虚岁 xū suì

traditional age, counted 1 at birth

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. one's age, according to the traditional Chinese method of reckoning (i.e. the number of Chinese calendar years in which one has lived). In this system, a person's age is one year at birth, and increases by one year at the beginning of the first solar term 立春lì chūn each year, rather than on one's birthday.
  2. 2. as opposed to 足岁zú suì
  3. 3. see also 实岁shí suì

Characters

Character Meaning
虚 xū HSK 5
false; empty or unoccupied; (of health) weak
岁 suì HSK 1
years old; year; classifier for years (of age)