年迈

年邁

niánmài

adjective HSK 7 #23,963

Meanings

1 aged; elderly; advanced in years

Characters

to stride; to advance; old

Literally 'years advancing' — having progressed far along in age. A respectful, literary way to describe old age.

Examples

他的父母年迈体弱，需要人照顾。

Tā de fùmǔ niánmài tǐruò, xūyào rén zhàogù.

His parents are elderly and frail, and need someone to look after them.

年迈的老人独自住在山里。

Niánmài de lǎorén dúzì zhù zài shān lǐ.

The elderly man lives alone in the mountains.

Tips

register

年迈 is more formal and literary than 老 (lǎo). In everyday conversation, you'd say 他爸妈很老了, but in writing or formal speech, 年迈 sounds more respectful. It's often paired with 体弱 (frail) in the set phrase 年迈体弱.

Stroke Order

年 nián

迈 mài