年纪

• 拼音: nián jì
• 汉字拆解: 年 = originally a person carrying grain, one harvest cycle; 纪 = 纟(silk/thread) + 己 (self), meaning to record

含义

Age. Refers to how old a person is, especially in a general or polite sense.

A common and slightly softer way to talk about someone's age compared to 岁 (which gives exact numbers). Often used in phrases like 年纪大了 (getting old), 年纪还小 (still young), and 上了年纪 (advanced in age). Used when discussing age in general terms rather than asking for a specific number.

例句

1. 爷爷年纪大了，走路比较慢。
2. 她年纪虽然小，但是很懂事。
3. 到了这个年纪，应该学会照顾自己。

用法指南

语境: daily life, family, polite conversation

语气: respectful

正确说法

• 他年纪不大，才二十几岁。(He is not old — only in his twenties.)
• 上了年纪的人需要多休息。(People who are getting on in years need more rest.)

错误说法

• 你的年纪是多少？(This sounds unnatural — use 你多大了？ or 您多大年纪了？ to ask someone's age.)

起源与历史

年 means year (a harvest cycle); 纪 means record or discipline (纟thread + 己 self), originally meaning to mark or record. Together: a record of years — age.

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal