When counting years in Japanese, you'll often encounter the suffix ～年 (nen). This acts as a counter for years, similar to how we might say 'one year' or 'two years' in English. It's essential for expressing durations of time or specifying a particular year in a calendar.
For example, if you want to say 'one year,' you'd say 一年 (ichi-nen). For 'two years,' it's 二年 (ni-nen), and so on. You'll also use this suffix when referring to specific calendar years, like 2023年 (ni-sen ni-juu san-nen) for 'the year 2023.'
Understanding ～年 is a foundational step in talking about time and dates in Japanese. Pay attention to the pronunciation changes that can occur with certain numbers when combined with this counter.
When counting years in Japanese, you'll often encounter the suffix ～年 (nen). This acts as a counter for years, similar to how we might say 'one year' or 'two years' in English. It's usually attached directly to the number. For example, 一年 (ichi-nen) means 'one year', and 十年 (juu-nen) means 'ten years'.
You'll also see ～年 used when stating a specific year, like in 2023年 (nisen-nijuusan-nen) for 'the year 2023'. Remember to pronounce the numbers correctly before adding the 'nen'.
When counting years, we attach ～年 (nen) to the number. For example, 1年 (ichi-nen) means "one year." This is generally straightforward. However, an exception occurs with 4 years, which is 4年 (yo-nen) and not yon-nen.
We also use ～年 (nen) when specifying a particular year in the calendar. For instance, 2024年 (nisen-nijūyon-nen) refers to "the year 2024." This is common in everyday conversation and writing.
When counting years in Japanese, you'll often encounter the suffix ～年 (nen).
It attaches to numbers to indicate the number of years. For instance, 一年 (ichi-nen) means "one year," and 五年 (go-nen) means "five years."
This suffix is also used when referring to specific years in the calendar, such as 2023年 (nisen-nijūsan-nen).
Pay attention to pronunciation variations, especially with numbers like 一 (ichi), which often becomes いち (ichi) before 年, but sometimes いっ (iʼ-)
§ Understanding 「～年」 (nen)
「～年」 (nen) is a suffix that means 'year' or serves as a counter for years in Japanese. You'll attach it to numbers to specify a certain year or to count how many years have passed. It's a fundamental word for talking about dates and durations.
- Japanese Word
- ～年 (nen)
- Meaning
- Suffix for year; counter for years.
- CEFR Level
- A2
§ Basic Usage: Specifying Years
The most straightforward way to use 「～年」 is to state a specific year. You simply place the number for the year before 「年」.
- 2023年 (nisen-nijūsan-nen): The year 2023
- 1999年 (senkyūhyaku-kyūjūkyū-nen): The year 1999
When saying the year, remember that Japanese numbers are read differently than in English. For example, 2000 is 'nisen', not 'two thousand'.
来年は2024年です。
Next year is 2024.
彼女は1985年に生まれました。
She was born in 1985.
§ Counting Years: How many years?
You can also use 「～年」 to count a duration of years. In this case, it functions as a counter.
- 一年 (ichi-nen): One year
- 二年 (ni-nen): Two years
- 三年 (san-nen): Three years
- 何年 (nan-nen): How many years?
Notice the slight sound changes for some numbers when combined with 「年」. For example, for 'one year', it's 'ichi-nen', not 'hito-nen'.
彼は日本に五年住んでいます。
He has lived in Japan for five years.
このプロジェクトは何年かかりましたか？
How many years did this project take?
§ Combined with other time expressions
「～年」 can be combined with other time words to create more specific expressions.
- 去年 (kyo-nen): Last year (exception, uses different reading)
- 今年 (koto-shi): This year (exception, uses different reading)
- 来年 (rai-nen): Next year
- 毎年 (mai-nen): Every year
Pay special attention to 去年 (kyo-nen) and 今年 (koto-shi) as their readings are irregular and don't follow the 'number + nen' pattern.
来年日本へ旅行に行きます。
I'm going to travel to Japan next year.
毎年夏に海に行きます。
I go to the beach every year in summer.
§ Common Phrases with 「～年」
Here are some useful phrases that include 「～年」:
- お誕生日おめでとうございます！良い一年になりますように！ (O-tanjōbi omedetō gozaimasu! Yoi ichi-nen ni narimasu yō ni!): Happy birthday! I hope you have a good year!
- 新年のご挨拶 (Shinnen no go-aisatsu): New Year's greetings
新年の抱負は何ですか？
What are your New Year's resolutions?
§ Understanding ～年 (nen)
- Japanese Word
- ～年 (nen)
- CEFR Level
- A2
- Definition
- Suffix for year; counter for years.
The Japanese word ～年 (nen) is a suffix that literally means 'year'. It's used primarily for counting years or specifying a particular year. Think of it as the 'year' part in 'year one', 'year two', or 'the year 2023'.
彼は日本に三年 (さんねん) 住んでいます。
Kare wa Nihon ni sannen sunde imasu.
He has lived in Japan for three years.
2023年 (にせんじゅうさんねん) に卒業しました。
Nisen-nijū-san-nen ni sotsugyō shimashita.
I graduated in the year 2023.
§ How to Use ～年 (nen)
You attach ～年 to numbers to indicate a specific number of years or to a full year number (like 2023) to specify that year. It's pretty straightforward.
When counting years, you combine it with native Japanese numbers. Be aware of sound changes (called 'rendaku') that happen with certain numbers:
- 一年 (ichinen) - one year
- 二年 (ninen) - two years
- 三年 (sannen) - three years
- 四年 (yonen) - four years
- 五年 (gonen) - five years
- 六年 (rokunen) - six years
- 七年 (nananen) - seven years
- 八年 (hachinen) - eight years
- 九年 (kyūnen) - nine years
- 十年 (jūnen) - ten years
§ Similar Words and When to Use ～年 vs Alternatives
While ～年 is your go-to for talking about years, there are other words related to time that you'll encounter. Let's look at when to use ～年 and when to use something else.
