中年

• Pinyin: zhōng nián
• Hanzi breakdown: 中 = a line through the center, meaning 'middle'; 年 = originally a pictograph of a person carrying grain, meaning 'harvest/year'

Meaning

Middle age; middle-aged. The period of life between youth and old age, typically around 40 to 60 years old.

In Chinese culture, 中年 often carries connotations of being at the peak of one's career but also facing increased family and social responsibilities. Common in the expression 中年人 (middle-aged person).

Examples

1. 他是一位中年男人。 He is a middle-aged man.
2. 很多中年人开始注意健康。 Many middle-aged people start paying attention to health.
3. 到了中年以后，他越来越喜欢运动了。 After reaching middle age, he grew to love exercise more and more.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, health

Tone: informational

Do Say

• 他是一个中年人。(He is a middle-aged person.)
• 中年以后要多运动。(After middle age, you should exercise more.)

Don't Say

• 她二十岁就中年了。(Don't use 中年 for someone in their twenties — 中年 generally refers to people around 40 to 60.)

Origin & History

Compound of 中 (middle) and 年 (year/age), literally 'middle years.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal