Years like flowing water — once gone, they never return.
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年华 is literary and carries a nostalgic, poetic quality. It is much more evocative than plain 年 (year) or 时间 (time). Often paired with 青春 (youth): 青春年华. Common in song lyrics, poetry, and literary prose.
memory
华 can mean brilliance, splendor, or the prime of life. 年华 = the splendor of years — life at its most vivid.
