年轮 niánlún annual ring
annual ring; growth ring
How to remember 年轮: 年 year + 轮 wheel = annual ring.
Characters
How it is used
- The growth rings of a tree - 从年轮可以看出树的年龄 (cóng niánlún kěyǐ kànchū shù de niánlíng) tree rings show the tree's age.
- Frequently used metaphorically for the passage of time / traces the years leave: 岁月的年轮 (suìyuè de niánlún) the rings of time.
- Concrete botanical term with a ready-made poetic second life.