Chinese word

岁月

Pronunciation

Pinyinsuì yuè

Meaning

  • nounyears

Example

岁月过得真快。suì yuè guò de zhēn kuài

The years pass so quickly.

Illustration for 岁月 (years)

More examples

我们应该珍惜岁月，不要虚度光阴。wǒ men yīng gāi zhēn xī suì yuè bú yào xū dù guāng yīn

We should treasure the years and not waste time.

Core concept

The accumulated stretch of time viewed through the changes it brings.

Common phrases

  • 珍惜岁月zhēn xī suì yuè

    treasure the years

  • 岁月如梭suì yuè rú suō

    the years fly by

  • 流逝的岁月liú shì de suì yuè

    years gone by

Similar words

时间shí jiān: Time in general, including a moment, a period, or the length of an event.
年月nián yuè: A period counted in years and months, especially one that has built up over time.
时光shí guāng: Time remembered with warmth or nostalgia, often as it passes.

Definition in Chinese

表示年与月累积而成的时间，常指经过的年月或流逝的时光。biǎo shì nián yǔ yuè lěi jī ér chéng de shí jiān cháng zhǐ jīng guò de nián yuè huò liú shì de shí guāng

Word origin

The characters 岁 (suì, "year") and 月 (yuè, "month") form a compound that views time through its repeated calendar cycles.

Usage tips

  • A plain English "years" often sounds like a count, but 岁月 (suìyuè, "years and months") can make the same period sound remembered or passing, giving it a more reflective tone.

Other meanings

  • timenoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word