告结束。今年的小满是5月21日。
 
A Chinese proverb describes the days after Xiaoman as the “three periods of waitings” — waiting for sow thistle to prosper, waiting for fine grass in strong sunshine, and waiting for wheat to mature.
中国古代有一句谚语概括了小满时节的“三候”，分别是“第一候苦菜秀，第二候靡草死，第三候麦秋至”，说的是小麦未熟民众只能以苦菜饱腹，喜阴的靡草逐渐衰败而绿草开始繁茂，以及麦子逐渐成熟，虽是夏季，却进入了它成熟的“秋”。
 
There was a tradition of eating seasonal wild vegetables including sow thistle during Xiaoman when crops are yet to mature. Though it may sound like a helpless choice, the tradition actually benefits people as the wild vegetables contain rich vitamins and mineral substance.
由于小满时节庄稼尚未完全成熟，因此民间有着吃时令野菜的传统，其中包括苦菜。尽管这听起来像是个无奈之选，但事实上苦菜的维生素和矿物质含量丰富，有利于身体健康。

The arrival of Xiaoman also marks the important period for transplanting rice seedlings, harvesting the rapeseeds,and taking care of the silkworms about to cocoon in south China.
小满的到来在农耕社会中还有很多指示意义——此时的水稻要开始移栽了，田间的油菜籽可以收获了，在南方，家蚕开始织茧，养蚕人进入了一年中最忙碌的时分。