岁 (suì) — (classifier) years of age
Definition
岁 (suì) is the classifier for a person's age: you ask 几岁? and answer with a number + 岁 (五岁). Use 年 (nián) for calendar years, dates, and events.
classifier
years of age
Easily confused
Examples
- 岁。Wǒ jīn nián shí suì.I am ten years old this year.
- 岁？Nǐ jǐ suì?How old are you?
- 岁。Tā wǔ suì.He is five years old.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost 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.
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.
Grammar
Appears in
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