年 Stroke Order — How to Write 年
年 is written in 6 strokes, following the standard Chinese stroke order. Start from the radical 干, then complete the remaining strokes.
Stroke order matters in Chinese: it keeps the character balanced, and it is how dictionaries and handwriting input methods expect a character to be written.
年 Radical and Character Components
Partial breakdown of 年:干
年 is an ideographic compound. A man 干 carrying grain, representing the annual harvest.
Radical: 干 + 3 more strokes
年 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- nián
Meanings of 年 in Chinese
1
nián年
A year; a period of twelve months. It also refers to a duration of multiple years, for example, 'three to five years'.
我们在一起很多年了。
We have been together for many years.
Used to indicate something that happens or is calculated once a year; annual or yearly.
我们公司的年会通常在十二月举行。
Our company's annual meeting is usually held in December.
The beginning of a year, often referring to New Year's Day or the New Year celebrations.
大年初一，家家户户都挂上了红灯笼，喜气洋洋过大年。
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, every household hangs red lanterns, joyfully celebrating the New Year.
related to New Year's festivities (e.g., goods, gifts, or decorations)
我们去超市买年货吧！
Let's go to the supermarket to buy New Year's goods!
Refers to a period or an era, often denoting a specific time frame or age.
近年来的科技发展速度惊人。
The pace of technological development in recent years has been astonishing.
Harvest; year's crop; the result of a year's farming.
今年年成很好，农民们都非常高兴。
This year's harvest is very good, and the farmers are all extremely happy.
Age; years old. Refers to the number of years a person has lived, often used in phrases like '年纪' (age), '年事' (years of age, often indicating advanced age), '年高' (advanced in years), and metaphorically '年轮' (tree rings, representing years).
爷爷年事已高，需要家人多加照顾。
Grandpa is advanced in years and needs more care from his family.
Refers to the different stages of a person's life, such as childhood, youth, middle age, and old age.
人在青年时期应该努力学习，为未来打下基础
During their youth, people should study hard to lay a solid foundation for the future.
Refers to a peer who passed the imperial examinations in the same year, often used to describe the special bond or friendship between them (e.g., 'nian xiōng' for a 'senior fellow examinee' or 'nian yì' for a 'fellow success' bond).
当年与他一同金榜题名，我们便成了有深厚年谊的朋友。
Having both successfully passed the imperial examinations in the same year, we became friends with a deep 'nian yi' bond.
Common Words and Phrases with 年
1
age and seniority in the family or clan; seniority according to age
尽管年辈不同，他们却成了无话不谈的好朋友。
Despite their differences in age and seniority, they became close friends who could talk about anything.
2
A chronological table of major historical events.
这本书的附录里有一个详细的年表，列出了作者生平的主要事件。
The appendix of this book includes a detailed timeline, listing the main events of the author's life.
3
the year's harvest
今年雨水充足，看来是个好年成。
With abundant rain this year, it seems like we'll have a good harvest.
4
age
虽年齿渐高，他仍坚持每天早起锻炼身体
Although his years are gradually advancing, he still insists on getting up early to exercise every day.
5
the beginning of the year; the first few days of a year.
我计划年初开始学习一门新语言。
I plan to start learning a new language early in the year.
6
a decade or an era/period.
这个设计风格是上个世纪八十年代的典型代表
This design style is a typical representation of the 1980s.
7
8
Annual; yearly; a twelve-month period, often referring to a fiscal or academic year.
我们正在讨论下一年度的预算分配问题。
We are discussing the budget allocation for the next fiscal year.
9
A family reunion dinner held on Lunar New Year's Eve.
我们家每年都会精心准备丰盛的年饭，大家围坐在一起，说说笑笑，非常温馨。
Our family carefully prepares a rich reunion dinner every year. Everyone sits around together, chatting and laughing, which is very warm.
10
A particular year, or the age/period something has existed.
这份葡萄酒瓶上的年份表明它是在2010年酿造的。
The year on this wine bottle indicates it was brewed in 2010.
11
yearly stipend
这家公司的年俸普遍较高，吸引了许多优秀人才前来应聘。
The annual salaries at this company are generally high, attracting many excellent talents to apply.
12
In the prime of life, full of vigor and energy.
虽然团队成员都非常年轻，但他们年富力强，凭借着创新精神和无限的活力，很快就攻克了技术难题。
Although the team members are very young, they are in the prime of their lives, and with their innovative spirit and boundless energy, they quickly overcame the technical challenges.
13
venerable in age; old in years
王奶奶虽然年高，但精神矍铄，每天坚持散步
Although Grandma Wang is advanced in years, she is still full of vigor and insists on taking a walk every day.
14
Niángāo (年糕) is a New Year cake made of glutinous rice flour, a traditional food for the Chinese New Year.
过年的时候，家家户户都会吃年糕，寓意着生活和事业一年比一年高。
During the Chinese New Year, every household eats niangao, symbolizing that life and career will be better year by year.
15
advanced in years and highly respected; venerable
这位年高德劭的老教授，受到了所有学生的敬仰。
This venerable and virtuous old professor is highly respected by all his students.
16
the end of the year
每年年根儿，我们家都会忙着准备过年的东西。
Every year at the year-end, our family gets busy preparing things for the New Year.
More words with 年
- chén陈nián年aged; long-standing
- jīn今nián年this year
- qù去nián年last year
- rùn闰nián年leap year
- hàn旱nián年drought year, dry year
- jì纪nián年dating, chronology
- lěi累nián年over the years, for many years
- mò末nián年final years, last years
- mù暮nián年Declining years; old age.
- qí祈nián年Pray for a year of abundance.
- qiàn歉nián年lean year; year of poor harvest
- tuán团nián年Spring Festival reunion
- xī昔nián年in former years; in the past
- yòu幼nián年infancy; childhood; young age
- zāi灾nián年famine year, disastrous year
- zhōng终nián年all year round, throughout the year
- zhōu周nián年anniversary
- zhú逐nián年Year after year; year by year.
- zhuàng壮nián年prime of life
- měi每nián年annually, yearly
Idioms with 年
- nián年fù复yī一nián年year after year
- nián年gāo高wàng望zhòng重venerable and highly respected
- nián年jiǔ久shī失xiū修dilapidated due to prolonged disuse
- nián年lǎo老sè色shuāi衰to lose youthful beauty with age
- nián年lǎo老tǐ体ruò弱old and weak
- nián年lǎo老tǐ体shuāi衰old and infirm
- nián年qīng轻lì力zhuàng壮young and strong
- nián年qīng轻qì气shèng盛young, vigorous, and impetuous
- nián年shào少wú无zhī知young and ignorant
- nián年shēn深rì日jiǔ久over the years
- nián年shēn深yuè月jiǔ久after a long lapse of time
- nián年shì事yǐ已gāo高advanced in years
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Open the tool →Questions about 年
What does 年 mean in Chinese?
年 (nián) means “A year” in Chinese.
How do you pronounce 年?
年 is pronounced nián in Mandarin Chinese.
How many strokes does 年 have?
年 has 6 strokes.
How do you write 年?
年 is written in 6 strokes, starting from the radical 干. See the animated stroke order on this page.
What is the radical of 年?
The radical of 年 is 干, and 年 is an ideographic compound.
