周年

• Pinyin: zhōu nián
• Hanzi breakdown: 周 = enclosure suggesting completeness; 年 = pictograph of a person carrying grain, meaning 'year'

Meaning

Anniversary. The annual recurrence of a date marking a notable event.

Used with numbers to mark how many years have passed since an event: 一周年 (first anniversary), 十周年 (tenth anniversary). Commonly used for national celebrations, company milestones, and wedding anniversaries.

Examples

1. 今年是我们结婚十周年。 This year is our tenth wedding anniversary.
2. 公司正在准备二十周年庆典。 The company is preparing for its twentieth anniversary celebration.
3. 建校五十周年的活动很热闹。 The school's fiftieth anniversary event was very lively.

Usage Guide

Context: celebration, formal

Tone: commemorative

Do Say

• 明天是我们的结婚周年。(Tomorrow is our wedding anniversary.)
• 这是学校成立一百周年。(This is the school's 100th anniversary.)

Don't Say

• 今天是他的生日周年。(Don't use 周年 for birthdays — just say 生日. 周年 is for the anniversary of events, not recurring personal celebrations.)

Origin & History

Compound of 周 (full cycle) and 年 (year), literally 'a full year cycle.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal