zhōunián: 周年 - Anniversary

• Keywords: zhounian, 周年, Chinese anniversary, anniversary in Chinese, meaning of zhounian, wedding anniversary Chinese, company anniversary, 纪念日 vs 周年, first anniversary Chinese
• Summary: Learn how to say “anniversary” in Chinese with the word 周年 (zhōunián). This guide explains the meaning of 周年, how to use it for weddings, companies, and relationships, and clarifies the crucial difference between 周年 (anniversary) and 纪念日 (commemoration day). With character breakdowns, cultural insights, and 10 practical example sentences, you'll master this essential vocabulary for marking important annual milestones in Chinese.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zhōunián
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: A full year; an anniversary marking the completion of one or more years.
• In a Nutshell: 周年 (zhōunián) is the direct and most common way to say “anniversary” in Mandarin Chinese. It literally means “cycle year,” emphasizing the completion of a full 365-day cycle. It's used for happy occasions like weddings and company foundings, as well as for more somber remembrances of historical events. The key is that it always refers to a period of one or more full years.

• 周 (zhōu): This character means “cycle,” “circuit,” or “week.” Pictorially, it's thought to have originated from a depiction of a field with a path around it, symbolizing a complete lap or circuit.
• 年 (nián): This character simply means “year.” Its ancient form is said to depict a person carrying harvested grain on their back, representing the annual harvest cycle which defined a year.
• Together, 周年 (zhōunián) combines “cycle” + “year” to literally mean “a full cycle of a year.” This elegantly captures the concept of an event's date coming around again after a full year has passed.

In Chinese culture, marking a 周年 (zhōunián) is an important way to show respect for the past and celebrate endurance. While personal anniversaries like weddings are celebrated, company and national anniversaries often take on a much larger public significance. A key cultural and linguistic point is the distinction between 周年 (zhōunián) and 纪念日 (jìniànrì).

• 周年 (zhōunián): Specifically means an annual anniversary. It marks the completion of a year. You can have a one-year, five-year, or ten-year 周年.
• 纪念日 (jìniànrì): Is a much broader term meaning “commemoration day” or “memorial day.” It can be annual, but it doesn't have to be. For example, a couple might celebrate a 100-day 纪念日, but they would never call it a 周年.

Think of it this way: In English, we might casually say “our six-month anniversary.” In Chinese, this is incorrect. You would use 纪念日 (jìniànrì). All 周年 (zhōunián) are a type of 纪念日 (jìniànrì), but not all 纪念日 (jìniànrì) are 周年 (zhōunián). This reflects a more precise way of thinking about time and milestones.

周年 (zhōunián) is a versatile noun used in both formal and informal contexts, though it carries a slightly more formal weight than casual conversation.

• Relationships and Weddings: It's very common to talk about wedding anniversaries. You'll often see it preceded by a number and the type of event.
  • `结婚十周年 (jiéhūn shí zhōunián)` - 10th wedding anniversary
  • `我们恋爱一周年了 (wǒmen liàn'ài yī zhōunián le)` - It's our first anniversary of dating.
• Business and Organizations: Companies in China place great importance on their anniversaries. It's a time to celebrate success, reward employees, and run promotions.
  • `公司成立五周年庆典 (gōngsī chénglì wǔ zhōunián qìngdiǎn)` - The 5th anniversary celebration of the company's founding.
  • `本店一周年，全场八折！ (běn diàn yī zhōunián, quánchǎng bā zhé!)` - It's our store's 1st anniversary, 20% off everything!
• Sober Commemorations: The term is neutral and can also be used to mark the anniversary of somber events, such as disasters or the passing of a notable person.
  • `汶川地震十周年 (Wènchuān dìzhèn shí zhōunián)` - The 10th anniversary of the Wenchuan earthquake.

