全年

• Pinyin: quán nián
• Hanzi breakdown: 全 = 入 (enter) + 王 (king); 年 = originally a pictograph of a person carrying grain, representing the harvest cycle

Meaning

The whole year; all year round. Refers to the entire span of a calendar year.

Used to describe something that lasts or applies throughout an entire year. Common in weather reports, business contexts, and statistical descriptions. Often paired with time-related expressions like 全年无休 (open all year without breaks).

Examples

1. 这家店全年都不关门。 This shop stays open all year round.
2. 我们城市全年的天气都很好。 The weather in our city is nice all year.
3. 他全年都在努力学习。 He has been studying hard all year.

Usage Guide

Context: time, weather, business

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这个超市全年营业。(This supermarket is open all year round.)
• 全年的销售情况都不错。(Sales have been good throughout the year.)

Don't Say

• 不要用全年来指一天中的全部时间 (Don't use 全年 to mean all day — 全年 means the whole year; for all day use 全天)

Origin & History

全 (quán, whole/entire) + 年 (nián, year). A straightforward compound meaning the entirety of a year.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal