明年

• Pinyin: míng nián
• Hanzi breakdown: 明 = 日 (sun) + 月 (moon), meaning bright/next; 年 = originally a pictograph of a person carrying grain, meaning year

Meaning

Next year. The year following the current one.

A basic time word used constantly in planning and future discussions. Part of a series: 去年 (last year), 今年 (this year), 明年 (next year).

Examples

1. 明年我想去中国。 I want to go to China next year.
2. 他明年上大学。 He starts university next year.
3. 明年春天我们再见。 Let's meet again next spring.

Usage Guide

Context: time, planning

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 明年你有什么打算？(What are your plans for next year?)
• 明年见！(See you next year!)

Don't Say

• 在明年的里面。(Unnatural — 明年 is a time word used directly; say 在明年 or just 明年, don't add 的里面)

Origin & History

A compound of 明 (bright/next) and 年 (year). The character 明 here carries the meaning of 'next' or 'the coming,' as in the bright future ahead.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal