Chinese word

近年来

Pronunciation

Pinyinjìn nián lái

Meaning

  • adverbin recent years

Example

近年来，他开始学英语了。jìn nián lái tā kāi shǐ xué yīng yǔ le

In recent years, he has started learning English.

Illustration for 近年来 (in recent years)

More examples

近年来，城市空气质量有所改善，但部分地区污染仍然存在。jìn nián lái chéng shì kōng qì zhì liàng yóu suó gǎi shàn dàn bù fèn dì qū wū rǎn réng rán cún zài

In recent years, urban air quality has improved, but pollution still remains in some areas.

Core concept

The near past viewed as an ongoing line leading to now, with attention on what has happened or changed along the way.

Common phrases

  • 近年来出现jìn nián lái chū xiàn

    appear in recent years

  • 近年来加剧jìn nián lái jiā jù

    intensify in recent years

  • 近年来呈现出jìn nián lái chéng xiàn chū

    show a trend in recent years

Similar words

最近zuì jìn: Refers to a short period from the very recent past up to now, for immediate events or conditions.
近来jìn lái: Covers recent times up to now, for recent events or developments.
近年jìn nián: Covers a fairly long period of recent years, emphasizing trends or changes across that period.
近几年jìn jǐ nián: Refers to several past years, often recounting events over those multiple years.

Definition in Chinese

用于指示从近几年来到现在这段时间，侧重描述在此期间出现的事实或趋势。yòng yú zhǐ shì cóng jìn jǐ nián lái dào xiàn zài zhè duàn shí jiān cè zhòng miáo shù zài cǐ qī jiān chū xiàn de shì shí huò qū shì

Word origin

近 (jìn, "near") + 年 (nián, "year") identifies nearby years, while 来 (lái, "come") extends that period toward the current moment.

Usage tips

  • English often puts a similar time phrase at the end, but Chinese can place this adverb before the subject to make the time setting prominent.

Opposites

Word lists with this word