明年
míngnián
Next year
明年 (míngnián) is the common way to say "next year" in Mandarin Chinese. It refers to the year immediately following the current one.
What does 明年 (míngnián) mean?
明年 (míngnián) means “next year” in English.
When to use it
Neutral and widely used. It is appropriate for all contexts, from casual conversations to formal discussions.
How to pronounce it
Sounds like "MING-nyen." The first syllable has a rising tone, and the second is also rising but often pronounced a bit lighter.
Other ways to say it
- 去年qùniánlast year
- 今年jīnniánthis year
- 明年见míngnián jiànsee you next year
Examples
我明年要去北京。
wǒ míngnián yào qù Běijīng.
I'm going to Beijing next year.
我们明年再见面吧。
wǒmen míngnián zài jiànmiàn ba.
Let's meet again next year.
他说明年会有好消息。
tā shuō míngnián huì yǒu hǎo xiāoxi.
He said there will be good news next year.
Pro tip: When referring to a specific future year, you can state the year directly, such as 二零二五年 (èr líng èr wǔ nián) for 2025.
Related phrases
年 · Year今年 · This year去年 · Last year
Want to speak Chinese for real?
Start a free lesson with a native teacher →
Start a free lesson with a native teacher →