How to Say "Year" in Cantonese

年

nin⁴

The Cantonese word for year is 年 (nin⁴).

年 is a noun referring to the time it takes for the Earth to complete one revolution around the Sun.

Meaning: time it takes for the Earth to complete one revolution around the Sun (noun)

Which one should you use?

For example, 舊年 (gau6 nin4) is used to mean 'last year' and 下年 (haa6 nin4) is used to mean 'next year'.

To ask for a number of years, use the interrogative 幾 (gei2) before 年 (nin4) to form 幾年.

nin⁴

The word 年 is part of the term 年貨, referring to the bulk shopping and supplies specifically bought for the 'year' end festivities.
Cantonese uses the phrase 年深月遠 to describe a 'year' or period of time that has passed long ago, implying a deep sense of nostalgia or distance.
When talking about age, Cantonese speakers often use 歲 (seoi3) instead of 年 (nin4), as 年 usually refers to the calendar 'year' rather than a person's age in years.

阿湯舊年走咗。
Tom passed away last year.
This sentence uses 年 to refer to the time person passed away.
Tatoeba #12059883 by thesilhouette, translation #4057627 by CK
舊年落咗好多雪。
There was a lot of snow last year.
This sentence uses 年 to describe weather conditions from a previous year.
Tatoeba #433476 by nickyeow, translation #418879 by CK
我下年就十七歲喇。
I'll be seventeen next year.
This sentence uses 年 to discuss a person's age in the upcoming year.
Tatoeba #579910 by nickyeow, translation #325124 by CK
我今年二十五歲。
I am twenty-five years old this year.
72 more sentences on Tatoeba

Ka Ming and Ya Ting are talking about their study plans.

家明 Ka Ming

你讀咗幾年書呀？
nei5 duk6 zo2 gei2 nin4 syu1 aa3?
How many years have you been studying?
雅婷 Nga Ting

我讀咗三年書喇。
ngo5 duk6 zo2 saam1 nin4 syu1 laa3.
I have been studying for three years.
家明 Ka Ming

咁你今年畢業嗎？
gam2 nei5 gam1 nin4 baat3 jip6 maa1?
So, are you graduating this year?
雅婷 Nga Ting

係，我今年畢業。
hai6, ngo5 gam1 nin4 baat3 jip6.
Yes, I graduate this year.

Sources

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