年 nián year
How to remember 年: 𠂉 clouds + 丯 crossed stalks = year. Under dark clouds the whole village carries in the crossed stalks of wheat, and grandpa says "Best harvest of the year!"
Component breakdown
年 = 𠂉 clouds + 丯 crossed stalks
- 𠂉 clouds
- 丯 crossed stalks
Under dark clouds the whole village carries in the crossed stalks of wheat, and grandpa says "Best harvest of the year!"
How it is used
- 'Year' - 今年 (jīnnián) this year, 去年 (qùnián) last year, 明年 (míngnián) next year. Note these take no measure word: say 今年, not 这个年.
- 过年 (guònián) specifically means to celebrate Chinese New Year, not just 'pass a year'.
- Also 'age/youth' in 年轻 (niánqīng) young and school grades in 年级 (niánjí).
Words with 年
- 去年qùniánlast yearHSK 1
- 今年jīnniánthis yearHSK 1
- 明年míngniánnext yearHSK 1
- 过年guòniánto celebrate the Chinese New YearHSK 2
- 年轻niánqīngyoungHSK 3
- 年级niánjígradeHSK 3
- 前年qiánniánthe year before lastHSK 3
- 后年hòuniánthe year after nextHSK 3
- 新年xīnniánNew YearHSK 3
- 年龄niánlíng(a person's) ageHSK 4
- 中年zhōngniánmiddle ageHSK 4
- 少年shàoniánearly youthHSK 4
- 年底niándǐthe end of the yearHSK 4
- 童年tóngniánchildhoodHSK 4
- 老年lǎoniánelderlyHSK 4
- 青年qīngniányouthHSK 4
- 周年zhōuniánanniversaryHSK 5
- 学年xuéniánacademic yearHSK 5
- 年代niándàia decade of a century (e.g. the Sixties)HSK 5
- 年初niánchūbeginning of the yearHSK 5
- 年夜饭niányèfànreunion dinner on Lunar New Year's EveHSK 5
- 年纪niánjìageHSK 5
- 当年dāngniánin those daysHSK 5
- 成年chéngniánto grow to adulthoodHSK 5
- 近年来jìnniánláifor the past few yearsHSK 5
- 历年lìniáncalendar yearHSK 6
- 常年chángniánall year roundHSK 6
- 年度niándùyear (e.g. school year, fiscal year)HSK 6
- 年终niánzhōngend of the yearHSK 6
- 往年wǎngniánin former yearsHSK 6
- 拜年bàiniánto pay a New Year callHSK 6
- 未成年人wèichéngniánrénminor (i.e. person under 18)HSK 6
- 多年来duōniánláifor the past many yearsHSK 7
- 年报niánbàoannual reportHSK 7
- 年画niánhuàNew Year (Spring Festival) pictureHSK 7
- 早年zǎoniánmany years agoHSK 7
- 晚年wǎnniánone's later yearsHSK 7
- 来年láiniánnext yearHSK 7
- 连年liánniánsuccessive yearsHSK 7
- 成年chéngniánfully grownHSK 7
Example sentences
- 我工作了半年。 Wǒ gōngzuòle bàn nián.I worked for half a year.
- 奶奶两年前去世了。 Nǎinai liǎng nián qián qùshì le.My grandmother died two years ago.
- 这几年上海的变化很快。 Zhè jǐ nián Shànghǎi de biànhuà hěn kuài.Shanghai has changed rapidly the last few years.
- 2008年的奥运会在北京举行。 Èr líng líng bā nián de Àoyùnhuì zài Běijīng jǔxíng.The 2008 Olympic Games were held in Beijing.