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明年 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
明年míngniánnext yearHSK 1, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #3383, Easy
míngnián(ming2nian2)ming nian T2
  1. 1next year
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March 24, 2026

明年míngnián(ming2nian2)

明年 (míng nián) means 'next year' in Mandarin. It is commonly used in conversational contexts to refer to the year following the current one, especially when discussing future plans or events. The term combines the character 明, meaning 'bright' or 'clear', with 年, meaning 'year'.

Strokes14Frequency#3383DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, planning for the next year often involves discussing one's goals during the Lunar New Year celebrations, making 明年 a significant term during this festive period.

Memory Tip

Imagine a bright sun shining brightly next year, illuminating your plans. The 明 (míng) in 明年 represents brightness or clarity, symbolizing the optimistic vision of the year ahead. Associating the sound 'ming' with the bright future of 'next year' can help in remembering its meaning.

Meanings of 明年

míngnián(ming2nian2)
1next year
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About 明年

明年Simplified
14Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L1ElementaryTOCFLL1HSKKL1CEFRA1

Podcast: 明年

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Podcast: 明年

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AI Study Notes for 明年

Quick Contrast

明年 (next year) vs 今年 (this year) — use 明年 when referring to the year after the current one, not the current year.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 明年 with 今年 (jīn nián, 'this year') or 去年 (qù nián, 'last year'). It's important to use 明年 when discussing events that will happen in the upcoming year. Remember that it is typically used in informal contexts but can also fit in formal discussions about future plans.

HSK Study Tips

Although 明年 is not specifically listed in HSK vocabulary, it is relevant for learners at HSK 2 and above, as discussing time and future events is a common topic. Focus on practicing sentence structures that include time expressions.

Common Mistakes

A frequent error is using 明年 when referring to the current year, such as saying '明年我去北京' instead of '今年我去北京'. The correct term for 'this year' is 今年 (jīn nián).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 明年

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Component Characters

明míngMing Dynasty (1368-1644)
HSK 18 strokes日
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年niányear
HSK 16 strokes干
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How to say next year in Chinese

“next year” in Chinese is明年míngnián

明年 (míng nián) means 'next year' in Mandarin. It is commonly used in conversational contexts to refer to the year following the current one, especially when discussing future plans or events. The term combines the character 明, meaning 'bright' or 'clear', with 年, meaning 'year'.

When to use 明年

Learners often confuse 明年 with 今年 (jīn nián, 'this year') or 去年 (qù nián, 'last year'). It's important to use 明年 when discussing events that will happen in the upcoming year. Remember that it is typically used in informal contexts but can also fit in formal discussions about future plans.

明年 or something close to it

明年 (next year) vs 今年 (this year) — use 明年 when referring to the year after the current one, not the current year.

What learners get wrong

A frequent error is using 明年 when referring to the current year, such as saying '明年我去北京' instead of '今年我去北京'. The correct term for 'this year' is 今年 (jīn nián).

Write 明年

明
年

Practice writing 明年 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 明年

You can say '明年我打算旅行' (Míng nián wǒ dǎsuàn lǚxíng) which means 'I plan to travel next year.'

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