年事已高

niánshìyǐgāo
idiom #56,200

Meanings

  1. 1 advanced in years (idiom)
  2. 2 elderly; getting on in age

Examples

Yéye niánshìyǐgāo, xūyào yǒurén zhàogù.
Grandfather is getting on in years and needs someone to look after him.
Tā niánshìyǐgāo, yǐjīng tuìxiū.
He is advanced in years and has already retired.
Zhè wèi yìshùjiā niánshìyǐgāo, dàn réng jiānchí chuàngzuò.
The artist is quite old, but still keeps creating.

Tips

register
Respectful and slightly formal — preferred over in polite writing. Common in news, obituaries, and polite descriptions of elders. Not dismissive — treats age as something weighty/significant.
usage
Usually paired with a softening clause noting either vitality ('but still active') or need ('needs care'). Rarely used as a blunt statement of fact alone.

Stroke Order

nián
shì
gāo