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成年 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
成年chéngniánto grow to adulthoodHSK 5, unknown, 12 strokes, rank #7991, Hard
成年chéngniánfully grownHSK 5, unknown, 12 strokes, rank #7991, Hard
成年chéngniánthe whole yearHSK 5, unknown, 12 strokes, rank #7991, Hard
chéngnián(cheng2nian2)cheng nian T2
  1. 1to grow to adulthood
  2. 2fully grown
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March 24, 2026

成年chéngnián(cheng2nian2)

成年 refers to reaching adulthood or the age of maturity. It is commonly used in legal, social, and educational contexts to indicate someone who is considered an adult with full rights and responsibilities.

Strokes12Frequency#7991DifficultyHard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 成年 is significant as it marks the transition from childhood to adulthood, often associated with rituals or celebrations in various communities.

Memory tip

Think of 成年 as a 'grown tree' (成 can remind you of a tree reaching its full height and 年 signifies the passing of years). Visualize a tree growing strong and tall, symbolizing an individual's journey to adulthood.

Meanings of 成年

chéngnián(cheng2nian2)
1to grow to adulthood
2fully grown
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About 成年

成年Simplified
12Strokes
—Radical
副词fùcíadverb (adv.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

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Podcast: 成年

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AI study notes for 成年

Quick Contrast

成年人 (chéngrén, adult) vs 成年人 (chéngniánrén, adult person) — use 成年 to emphasize the state of being of age rather than the person.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tone; remember that 成年 is pronounced with a rising tone (cheng2) and a falling tone (nian2). It is often used in formal contexts, such as legal documents or discussions about age.

HSK Study Tips

While 成年 is not specifically included in HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to basic age-related terms. Focus on understanding age-related phrases and how they relate to social contexts in Mandarin.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 成年 with younger age terms like 未成年 (minor). Remember, 成年 refers to someone who is legally considered an adult, while 未成年 means not yet an adult.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 成年

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Component characters

成chéngto succeed
HSK 66 strokes戈
View full entry
年niányear
HSK 16 strokes干
View full entry

How to say to grow to adulthood in Chinese

“to grow to adulthood” in Chinese is成年chéngnián

成年 refers to reaching adulthood or the age of maturity. It is commonly used in legal, social, and educational contexts to indicate someone who is considered an adult with full rights and responsibilities.

When to use 成年

Be cautious with the tone; remember that 成年 is pronounced with a rising tone (cheng2) and a falling tone (nian2). It is often used in formal contexts, such as legal documents or discussions about age.

成年 or something close to it

成年人 (chéngrén, adult) vs 成年人 (chéngniánrén, adult person) — use 成年 to emphasize the state of being of age rather than the person.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 成年 with younger age terms like 未成年 (minor). Remember, 成年 refers to someone who is legally considered an adult, while 未成年 means not yet an adult.

Write 成年

成
年

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

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Frequently asked questions about 成年

成年 implies that a person is now responsible for their actions and can engage in legal contracts and decisions.

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