年初

• Pinyin: nián chū
• Hanzi breakdown: 年 = originally a person carrying grain, representing one harvest cycle; 初 = 衤 (clothing) + 刀 (knife), the first cut — beginning

Meaning

Beginning of the year; early in the year. The first part of a calendar year.

Refers to roughly the first one to two months of a year, either the calendar year (January-February) or the Chinese New Year period. Often used to set a time frame for events or plans. Contrasts with 年底 (end of the year) and 年中 (mid-year). Common in news, business, and everyday conversation.

Examples

1. 他年初的时候换了一份新工作。 He switched to a new job at the beginning of the year.
2. 我们年初制定的计划已经完成了一半。 We have already completed half of the plan we made at the start of the year.
3. 年初物价比较低，适合买东西。 Prices are relatively low at the beginning of the year — a good time to shop.

Usage Guide

Context: time reference, planning, news

Tone: temporal

Do Say

• 年初我开始学中文。(I started learning Chinese at the beginning of the year.)
• 公司年初招了很多新人。(The company hired many new people at the start of the year.)

Don't Say

• 今天是年初。(Don't use 年初 for a specific day — it refers to a period, not a date. Say 今天是一月一号 for a specific date.)

Origin & History

年 originally depicted a person carrying grain, representing the harvest cycle (one year); 初 means beginning (衤 clothing + 刀 knife, the first cut of fabric).

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal