周岁 (zhōu suì) — one full year of age (used for exact age calcul…

Definition

Exact age in completed years — contrasts with 虚岁 (the older Chinese reckoning). 周年 marks a recurring anniversary of an event, not a person's age.

noun

one full year of age (used for exact age calculations, e.g., a child's first birthday)

周岁。
Bǎo bao xià ge yuè jiù mǎn zhōu suì le.
The baby will be one year old next month.
周岁，。
Tā jīn nián shí bā zhōu suì, yǐ jīng chéng nián le.
He is eighteen years old this year (full years) and already an adult.
周岁。
Zhè zhāng biǎo gé yào tián xiě hái zi de zhōu suì nián líng.
This form requires you to fill in the child's age in full years.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

周 indicates a complete cycle, 岁 a year; together they mean one full year of age.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The oldest form of 周 drew a jade artifact with carved patterns. It was later borrowed for a place name, so an extra mark was added to distinguish it.

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.

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