Signification
A period of 12 months.
Contexte culturel
The 'Year of the Animal' (Жил) is so important that people often avoid making big life changes (like marriage or starting a business) during their 'Jil Orok' (the year their birth animal returns). The 'New Year' (Шинэ жил) on January 1st is celebrated with a 'Salat Olivier' and a decorated tree, a tradition inherited from the Soviet period, but it is distinct from the traditional Lunar New Year. Historically, years were counted by the number of winters survived. A person's resilience was measured by how many 'жил' they had successfully navigated the steppe. In Ulaanbaatar, 'жил' is used in the context of 'annual sales' or 'year-end parties' (жилийн эцсийн хүлээн авалт), which are major social events for companies.
Duration vs Date
Always remember: Duration = Жил, Date = Он. This is the #1 rule for this word.
Zodiac is Key
Learning the 12 animals will make your use of 'жил' much more impressive to locals.
Signification
A period of 12 months.
Duration vs Date
Always remember: Duration = Жил, Date = Он. This is the #1 rule for this word.
Zodiac is Key
Learning the 12 animals will make your use of 'жил' much more impressive to locals.
Plural Rule
Don't say 'гурван жилүүд'. Keep it 'гурван жил'. Mongolian doesn't like double plurals.
Year by Year
Use the phrase 'жилээс жилд' to describe things that are gradually changing or improving.
Teste-toi
Fill in the blank with 'жил' or 'он'.
Би 2015 ____ Монголд ирсэн. Би энд есөн ____ амьдарч байна.
Use 'он' for the specific date (2015) and 'жил' for the duration (9 years).
How do you ask someone's zodiac sign?
Та ямар .... вэ?
'Жилтэй' is the correct suffix to ask about someone's animal year.
Match the Mongolian phrase to its English translation.
1. Ирэх жил, 2. Өнгөрсөн жил, 3. Жил бүр
'Ирэх' means coming (next), 'Өнгөрсөн' means passed (last), and 'Бүр' means every.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Та Монголд хэдэн жил болж байна вэ? B: Би энд .... жил болж байна.
Use cardinal numbers (хоёр) for duration.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Жил vs Он
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesБи 2015 ____ Монголд ирсэн. Би энд есөн ____ амьдарч байна.
Use 'он' for the specific date (2015) and 'жил' for the duration (9 years).
Та ямар .... вэ?
'Жилтэй' is the correct suffix to ask about someone's animal year.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
'Ирэх' means coming (next), 'Өнгөрсөн' means passed (last), and 'Бүр' means every.
A: Та Монголд хэдэн жил болж байна вэ? B: Би энд .... жил болж байна.
Use cardinal numbers (хоёр) for duration.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
12 questionsOnly if you are talking about your zodiac sign (e.g., 'Би морь жилтэй'). For numerical age, use 'настай'.
'Жил' is a duration of 12 months. 'Он' is the specific calendar year (like 2024).
You can say 'жил бүр' or 'жил болгон'. Both are very common.
It is neutral and used in all contexts, from slang to official government reports.
Use 'өнгөрсөн жил'.
Use 'ирэх жил'.
It means it is your zodiac year (e.g., you are a 'Rabbit' and it is the year of the Rabbit).
Only if you aren't using a number. 'Олон жилүүд' (many years) is okay, but 'хоёр жил' (two years) must be singular.
Use 'жилд'. For example, 'жилд нэг удаа' (once a year).
No, 'month' is 'сар'. A 'жил' contains twelve 'сар'.
It means 'New Year' and usually refers to the January 1st holiday.
Not directly, but 'олон жил' can imply a long time in one's life.
Expressions liées
Он
similarCalendar year
Нас
similarAge/Life
Улирал
builds onSeason
Мөчлөг
specialized formCycle
Шинэ жил
specialized formNew Year
