Chinese word

中年

Pronunciation

Pinyinzhōng nián

Meaning

  • nounmiddle-aged person

Example

中年的人往往更注重健康。zhōng nián de rén wáng wǎng gèng zhù zhòng jiàn kāng

Middle-aged people often pay more attention to their health.

Illustration for 中年 (middle-aged person)

More examples

他进入中年后开始锻炼身体。tā jìn rù zhōng nián hòu kāi shǐ duàn liàn shēn tǐ

He began exercising after entering middle age.

Core concept

A middle stretch of adulthood that separates the years of youth from the years of old age.

Common phrases

  • 中年人zhōng nián rén

    middle-aged person

  • 进入中年jìn rù zhōng nián

    enter middle age

  • 中年以后zhōng nián yǐ hòu

    after middle age

Similar words

中年人zhōng nián rén: A person in the middle stage of adult life, generally around the forties.

Definition in Chinese

指处于成年后期但未进入老年的年龄段，多用于称呼该年龄段的人或描述该时期的生活状态。zhǐ chǔ yú chéng nián hòu qī dàn wèi jìn rù lǎo nián de nián líng duàn duō yòng yú chēng hū gāi nián líng duàn de rén huò miáo shù gāi shí qī de shēng huó zhuàng tài

Word origin

中 (zhōng, "middle") + 年 (nián, "year or age") literally points to the middle years and gives the word its age-group meaning.

Usage tips

  • The term does not set a universal age boundary, so context rather than one exact birthday places someone in this stage.

Other meanings

  • middle agenoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 中年人zhōng nián rénmiddle-aged personnoun
  • 中年期zhōng nián qīmiddle agenoun

Word lists with this word