年 nián — year
新的一年又开始了。Xīn de yì nián yòu kāi shǐ le.A new year has begun again.
Common words: 今年 (jīn nián)、去年 (qù nián)、明年 (míng nián)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "year"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "year", including 年 (nián), 岁 (suì), 载 (zǎi / zài). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "year" covers 3 different Chinese characters — 年 (nián), 岁 (suì), 载 (zǎi / zài) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 3 characters do not share a sound — their readings span nián, suì, zǎi, zài — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 年 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 年 niányearUseful words: 今年, 去年
- 岁 suìyear; years old; (a measure word)Useful words: 岁月, 压岁钱
- 载 zǎi / zàiyear; to carry; to convey; to load; to hold; andUseful words: 下载, 记载
Common words for these 3 "year" characters
Anchor each of these 3 characters in a word you can picture — start with 年 (nián) — so "year" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 3 ways to say "year".
岁 suì — year; years old; (a measure word)
我今年十岁。Wǒ jīn nián shí suì.I am ten years old this year.
Common words: 岁月 (suì yuè)、压岁钱 (yā suì qián)、岁数 (suì shu)
载 zǎi / zài — year; to carry; to convey; to load; to hold; and
这辆卡车载着很多货物。Zhè liàng kǎ chē zài zhe hěn duō huò wù.This truck is loaded with a lot of goods.
Common words: 下载 (xià zǎi)、记载 (jì zǎi)、承载 (chéng zài)
All 3 characters
Open 年、岁、载 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.