About
The character 年 (nián) originated as an ideograph depicting a person carrying harvested grain. Its structure combines the upper component 禾 (hé), meaning grain or rice stalk, with a lower section representing a human figure, though this part now resembles 千 (qiān) in modern form. Since grain harvest occurred once per agricultural cycle, the meaning shifted from a successful harvest to the time required for that cycle, eventually denoting a calendar year or a person's age.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
今年是虎年。
我的年龄是十岁。
去年我们去北京旅游了。
每年春节都很热闹。
青年人是国家的未来。
这部电影讲述了多年的故事。
如果今年下雨少，明年可能缺水。
经过多年的努力，他终于实现了自己的梦想。