年事已高

niánshì-yǐgāo
idiom #56,200

Meanings

  1. 1 advanced in years
  2. 2 elderly; getting on in age

Examples

HSK 3
Yéye niánshì-yǐgāo, xūyào yǒurén zhàogù.
Grandfather is getting on in years and needs someone to look after him.
HSK 3
Tā niánshì-yǐgāo, yǐjīng tuìxiū.
He is advanced in years and has already retired.
HSK 3
Zhè wèi yìshùjiā niánshì-yǐgāo, 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 - 年事 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