Chinese word

年迈

Pronunciation

Pinyinnián mài

Meaning

  • adjectiveelderly

Example

年迈的奶奶喜欢看电视。nián mài de nái nǎi xǐ huān kàn diàn shì

The elderly grandmother likes watching television.

Illustration for 年迈 (elderly)

More examples

那位年迈的人喜欢在公园散步。nà wèi nián mài de rén xǐ huān zài gōng yuán sàn bù

That elderly person likes walking in the park.

Core concept

Someone far along in life, whose body and energy no longer have the strength of youth.

Common phrases

  • 年迈的父母nián mài de fù mǔ

    elderly parents

  • 年迈的祖父母nián mài de zǔ fù mǔ

    elderly grandparents

  • 看上去年迈kàn shàng qù nián mài

    look elderly

Similar words

老lǎo: Old or no longer young, in a general and widely used sense.
高龄gāo líng: Of advanced age, in formal or official writing.
年长nián zhǎng: Older in age than another person or group.
上了年纪shàng le nián jì: Getting on in years and no longer young, in casual speech.

Definition in Chinese

年纪增大，已进入老年阶段，体力和精神常明显衰弱。nián jì zēng dà yǐ jìn rù lǎo nián jiē duàn tǐ lì hé jīng shén cháng míng xiǎn shuāi ruò

Word origin

The word combines 年 (nián, "year") with 迈 (mài, "to advance"), so it describes a person whose years have advanced into old age.

Usage tips

  • This word fits descriptions in news reports and formal writing more naturally than casual talk about a family member.

Other meanings

  • agedadjective

Opposites

Word lists with this word