年近花甲

niánjìnhuājiǎ
idiom

Meanings

  1. 1 approaching sixty years of age
  2. 2 nearing one's sixtieth year

Examples

HSK 4
Tā niánjìnhuājiǎ, què réng jiānchí gōngzuò.
He is approaching sixty but still keeps working.
HSK 4
Niánjìnhuājiǎ de tā juédìng zài dú yí gè bóshì.
Approaching sixty, he decided to pursue another doctorate.

Tips

culture
花甲 refers to age 60, derived from the sexagenary cycle (天干地支) used in the traditional calendar. Sixty years is one full rotation of the ten Heavenly Stems and twelve Earthly Branches, and the interwoven pattern gives the term .

Stroke Order

nián
jìn
huā
jiǎ