年
year; harvest
At a glance · 年
Evolution of the glyph
Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.
Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE
⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.
甲骨文从禾从人，象人负禾，本义为谷物成熟（年成），引申为年份。小篆作「年」。
What the sketch shows
Origins & notes
本义为谷熟，引申为岁、年。
Structure
会意字，从禾从人，象收获谷物。
At a glance
Pinyinnián
Radical干
Strokes6
UnicodeU+5E74
Character type会意
Theme数术
Six languages, one character
Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.
English
year; harvest
A year; originally a good harvest.
Français
année; moisson
Une année ; à l’origine une moisson.
Español
año; cosecha
Un año ; originalmente cosecha.
العربية
سنة؛ حصاد
سنة؛ ومعناها الأصلي الحصاد.
Русский
год; урожай
Год; изначально урожай.
Common words
- 年niányear
- 年轻nián qīngyoung