年 (nián) - year & age

年Tone 2

nián ｜ 6 strokes ｜ radical: 干

楠念

年 · nián

year;

age;

period;

harvest;

annual;

New Year

yearageperiod

Usage highlights

This yearLast yearNext yearNew YearAgeAnnual

Synonyms

  • 岁— year (of age); annum
  • 载— year (literary)

Antonyms

  • 月— month (shorter time unit)
  • 日— day (shortest common time unit)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • This year (今年) I will travel.
  • Happy New Year (新年快乐)!
  • He is ten years old (十岁).
  • The annual report (年度报告) is due.

Collocations

  • This year(今年)
  • Last year(去年)
  • Next year(明年)
  • New Year(新年)
  • Age(年龄)
  • Annual(年度)

Idioms

  • Years of abundance(年年有余)
  • Longevity and wealth(寿比南山，福如东海)
  • Change with each passing day(日新月异)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally depicted a person carrying harvested grain, symbolizing harvest and cyclical time.
  • Central to Chinese New Year (春节) celebrations, marking renewal and family reunion.
  • Used in zodiac context (e.g., Year of the Dragon 龙年).

FAQ