年 nián is a compound pictograph: a person (人) carrying grain (禾 hé, the grain stalk) on their back. The oracle-bone form shows a figure bent under the weight of harvested crops. A year is precisely the time it takes to complete one agricultural cycle from planting to harvest. The concept of "year" in Chinese is inseparable from the concept of "harvest." A good year is a year of abundance; a bad year is a year of poor harvest.

This agricultural root explains why 年 and 年 (the mythical beast) share the same character in legend. The annual ceremony of driving away winter and welcoming the new growing season was as fundamental as anything in the Chinese calendar , the ritual driving-out as real as the planting that followed it.

年 is also used for age: 几岁 jǐ suì (how old , used for children) and 几年 or 几岁 for older people. 年龄 niánlíng is the formal word for age. The compound 年代 niándài = decade; era. 年份 niánfèn = a particular year (often used for wine vintages, historical records). 年终 niánzhōng = year-end.

The Chinese New Year, 春节 Chūnjié (Spring Festival) or 农历新年 Nónglì Xīnnián (Lunar New Year), is the world's largest annual human migration event, as hundreds of millions of people travel home for the 年夜饭 Nián Yè Fàn (New Year's Eve dinner), the most important meal of the year. The entire social and economic life of China pivots around 过年 guò nián, "passing through the year" (celebrating New Year).

The mythological origin involves the 年 Nián beast, a terrifying monster that would emerge at winter's end to devour livestock and people. It was discovered that the beast feared the color red, loud noises, and fire. Hence: red decorations 红色装饰, firecrackers 鞭炮 biānpào, and lanterns 灯笼 dēnglong. Every New Year custom traces back to this ritual of protection and renewal. 驱年 qū nián (literally "driving away the Nián") is what Chinese New Year traditions accomplish.

Key phrases: 新年快乐 xīnnián kuàilè (Happy New Year), 恭喜发财 gōngxǐ fācái (Congratulations and may you prosper), 万事如意 wànshì rúyì (May all things go as you wish), 红包 hóngbāo (red envelope with money gift). 年货 niánhuò = New Year goods (special purchases made before the holiday). 年画 niánhuà = New Year pictures (traditional decorative prints).