How common it is
年 appears often in everyday Chinese, so it is worth practicing early and reviewing often.
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Pronunciation focus
Say nián slowly first, then repeat it in a short phrase. Listen for the tone shape.
Usage note
年用来表示时间，比如一年、十年。
nián yòng lái bǎo shí shí jiān ，rú guǒ yī nián 、shí nián 。
年 is used to indicate time, such as a year or ten years.
Context note
年常用于描述时间跨度，比如春节、国庆节。
nián cháng yòng lái miáo shù shí jiān kuò dà ，rú guǒ chūn jié 、guó jì jié 。
Year is commonly used to describe time spans, such as Spring Festival and National Day.
5 examples
今年是2023年。
jīn nián shì 2 0 2 3 nián。
This year is 2023.
我去年去了北京。
wǒ qù nián qù le běi jīng。
I went to Beijing last year.
他每年都会来中国。
tā měi nián dōu huì lái zhōng guó。
He comes to China every year.
我们已经在一起五年了。
wǒ men yǐ jīng zài yì qǐ wǔ nián le。
We have been together for five years.
明年会更好。
míng nián huì gèng hǎo。
Next year will be better.
5 mini stories
小明今年九岁了，他去年才五岁。
xiǎo míng jīn nián jiǔ suì le， tā qù nián cái wǔ suì。
Xiaoming is nine years old this year. He was only five last year.
每年春节我们都会去爷爷家。
měi nián chūn jié wǒ men dōu huì qù yé ye jiā。
We always go to Grandpa's house during the Spring Festival every year.
去年我去了日本，今年我要去法国。
qù nián wǒ qù le rì běn， jīn nián wǒ yào qù fǎ guó。
I went to Japan last year, and this year I am going to France.
他从十年前开始学习中文。
tā cóng shí nián qián kāi shǐ xué xí zhōng wén。
He has been learning Chinese since ten years ago.
今年是妈妈的四十岁生日。
jīn nián shì mā ma de sì shí suì shēng rì。
This year is Mom's fortieth birthday.