Nian

noun

Ni·​an nē-ˈen 

: monster in Chinese folklore that was scared off by villagers with drums and fireworks which developed into the traditional celebration of Chinese New Year

Examples of Nian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Chinese Lunar New Year, for example, is traced to the legend of Nian, a mythical beast that feasted on villagers and livestock but was frightened by loud noises, fire, and the color red; thus, fireworks became an integral part of celebrations for scaring off the beast. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 Mar. 2026

They are believed to scare away the mythical monster Nian, who would terrorize villages at the start of the new year. — Brandi D. Addison, The Arizona Republic, 31 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Chinese nían shòu, from nían "year" + shòu "beast"

First Known Use

1994, in the meaning defined above