年近古稀

niánjìn-gǔxī

idiom

Meanings

1 approaching seventy years of age
2 nearing old age

Characters

near, approaching

Examples

HSK 5

他年近古稀，仍坚持每天写作。

Tā niánjìn-gǔxī, réng jiānchí měitiān xiězuò.

He's nearly seventy and still writes every day.

HSK 7-9

爷爷年近古稀，身体还很硬朗。

Yéye niánjìn-gǔxī, shēntǐ hái hěn yìnglǎng.

Grandpa is nearing seventy but still very fit.

Tips

history

古稀 comes from Du Fu's line 人生七十古来稀 ('living to seventy is rare since ancient times'). By convention 古稀 = age 70.

Stroke Order

年 nián

近 jìn

古 gǔ

稀 xī