They are enjoying their golden years traveling around the world.（他们正在环游世界，享受他们的黄金岁月。）
Old age doesn't mean you have to give up your hobbies.
（变老并不意味着你必须放弃你的爱好。）
写在最后
从 infancy 到 the golden years，每个单词背后，都是我们实实在在活过的痕迹。你目前正处在哪个阶段？是正在经历 adolescence 的迷茫，还是在 adulthood 里努力打怪？
Life is like a game of leveling up, where each stage comes with its exclusive "skins" and "quests."
Today, let’s skip the heavy philosophy and use some authentic and fun English words to review how we’ve been "leveling up" all along.
We’ve also packed in some practical English example sentences for you to take away!
Infancy : The "Sprouting" and "Money-Draining" Phase of Human Cubs
The word infancy specifically refers to the stage from birth until a baby can walk and talk.
Besides referring to humans, it has a super useful metaphorical meaning: "in the early stages of development."
For example, if you want to complain about your boss's empty promises on a project, you can say:
This project is still in its infancy.
Practical Examples:
He spent his infancy in a small village.
The new technology is still in its infancy.
Childhood: The "Get-Out-of-Jail-Free Card" with a Soft-Light Filter
Childhood is our carefree youth.
It’s a word that comes with a "get-out-of-jail-free card" attribute.
When you broke a vase as a kid, as long as you said, "I was just a child!", you’d most likely escape a good spanking.
In psychology, there’s a term called the inner child. As adults, our crazy obsession with buying blind boxes is actually just us embracing that inner child who hasn't grown up yet.
Practical Examples:
She had a very happy childhood.
We all have an inner child that needs to be loved.
Adolescence : The Clash of Hormones and "Edgy" Trends
Adolescence is the transitional stage from childhood to adulthood, which is what we commonly call the "teenage years."
This word comes from the Latin adolescere, meaning "to grow up."
But during the process of growing up, we often experience the awakening of "chuunibyou" (eighth-grader syndrome).
Think back: didn't you also have bangs covering your eyes and write angsty texts like "looking up at the sky at a 45-degree angle" in your QQ zone?
Practical Examples:
Adolescence is a period of rapid physical and emotional change.
Many teenagers struggle with peer pressure during adolescence.
(Many teenagers struggle with peer pressure during adolescence.)
Adulthood : The Disguise Game Named "Being an Adult"
Adulthood is the stage where you truly stand on your own and take on responsibilities.
Many people think you automatically unlock adulthood after turning 18, but it’s actually a "lifetime achievement award."
The most fun part of adulthood is that: we are all just pretending to be adults.
When trouble strikes, we’re panicking inside, but on the surface, we still force ourselves to stay calm and say, "It's fine, I can handle it."
Practical Examples:
The transition from adolescence to adulthood can be challenging.
She entered adulthood with a lot of responsibilities.
Middle Age : The "Crisis" and "Reconciliation" in the Thermos Cup
Middle age usually refers to the period between 40 and 60 years old.
By the way, the "midlife crisis" we often joke about is called a midlife crisis in English.
The classic manifestation of a midlife crisis is suddenly wanting to buy an extremely cool motorcycle, or impulsively signing up for a marathon.
But setting the crisis aside, middle age is actually a stage of "reconciliation." You no longer obsess over other people's opinions and start to realize that "health comes first, making money comes second."
Practical Examples:
He bought a sports car in the middle of his midlife crisis.
I'm in my middle age, and I'm totally fine with it.
The Golden Years : The Shining "Retirement Dungeon"
Senior years / old age are the final stages of life.
But compared to the cold term old age, foreigners prefer to use the golden years.
Why "golden"?
Because at this point, you finally don't have to worry about your boss's mood or help your kids with their homework; your time is completely your own!
This is the "retirement dungeon" of life. Not only are you not "old," but like gold, you shine brightly after being polished by the years.
Practical Examples:
They are enjoying their golden years traveling around the world.
Old age doesn't mean you have to give up your hobbies.
Final Thoughts
From infancy to the golden years, every word carries the real traces of how we’ve lived.
Which stage are you currently in? Are you experiencing the confusion of adolescence, or are you grinding hard to defeat monsters in adulthood?
Welcome to the comments section to make a sentence using the words you learned today, and share your "little rants about life stages"!