近年来 (jìn nián lái) — in recent years; for the past few years

Definition

Time phrase meaning 'in recent years.' Neutral in length and tone; 多年来 emphasizes a larger span, 长期以来 stresses continuity over a long period.

phrase

in recent yearsfor the past few years

近年来，。
jìn nián lái, Zhōng guó de jīng jì fā zhǎn hěn kuài.
In recent years, China's economy has developed very quickly.
近年来，。
jìn nián lái, Yuè lái yuè duō de rén kāi shǐ xué xí hàn yǔ.
In recent years, more and more people have started learning Chinese.
近年来，。
jìn nián lái, Wǒ de jiā xiāng fā shēng le hěn duō biàn huà.
In recent years, my hometown has undergone many changes.

Characters in this word

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

辶斤近

Meaning part形符xíngfú

辶Written in full as辵chuòwalk

Sound part声符shēngfú

斤

Same sound today

近 combines 辶, a walking radical, with 斤, which gives the sound. The walking part fits the idea of moving close to something.

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú

禾禾héwheat; grain

Sound part声符shēngfú

人

人rén年nián

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

年 pairs 禾 (grain) with 人, which gives the sound. Its original meaning was harvest, and it later came to mean a year.

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 來; 来 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 來 shows a wheat plant: a central ear, upward leaves, and downward stem and roots. The simplified 来 is a later shorthand.

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