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    Chinese Grammar

    Expressing 'age at death' with 终年 (zhōngnián)

    Numbers & Quantity
    Time Expressions

    Structure

    终年 + Number + 岁

    Explanation

    The adverb 终年 (zhōngnián) means "died at the age of" in Chinese. It is a formal expression used in obituaries and news reports to state the age at which someone passed away. It is placed before the number indicating age.

    Examples

    • 这位著名科学家于去年去世，终年八十五岁。

      zhè wèi zhùmíng kēxuéjiā yú qùnián qùshì, zhōngnián bāshíwǔ suì.

      This famous scientist passed away last year at the age of eighty-five.

    • 那位老艺术家终年九十二岁，一生创作了无数作品。

      nà wèi lǎo yìshùjiā zhōngnián jiǔshí'èr suì, yīshēng chuàngzuò le wúshù zuòpǐn.

      That old artist passed away at the age of ninety-two, having created countless works in his lifetime.

    • 他终年七十岁，为国家奉献了一辈子。

      tā zhōngnián qīshí suì, wèi guójiā fèngxiàn le yíbèizi.

      He passed away at the age of seventy, having devoted his entire life to the country.