歲 (suì) - Year & age

歲Tone 4

suì ｜ 13 strokes ｜ radical:

树檀

歲 · suì

Year;

age;

time;

harvest;

a unit of time in ancient China corresponding to Jupiter's orbital period.

Yearagetime

Usage highlights

AgeNew YearYear of birthAnnual harvestAnnual salaryAnnual festival

Synonyms

  • 年— year (more common modern usage)
  • 載— year (literary, archaic)

Antonyms

  • 日— day (short time period)
  • 月— month (shorter time period)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • I am ten years old (十歲).
  • The Chinese New Year is called Spring Festival (過歲).
  • He celebrated his birthday (過歲).
  • The harvest was abundant this year (歲收).

Collocations

  • Age(歲數)
  • New Year(新年歲)
  • Year of birth(歲次)
  • Annual harvest(歲收)
  • Annual salary(歲俸)
  • Annual festival(歲時)

Idioms

  • Year after year(歲歲年年)
  • Passing of time(歲月如流)
  • Peaceful years(太歲平安)
  • Annual celebration(歲時伏臘)
  • Favorable year(歲豐年稔)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In ancient Chinese astronomy, 歲 referred to Jupiter, whose 12-year orbital cycle was used for timekeeping.
  • The character is deeply associated with agricultural cycles and harvest festivals in traditional culture.
  • Used in age calculation systems where a child is considered one year old at birth (虛歲).

FAQ