• Example 1:
  • 明天是我们结婚五周年纪念日。
  • Pinyin: Míngtiān shì wǒmen jiéhūn wǔ zhōunián jìniànrì.
  • English: Tomorrow is our 5th wedding anniversary.
  • Analysis: This is a classic structure. Note how 周年 is often combined with 纪念日 (jìniànrì) to form “anniversary day.” 周年 acts as an adjective here describing the type of memorial day.
• Example 2:
  • 为了庆祝公司成立十周年，我们准备举办一个大型晚会。
  • Pinyin: Wèile qìngzhù gōngsī chénglì shí zhōunián, wǒmen zhǔnbèi jǔbàn yī ge dàxíng wǎnhuì.
  • English: To celebrate the company's 10th anniversary, we are preparing to hold a large evening gala.
  • Analysis: This shows the common use of 周年 in a business context, linked with the verb 庆祝 (qìngzhù), “to celebrate.”
• Example 3:
  • 你们在一起几周年了？
  • Pinyin: Nǐmen zài yīqǐ jǐ zhōunián le?
  • English: How many years have you been together (anniversary-wise)?
  • Analysis: A simple and direct question. 几 (jǐ) is used to ask “how many” for smaller, expected numbers.
• Example 4:
  • 这是一个非常有意义的一周年。
  • Pinyin: Zhè shì yī ge fēicháng yǒu yìyì de yī zhōunián.
  • English: This is a very meaningful first anniversary.
  • Analysis: 一 (yī) is used to specify the “first” anniversary. The word 周年 itself already implies a year has passed.
• Example 5:
  • 今年是这家博物馆建馆二十周年。
  • Pinyin: Jīnnián shì zhè jiā bówùguǎn jiàn guǎn èrshí zhōunián.
  • English: This year is the 20th anniversary of this museum's establishment.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates how 周年 is used for the founding of institutions, not just companies or relationships.
• Example 6:
  • 他们是怎么庆祝恋爱一周年的？
  • Pinyin: Tāmen shì zěnme qìngzhù liàn'ài yī zhōunián de?
  • English: How did they celebrate their first dating anniversary?
  • Analysis: The structure `(subject) + 是 + (details) + 的` is used here to ask for details about a past event.
• Example 7:
  • 我的父母刚刚过了他们的三十周年纪念日。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de fùmǔ gānggāng guòle tāmen de sānshí zhōunián jìniànrì.
  • English: My parents just had their 30th anniversary.
  • Analysis: The verb 过 (guò) here means “to pass” or “to celebrate” a holiday or special day.
• Example 8:
  • 这个活动是为了纪念那位作家逝世五周年而举办的。
  • Pinyin: Zhè ge huódòng shì wèile jìniàn nà wèi zuòjiā shìshì wǔ zhōunián ér jǔbàn de.
  • English: This event is being held to commemorate the 5th anniversary of that writer's passing.
  • Analysis: This shows the use of 周年 for a somber occasion, the anniversary of a death (`逝世 shìshì`).
• Example 9:
  • 我们的手机应用上线一周年了，用户突破了一百万！
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen de shǒujī yìngyòng shàngxiàn yī zhōunián le, yònghù tūpòle yī bǎi wàn!
  • English: It's the first anniversary of our mobile app going live, and our users have exceeded one million!
  • Analysis: A modern, tech-related example. 上线 (shàngxiàn) means “to go online” or “to launch.”
• Example 10:
  • 在他们结婚周年那天，他送了她一大束玫瑰花。
  • Pinyin: Zài tāmen jiéhūn zhōunián nà tiān, tā sòngle tā yī dà shù méiguīhuā.
  • English: On the day of their wedding anniversary, he gave her a large bouquet of roses.
  • Analysis: Here, 周年 is part of a time phrase, `在…那天 (zài…nà tiān)`, meaning “on that day.”

The most common mistake for learners is confusing 周年 (zhōunián) with the broader term 纪念日 (jìniànrì).

• Mistake: Using 周年 for a period shorter than a year.
  • Incorrect: 我们在一起六个月周年了。(Wǒmen zài yīqǐ liù ge yuè zhōunián le.)
  • Reason: 周年 explicitly means “cycle year.” Six months is not a year.
  • Correct: 我们在一起半年了。(Wǒmen zài yīqǐ bànnián le.) - “We've been together for half a year.”
  • Correct: 今天是我们的六个月纪念日。(Jīntiān shì wǒmen de liù ge yuè jìniànrì.) - “Today is our six-month commemoration day.”
• Mistake: Using 周年 as a verb.
  • Incorrect: 我们明天要周年了。(Wǒmen míngtiān yào zhōunián le.)
  • Reason: 周年 is a noun, not a verb. In English, you can't “anniversary” something. You “celebrate” or “commemorate” an anniversary.
  • Correct: 明天是我们的周年纪念日，我们要去庆祝一下。(Míngtiān shì wǒmen de zhōunián jìniànrì, wǒmen yào qù qìngzhù yīxià.) - “Tomorrow is our anniversary, we're going to celebrate.”

• 纪念日 (jìniànrì) - “Commemoration day” or “memorial day.” A broader term that includes anniversaries (周年) but also other milestones (e.g., 100-day celebration).
• 纪念 (jìniàn) - (Verb) To commemorate, to remember, to mark. The action associated with a 纪念日.
• 庆祝 (qìngzhù) - (Verb) To celebrate. The action typically associated with a happy 周年.
• 庆典 (qìngdiǎn) - A celebration, a ceremony. Often used for grand, formal celebrations like a company's 10th 周年庆典.
• 生日 (shēngrì) - Birthday. While technically the anniversary of one's birth, it always uses this specific word, not 周年.
• 结婚 (jiéhūn) - To get married. Often seen as `结婚周年` (wedding anniversary).
• 成立 (chénglì) - To establish, to found. Often used for companies or organizations, e.g., `公司成立五周年`.
• 年 (nián) - Year. The fundamental unit of time that makes up a 周年.
• 一百周年 / 百年 (yībǎi zhōunián / bǎinián) - Centennial. A 100-year anniversary.