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March 24, 2026
年纪(年紀)niánjì(nian2ji4)
年纪 (niánjì) refers to a person's age and is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts to inquire about or state the age of someone. It can also refer to the age of things or concepts in a broader sense, such as the age of a tradition or a historical artifact.
Frequency#2036DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, age is often associated with respect and social hierarchy, influencing how people are addressed and treated. Knowing someone's 年纪 can help you understand their social status and interactions.
Memory Tip
Think of 年 (nián) as a tree growing through the years, representing 'year,' and 纪 (jì) as a record or chronicle of that growth, linking to 'age.' Visualize a tree trunk with rings, each ring representing a year of age, to remember both the meaning and pronunciation.
Meanings of 年纪
niánjì(nian2ji4)
1age
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About 年纪
年纪Simplified
年紀Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
时间词time word (t.)Part of Speech
#2036Frequency Rank
把Measure Word
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2
Podcast: 年纪
Podcast: 年纪
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AI Study Notes for 年纪
Quick Contrast
年龄 (niánlíng) - use 年纪 (niánjì) for informal contexts, while 年龄 (niánlíng) is more formal.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of 年 (nián) as a tree growing through the years, representing 'year,' and 纪 (jì) as a record or chronicle of that growth, linking to 'age.' Visualize a tree trunk with rings, each ring representing a year of age, to remember both the meaning and pronunciation.
Usage Notes
Be mindful of the tone when using 年纪, as incorrect tones can change the meaning. This term is often used with numerals (e.g., '他今年三十岁' - 'He is thirty years old') and can be used in both casual conversation and more formal settings. Avoid using it in contexts where '岁' (suì) is more appropriate, especially with younger children.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, it connects with other vocabulary regarding personal information, such as 身份 (shēnfèn - identity) and 生日 (shēngrì - birthday). Focus on using 年纪 in sentences to describe age and practice its usage with related terms.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, age is often associated with respect and social hierarchy, influencing how people are addressed and treated. Knowing someone's 年纪 can help you understand their social status and interactions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 年纪 with 岁, mistakenly using them interchangeably. For example, saying '我今年二十年纪' (Wǒ jīnnián èrshí niánjì) instead of '我今年二十岁' (Wǒ jīnnián èrshí suì) is incorrect; use 岁 to specify age.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 年纪
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Grammar Patterns of 年纪
年纪 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
He is living proof that some players just get better with age.
Cultural Notes for 年纪
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, age is often associated with respect and social hierarchy, influencing how people are addressed and treated. Knowing someone's 年纪 can help you understand their social status and interactions.
Frequently Asked Questions about 年纪
You can ask, '你几岁?' (Nǐ jǐ suì?) for younger people or '您多大年纪?' (Nín duōdà niánjì?) for older people.
Yes, you can use 年纪 to refer to the age of things, but it's more common to use it for people.
年纪 (niánjì) is more general and can imply a broader context, while 岁 (suì) specifically refers to years in terms of age.
