annual growth ring (in trees); metaphor for years of experience
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesnoun
annual ring; growth ring (in a tree trunk)
A technical term in botany and forestry, but also understood in common speech. The rings form due to differential growth rates between seasons. One ring typically equals one year of growth.
Kē科
xué学
jiā家
tōng通
guò过
shǔ数
nián年
lún轮
lái来
pàn判
duàn断
gǔ古
shù树
de的
nián年
líng龄
。
Scientists determine the age of ancient trees by counting the annual rings.
Zhè这
kē棵
sōng松
shù树
de的
nián年
lún轮
fēi非
cháng常
qīng清
xī晰
。
The annual rings of this pine tree are very clear.
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Shù树
mù木
de的
nián年
lún轮
kě可
yǐ以
fǎn反
yìng映
guò过
qù去
de的
qì气
hòu候
biàn变
huà化
。
The tree's growth rings can reflect past climate changes.
Nián年
lún轮
de的
shū疏
mì密
néng能
xiǎn显
shì示
shù树
mù木
shēng生
zhǎng长
de的
hǎo好
huài坏
。
The density of the growth rings can indicate the quality of the tree's growth.
noun
metaphor for years lived; passage of time; experience
literaryA poetic or figurative extension of the primary meaning, used to describe a person's age or life experience.
Tā他
é额
tóu头
de的
zhòu皱
wén纹
，
rú如
tóng同
suì岁
yuè月
de的
nián年
lún轮
。
The wrinkles on his forehead are like the rings of time.
Tā他
de的
zhì智
huì慧
lǐ里
kè刻
zhe着
rén人
shēng生
de的
nián年
lún轮
。
His wisdom is etched with the rings of life's experience.