岁月

• Pinyin: suì yuè
• Hanzi breakdown: 岁 = 山 (mountain) + 夕 (evening), year; 月 = pictograph of moon, month

Meaning

Years; time; the passage of time. Often with a nostalgic or reflective tone.

A poetic term for the passage of time, often used when reflecting on life experiences, aging, or history. More literary than 时间 and carries emotional weight. Common in literature, songs, and reflective speech.

Examples

1. 岁月不饶人，转眼间我们都老了。 Time waits for no one — in the blink of an eye, we've all grown old.
2. 那些艰苦的岁月早已过去，但我永远不会忘记。 Those difficult years are long past, but I will never forget them.
3. 老照片记录了那段美好的岁月。 Old photos capture those wonderful years.

Usage Guide

Context: reflection, literature, nostalgia

Tone: reflective

Do Say

• 岁月如梭。(Time flies like a shuttle.)
• 那段岁月令人难忘。(Those years were unforgettable.)

Don't Say

• 今天的岁月很忙 — for daily time, use 时间; 岁月 refers to longer periods and has poetic connotations

Origin & History

Compound of 岁 (year/age) + 月 (month), together meaning the passage of time.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal