上岁数 (shàng suì shu) — getting on in years, aged (colloquial)

Definition

Colloquial way to say someone is getting old. Often softened or self-deprecating compared to the more formal 老.

verb

getting on in yearsaged (colloquial)

上岁数，。
Tā shàng suì shu le, zǒu lù màn.
He is getting on in years, so he walks slowly.
，。
Tā shàng le yì bǎ suì shu, tuǐ jiǎo méi nà me hǎo le.
He is getting on in years, so his legs aren't as good as before.
上岁数，。
Suī rán shàng suì shu le, tā hái zài gōng zuò.
Although he's getting on in years, he's still working.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

岁数age

偏正Modifier + head

上 'go up' with 岁数 'age' gives the sense of becoming older.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

上 is drawn as a short horizontal line placed above a longer arc, marking a position above that arc.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 歲; 岁 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

戉

戉yuè歲suì

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 歲, the part 步 shows movement over time, and 戉 gives the sound; this explanation is about 歲, not the simplified 岁.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 數; 数 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

攴攴pū

Sound part声符shēngfú

婁

婁lóu數shù(r)

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 數 pairs 攴, the meaning part, with 婁, the sound part; the simplified 数 is a shorthand.