What does 年 mean in Chinese?

年 (nián) means "year" in Chinese. The new HSK exam tests it at HSK 1.

How do you pronounce 年?

年 is pronounced "nián" in Mandarin Chinese. The tone number is 2.

What HSK level is 年?

年 is an HSK 1 word on the new HSK exam syllabus. It is HSK 1 on both the old and the new exam.

What words contain the character 年?

Common words with 年 include 上年 (last year), 一年半 (a year and a half), 一年多 (more than a year), 一年期 (one year period (in a contract or budget)), 一年生 (annual (botany)).

How do you write 年?

年 has 6 strokes. Its radical is 干. You can view the stroke order animation on our stroke order tool.

年 (nián), year

年

nián

year

HSK 1classifier6 strokes

Character Breakdown

Grain ripens once per harvest cycle — a year

Radical: 干 (no. 51)Strokes: 6

View stroke order →

Definitions

(classifier) year

Classifier: 个 (gè)

Example Sentences

今年很冷。

Jīnnián hěn lěng

This year is very cold

Words Containing 年

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
上年	shàng nián	last year
一年半	yī nián bàn	a year and a half
一年多	yī nián duō	more than a year
一年期	yī nián qī	one year period (in a contract or budget)
一年生	yī nián shēng	annual (botany)

→

一年之计在于春(yī nián zhī jì zài yú chūn)· the whole year must be planned for in the spring (idiom)

→

一年到头(yī nián dào tóu)· all year round

→

一年半(yī nián bàn)· a year and a half

→

Grammar Notes

Duration ComplementHSK 2

Subject + Verb + 了 + Duration (+ Object)

就 and 才 (Then/Only then)HSK 2

Subject + (Time/Condition) + 就/才 + Verb

是...的 ConstructionHSK 3

Subject + 是 + [detail] + Verb + 的 + (Object)

Pivotal Sentence (兼语句)HSK 4

Subject1 + Verb1 + Noun (pivot) + Verb2 + Object2

Compared With (相比)HSK 4

跟/和/与 + A + 相比, B + Comment

Appears in these articles

HSK levels

New HSK exam: HSK 1
HSK 2.0: HSK 1
HSK Lord study list: HSK 1 list

年: HSK 1 on both the old and the new exam. See where your old level lands

New exam levels follow the CLEC syllabus released 15 November 2025. The first official sitting is announced for 13 December 2026. HSK 7-9 is one advanced band.

On the new HSK 1 exam

Studying for HSK 1? Keep 年 with the rest of your level.

HSK Lord schedules your reviews so each character comes back right before you would forget it. Free to start, and it picks up where you are.

Start studying free The words new HSK 1 adds

Frequently Asked Questions

Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.

年