Chinese calendarn. The traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar, based on 24 seasonal segments each about 15 days long that determine the timing of intercalary months. Each year is associated with a particular animal in a 12-year cycle.American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.Chi?nese cal?endar n. the former calendar of China, in which the year consisted of 12 lunar months with an intercalary month added seven times every 19 years, time being reckoned in 60-year cycles. Random House Kernerman Webster’s College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.