老年

• Pinyin: lǎo nián
• Hanzi breakdown: 老 (lǎo) — old; 年 (nián) — year, age

Meaning

Old age; the elderly years. Refers to the later stage of life or to elderly people as a group.

Used to describe the period of old age or as a modifier for things related to elderly people, such as 老年人 (elderly people) or 老年生活 (life in old age). It is a neutral, respectful term.

Examples

1. 爷爷的老年生活很快乐。 Grandpa's life in old age is very happy.
2. 这个公园里有很多老年人。 There are many elderly people in this park.
3. 他老年的时候想住在海边。 He wants to live by the sea when he's old.

Usage Guide

Context: health, society, family

Tone: respectful

Do Say

• 老年人需要多运动。(Elderly people need to exercise more.)
• 她的老年生活过得很好。(She's living a great life in her old age.)

Don't Say

• 不要直接对人说'你是老年人了' (Don't directly tell someone 'you're elderly' — it sounds blunt; use more tactful expressions)

Origin & History

Compound of 老 (old) and 年 (year, age). Together they refer to the years of old age.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal