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March 24, 2026
岁(嵗)suì(sui4)
The character 岁 (suì) primarily means 'year' and is commonly used to denote someone's age, such as 'I am 25 years old.' It can also refer to a year in terms of agricultural harvests. This character is often encountered in both formal and informal contexts when discussing age or time.
Strokes6Radical山Frequency#309DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, age is an important aspect of social interaction, often influencing respect and social hierarchy. The use of 岁 to indicate age reflects this cultural value, as age is often associated with wisdom and authority.
Memory Tip
Imagine a tall mountain (山) with a tree (木) growing on it, representing the passing of years. The mountain signifies the stability of time, while the tree symbolizes growth and age. 'Suì' sounds like 'sway,' as the tree sways gently with the years.
Meanings of 岁
suì(sui4)
1years old
2classifier for years (of age)
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 岁
岁Simplified
嵗Traditional
6Strokes
山Radical
数词shùcínumeral (num.)Part of Speech
#309Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L1HSK 3.0L1ElementaryTOCFLL1HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 岁
Podcast: 岁
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AI Study Notes for 岁
Quick Contrast
年龄 (niánlíng) refers specifically to 'age' in a more general sense, while 岁 (suì) is used to denote age in years, particularly in counting. 岁 (suì) is often used in conjunction with a number to indicate someone's age, whereas 年龄 (niánlíng) can refer to age more abstractly.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a tall mountain (山) with a tree (木) growing on it, representing the passing of years. The mountain signifies the stability of time, while the tree symbolizes growth and age. 'Suì' sounds like 'sway,' as the tree sways gently with the years.
Usage Notes
A common mistake is confusing 岁 (suì) with 年 (nián), which both mean 'year' but are used differently. 岁 is specifically used for age, while 年 can refer to any year. Remember to use the correct measure word when stating age: '我十岁' (Wǒ shí suì) means 'I am ten years old.'
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 1 word, 岁 connects to other basic vocabulary related to time and age, such as 年 (nián) and 生日 (shēngrì, birthday). Focus on practicing sentences that express age and time using 岁 to reinforce your understanding.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, age is an important aspect of social interaction, often influencing respect and social hierarchy. The use of 岁 to indicate age reflects this cultural value, as age is often associated with wisdom and authority.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 岁 to refer to years in general instead of age. For example, saying '我有五岁' (Wǒ yǒu wǔ suì) is incorrect; it should be '我五岁' (Wǒ wǔ suì) without '有'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 岁
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Phonosemantic compound. 步 represents the meaning and 戉 represents the sound. The simplified character 岁 was adapted from the cursive form of the traditional character 歲.
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Grammar Patterns of 岁
岁 functions as a number. It almost always combines with a measure word before a noun (三个人, 五本书). Standalone numbers are rare outside of math or counting. It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
duì yú liǎng gè qī shí jī suì de rén lái shuō， ， zhè duàn lù tài yuǎn。
It's a long way to go for two people in their seventies.
9
15岁的丹尼从地方当局的收容所逃跑了。
15 15 suì de dān ní cóng dì fāng dāng jú de shōu róng suǒ táo pǎo。
Fifteen-year-old Danny is on the run from a local authority home.
10
逝去的岁月让他们平添了几分魅力。
shì qù de suì yuè ràng tā mén píng tiān le jī fēn mèi lì。
It infected them with some of the magic of a lost age.
Cultural Notes for 岁
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, age is an important aspect of social interaction, often influencing respect and social hierarchy. The use of 岁 to indicate age reflects this cultural value, as age is often associated with wisdom and authority.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, age is often stated in a more casual context, whereas in Chinese culture, age can carry significant social weight and influence interactions.
Word Family of 岁
Compounds4
秽hui4dirty, unclean; immoral, obscene
刿gui4to cut, to injure, to stab; to stick on
哕hui4to belch; to vomit
翙
Words Containing This Character17
岁suìyear歲
万岁Your Majesty萬歲
岁月suìyuèyears歲月
岁数suìshuage (number of years old)歲數
贺岁to pay a New Year's visit賀歲
压岁钱yāsuìqiánmoney given to children as new year present壓歲錢
岁末end of the year歲末
太岁Tai Sui, God of the year太歲
年岁age年歲
周岁one full year (e.g. on child's first birthday)週歲
守岁to see in the New Year守歲
虚岁as opposed to 足歲|足岁[zúsuì]虛歲
去岁last year去歲
岁首start of the year歲首
岁暮end of the year歲暮
岁入annual revenue歲入
今岁(literary) this year今歲
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 秽 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 岁
You can ask '你几岁?' (Nǐ jǐ suì?), which means 'How old are you?'.
No, 岁 is specifically used to refer to age, while 年 (nián) is used for general years.
