- 一朝被蛇咬，十年怕井绳 yīzhāobèishéyǎo, shíniánpàjǐngshéng once bitten, twice shyA single traumatic experience makes one overly cautious or fearful in similar situations in the future.
- 七十年代 qīshíniándài the 1970sthe seventies; the 1970s
- 三十年河东，三十年河西 sānshíniánhédōng, sānshíniánhéxī vicissitudesthe idea that life's fortunes are constantly changing and unpredictable over time; change is the only constant
- 九十年代 jiǔshíniándài the ninetiesthe decade from 1990 to 1999
- 二十年目睹之怪现状 èrshí Nián Mùdǔzhī Guài Xiànzhuàng late Qing novelThe Strange State of the World Witnessed Over 20 Years, novel by late Qing novelist [[吴趼人|吳趼人|Wu2 Jian3 ren2]]
- 五十年代 wǔshíniándài the 1950sthe decade spanning from 1950 to 1959.
- 八十年代 bāshíniándài the eightiesthe decade spanning from 1980 to 1989
- 六十年代 liùshíniándài the 1960sThe decade from 1960 to 1969.
- 十年树木，百年树人 shíniánshùmù, bǎiniánshùrén long-term cultivationIt takes ten years to grow trees, but a hundred years to cultivate people; education is a long-term process.
- 台上一分钟，台下十年功 táishàngyīfēnzhōng, táixiàshíniángōng years of practiceten years of practice for one minute on the stage (idiom)
- 君子报仇，十年不晚 jūnzibàochóu, shíniánbùwǎn delayed revengeIt is not too late for a person of character to seek revenge even after a long time; revenge is a dish best served cold.
- 听君一席话，胜读十年书 tīngjūnyīxíhuà, shèngdúshíniánshū enlightening talklistening to a wise person's words is better than ten years of study
