Hanzi Stroke Logo
Hanzi Stroke

Making Chinese characters easy to write.

Sister Sites
Five Elements TestChinese-Idioms.com
AboutProduct UpdatesPrivacy PolicyTerms of Service
DICTIONARY
  • Chinese Dictionary
  • Pinyin Index
  • Radical Index
  • Character Components
  • HSK Dictionary
  • Character Compare
DICTIONARY
  • Chinese Dictionary
  • Pinyin Index
  • Radical Index
  • Character Components
  • HSK Dictionary
  • Character Compare
TOOLS

Practice & Review

  • Writing Practice
  • Flashcard Review
  • Dictation Practice
  • Worksheet Generator
  • Sentence Practice
  • Hanzi Sticker Match

Resources & Utilities

  • Worksheet Library
  • HSK Level Checker
  • Pinyin Converter

Fun & Culture

  • Name Generator
  • Zodiac Calculator
TOOLS

Practice & Review

  • Writing Practice
  • Flashcard Review
  • Dictation Practice
  • Worksheet Generator
  • Sentence Practice
  • Hanzi Sticker Match

Resources & Utilities

  • Worksheet Library
  • HSK Level Checker
  • Pinyin Converter

Fun & Culture

  • Name Generator
  • Zodiac Calculator
LEARN
  • Learning Center
  • Courses
  • Blog
  • Chinese Stroke Rules
  • Chinese Poetry
  • Pro Membership ✨
LEARN
  • Learning Center
  • Courses
  • Blog
  • Chinese Stroke Rules
  • Chinese Poetry
  • Pro Membership ✨

© 2026 Hanzi Stroke. All rights reserved.

Made with♥for Chinese learners.
HanziStroke Logo
Hanzi Stroke
By CharacterBrowse all characters A-Z
HSK ListsAll HSK versions overview
HSK 2.0
HSK Standard CourseHSK 2.0
Practice & Review
  1. Home
  2. Dictionary
  3. 年

年 (nián): Year — Stroke Order & Writing Guide

HSK 2.0Level 1
HSK 3.0
By PinyinSearch by pronunciation
By RadicalFind by radical component
By ComponentsLearn meaning and sound clues
Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 6
HSK 3.0
Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 6Level 7-9
New HSK CourseHSK 3.0
Integrated ChineseFourth Edition
Hanyu JiaochengThird Edition
Developing ChineseSecond Edition
BCT Standard Course
Browse all courses
Writing PracticePractice HSK and saved words
Flashcard ReviewSRS review for HSK and custom decks
Dictation PracticeListen and write characters
Worksheet GeneratorCreate practice sheets for free
Sentence PracticeWrite complete sentences in context
Hanzi Sticker MatchFree pinyin–hanzi matching game
Resources & Utilities
Worksheet LibraryHSK, Top 100 & themed PDFs
HSK Level CheckerCheck HSK level of any text
Pinyin ConverterConvert Chinese to Pinyin
Fun & Culture
Name GeneratorCreate your Chinese name
Zodiac CalculatorFind your zodiac animal
View All Tools
Level 1
HSK 3.0:Recognition 1Writing 1-2
HSK 2.0Level 1
HSK 3.0Vocab 1Recognition 1Writing 1-2
1.

Animated Stroke Order 年

Watch the stroke order, then trace it yourself.

How to write 年 — animated stroke order

6,626 learners practiced this

2.

Stroke Order Diagrams 年

年 stroke order diagram
3.

Character Breakdown

Top-Bottom
年
禾hé · grain
千qiān · thousand
年=
4.

Printable Writing Worksheet: 年

年 handwriting practice worksheet preview
Download full HSK 3.0 Level 1 PDF pack
5.

How to Use 年

Year units and time

This group uses 年 (nián) to directly name years, annual periods, and continuous time.

去年 • qù nián • last year • HSK 2
HSK 2
6.

HSK Vocabulary: 年

前年 • qián nián • the year before last
HSK 3.0 · L3
qián前
nián
7.

Example Sentences

jīnnián shì èr líng èr sì nián.
今年是2024年。

This year is 2024.

tā

Information

Pinyinnián
Meaningyear
Strokes6
Radical干
Traditional年
StructureTop-Bottom
Frequency#120
Zhuyinㄋㄧㄢˊ
UnicodeU+5E74
CangjieOQ
禾hé · grain
+千qiān · thousand
qù去
nián年

last year

今年 • jīn nián • this year • HSK 3.0 · L1
HSK 3.0 · L1
jīn今
nián年

this year

明年 • míng nián • next year • HSK 3.0 · L1
HSK 3.0 · L1
míng明
nián年

next year

年度 • nián dù • year • HSK 6
HSK 6
nián年
dù度

year

Year with age or stage

This group combines 年 (nián) with words for age, school grade, or historical period.

年级 • nián jí • (school) year/grade • HSK 3
HSK 3
nián年
jí级

(school) year/grade

年龄 • nián líng • age • HSK 4
HSK 4
nián年
líng龄

age

年纪 • nián jì • age • HSK 5
HSK 5
nián年
jì纪

age

年代 • nián dài • years; a decade of a century • HSK 5
HSK 5
nián年
dài代

years; a decade of a century

New Year and festival customs

This group uses 年 (nián) in words for celebrating the New Year and related traditions.

过年 • guò nián • to celebrate the Chinese New Year • HSK 3.0 · L2
HSK 3.0 · L2
guò过
nián年

to celebrate the Chinese New Year

新年 • xīn nián • New Year • HSK 3.0 · L3
HSK 3.0 · L3
xīn新
nián年

New Year

拜年 • bài nián • pay a New Year call • HSK 6
HSK 6
bài拜
nián年

pay a New Year call

年

the year before last

后年 • hòu nián • the year after next
HSK 3.0 · L3
hòu后
nián年

the year after next

年轻 • nián qīng • young
HSK 3
nián年
qīng轻

young

中年 • zhōng nián • middle age
HSK 3.0 · L4
zhōng中
nián年

middle age

少年 • shào nián • early youth
HSK 3.0 · L4
shào少
nián年

early youth

年底 • nián dǐ • the end of the year
HSK 3.0 · L4
nián年
dǐ底

the end of the year

他
de的
nián年
líng龄
shì是
èr二
shí十
wǔ五
suì岁
。

His age is twenty-five years old.

wǒ我
men们
quán全
jiā家
yī一
qǐ起
guò过
nián年
。

Our whole family celebrates the Chinese New Year together.

wǒ我
xué学
xí习
zhōng中
wén文
yì一
nián年
le了
。

I have been studying Chinese for one year.

xīn新
nián年
kuài快
lè乐
,
wàn万
shì事
rú如
yì意
!

Happy New Year, may all your wishes come true!

Related Characters

Explore characters by relationship

HSK Level 1

Characters from the same exam level.

  • 你nǐyou
  • 七qīseven
  • 钱qiánmoney
  • 请qǐngto invite; please
  • 去qùto go
  • 热rèhot
View all HSK 1 characters →

Same Sound

Characters pronounced "nian".

  • 拈niānpick up with fingers; draw lots
  • 蔫niānwithered, faded, decayed; calm
  • 捻niǎnto twist or nip with the fingers
  • 碾niǎnroller, crush; roll
  • 黏niánsticky, glutinous, adhesive
  • 辗niǎnto roll over, turn over
View all "nian" characters →

Same Radical

Characters with radical "干".

  • 并bìngto combine, to merge
  • 平píngflat; level; even; equal
  • 干gàntrunk; main part; do; work
  • 幸xìnggood fortune, luck, happiness
View all "干" radical characters →