noun HSK 4
Traditional 年紀
age · years
Meaning
年纪 refers to a person's age, particularly emphasizing the number of years someone has lived. It's commonly used when discussing how old someone is or when talking about age-related matters. The word carries a slightly more formal or respectful tone compared to the more colloquial 岁 (suì).
Usage
年纪 is often used when talking about older people or when discussing age in a more polite or formal context. It frequently appears in phrases like 上了年纪 (advanced in age) or 年纪大了 (getting old). When asking someone's age politely, especially for older people, 年纪 is preferred over 岁.
Examples
- 01他年纪虽然不大，但很懂事。, .Although he's not very old, he's very sensible.
- 02您老人家这么大年纪了，还这么精神！, !At your advanced age, you're still so energetic!
Characters
Common collocations
- 上了年纪advanced in age, getting on in years
- 年纪大了getting old
- 年纪轻轻at such a young age
- 一把年纪at such an age, quite old
Origin
年 means year, while 纪 originally meant to record or document. Together, 年纪 literally refers to the recorded years of someone's life.