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March 24, 2026
年(秊)nián(Nian2)
The character 年 (nián) primarily means 'year' and is commonly used to denote time periods in contexts such as age, anniversaries, and harvests. It can also refer to the Chinese New Year, which is a significant cultural event marking the start of a new year according to the lunar calendar.
Strokes6Radical干Frequency#141DifficultyEasy
Cultural note
The concept of 年 is deeply intertwined with the celebration of the Chinese New Year (春节, chūnjié), which is based on lunar calendars and signifies renewal and the importance of family gatherings. This character also reflects the agricultural roots of Chinese society, where harvest cycles were critical.
Memory tip
Imagine a giant calendar with the character 年 (nián) standing on top of it, holding a big grain of rice. This visual connects the word to its meaning of 'year' and 'harvest,' as both concepts are essential to agricultural traditions in China. The pronunciation 'nián' sounds like 'knee-an,' which you can visualize as someone bending their knee in celebration during New Year festivities.
Meanings of 年
nián(Nian2)
1year
2grain
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About 年
年Simplified
秊Traditional
6Strokes
干Radical
数词shùcínumeral (num.)Part of Speech
#141Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L1HSK 3.0L1ElementaryTOCFLL1HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 年
Podcast: 年
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AI study notes for 年
Quick Contrast
岁 (suì) - use 年 (nián) when referring to a calendar year, while 岁 (suì) specifically denotes age in years.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include using 年 in contexts where a different time measure is needed, such as 'month' (月, yuè) or 'day' (日, rì). It's typically used in both formal and informal settings, but be mindful of its context, especially around the New Year when it has cultural significance. Remember, '年' is pronounced with a rising tone, which can be tricky for some learners.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 1 word, 年 connects to other basic time-related vocabulary such as 现在 (xiànzài, now) and 今天 (jīntiān, today). Focus on practicing this character in sentences about age, time periods, and celebrations to solidify your understanding.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 年 with 年龄 (niánlíng, age) or mistakenly use it when talking about specific dates. For example, saying '我十年' (wǒ shí nián) instead of '我十岁' (wǒ shí suì) to mean 'I am ten years old' is incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 年
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Learning Lab
Knowing 年 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
The character 年 (nián) primarily means 'year' and is commonly used to denote time periods in contexts such as age, anniversaries, and harvests. It can also refer to the Chinese New Year, which is a significant cultural event marking the start of a new year according to the lunar calendar.
When to use 年
Common mistakes include using 年 in contexts where a different time measure is needed, such as 'month' (月, yuè) or 'day' (日, rì). It's typically used in both formal and informal settings, but be mindful of its context, especially around the New Year when it has cultural significance. Remember, '年' is pronounced with a rising tone, which can be tricky for some learners.
年 or something close to it
岁 (suì) - use 年 (nián) when referring to a calendar year, while 岁 (suì) specifically denotes age in years.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 年 with 年龄 (niánlíng, age) or mistakenly use it when talking about specific dates. For example, saying '我十年' (wǒ shí nián) instead of '我十岁' (wǒ shí suì) to mean 'I am ten years old' is incorrect.
Write 年
年
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Grammar patterns of 年
年 functions as a number. It almost always combines with a measure word before a noun (三个人, 五本书). Standalone numbers are rare outside of math or counting. It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