- 年 (toshi)
- This kanji on its own can also mean 'year', but it often refers to 'age' or 'a year' in a more general sense, like 'this year' (今年 - kotoshi) or 'next year' (来年 - rainen). It doesn't function as a counter like ～年 (nen) does.
- 年間 (nenkan)
- 年間 (nenkan) means 'for a period of years' or 'during the year(s)'. It emphasizes the duration. While ～年 can also express duration, 年間 makes it more explicit that you are talking about the span of time. You'll often see it with longer durations.
彼女は五年間 (ごねんかん) その会社で働いた。
Kanojo wa gonenkan sono kaisha de hataraita.
She worked at that company for five years (emphasizing the duration).
In contrast, if you just said 彼女は五年 (ごねん) 働いた (Kanojo wa gonen hataraita), it would mean 'She worked five years', which is similar but without the explicit emphasis on the 'period' of time.
- 歳 (sai)
- This is the counter for 'age'. While age is measured in years, you do not use ～年 to state someone's age. Always use ～歳 (sai).
私は25歳 (にじゅうごさい) です。
Watashi wa nijūgo-sai desu.
I am 25 years old.
Getting these right will make your Japanese sound much more natural. Keep practicing these distinctions!
How Formal Is It?
"2023年に会社が設立されました。"
"去年は旅行に行きました。"
"来年、会おうね！"
難易度
short
short
short
short
次に学ぶべきこと
前提知識
次に学ぶ
上級
レベル別の例文
日本に来てから、もうすぐ三年になります。
It will soon be three years since I came to Japan.
〜年 (nen) as a counter for years, used with numbers.
この会社に入ってから五年が経ちました。
Five years have passed since I joined this company.
〜年 (nen) indicating a duration of time.
彼女は三年前にこのアパートに引っ越してきました。
She moved into this apartment three years ago.
〜年前 (nen mae) meaning 'years ago'.
次のオリンピックは四年後です。
The next Olympics are four years from now.
〜年後 (nen go) meaning 'years later' or 'years from now'.
彼は十年間、同じ会社で働いています。
He has been working at the same company for ten years.
〜年間 (nenkan) emphasizes the duration of time.
私の息子は来年、小学校に入学します。
My son will enter elementary school next year.
来年 (rainen) meaning 'next year'.
去年は大変な年でした。
Last year was a difficult year.
去年 (kyonen) meaning 'last year'. Also 年 (toshi) can mean 'year' as a general noun.
今年から日本語の勉強を始めました。
I started studying Japanese this year.
今年 (kotoshi) meaning 'this year'.
慣用句と表現
"一年中 (ichinenjuu)"
All year round; throughout the year
この店は一年中開いています。(Kono mise wa ichinenjuu aiteimasu.) - This shop is open all year round.
neutral"何年も (nannen mo)"
For many years
何年も会っていません。(Nannen mo atteimasen.) - I haven't seen them for many years.
neutral"数年 (suunen)"
Several years
数年前に日本に行きました。(Suunen mae ni Nihon ni ikimashita.) - I went to Japan several years ago.
neutral"年末年始 (nenmatsu nenshi)"
New Year's holiday season; year-end and New Year's
年末年始は実家に帰ります。(Nenmatsu nenshi wa jikka ni kaerimasu.) - I go back to my hometown for the New Year's holiday.
neutral"来年 (rainen)"
Next year
来年、旅行に行きたいです。(Rainen, ryokou ni ikitai desu.) - I want to travel next year.
neutral"再来年 (sarainen)"
The year after next
再来年には家を建てたいです。(Sarainen ni wa ie o tateitai desu.) - I want to build a house the year after next.
neutral"昨年 (sakunen)"
Last year (more formal than 去年)
昨年から日本語を勉強しています。(Sakunen kara Nihongo o benkyou shiteimasu.) - I have been studying Japanese since last year.
formal"毎年 (maitoshi)"
Every year; annually
毎年、桜を見に行きます。(Maitoshi, sakura o mi ni ikimasu.) - I go to see the cherry blossoms every year.
neutral"年を取る (toshi o toru)"
To get old; to age
彼は年を取っても元気です。(Kare wa toshi o totte mo genki desu.) - He is energetic even though he is getting old.
neutral"年の瀬 (toshi no se)"
Year-end; close of the year
年の瀬は忙しいです。(Toshi no se wa isogashii desu.) - The end of the year is busy.
neutralヒント
Basic use of ～年
You'll most often use ～年 to indicate a specific year, like 2023年 (nisen-nijūsan-nen) for 'year 2023'.
Pronunciation changes with numbers
The pronunciation of ～年 can change depending on the preceding number. For example, 1年 (ichi-nen) but 8年 (hachi-nen).
Counting years
When counting a duration of years, you also use ～年. For instance, 3年 (san-nen) means 'three years'.
Asking 'what year?'
To ask 'what year?', use 何年 (nan-nen). For example, 今年は何年ですか？ (Kotoshi wa nan-nen desu ka?) 'What year is it this year?'
Asking 'how many years?'
To ask 'how many years?', you also use 何年 (nan-nen). For example, 日本に何年住んでいますか？ (Nihon ni nan-nen sunde imasu ka?) 'How many years have you lived in Japan?'
Don't confuse with 'nen'
While ～年 is read 'nen' in many cases, don't confuse it with other words that sound similar but have different meanings or kanji.
Japanese era names
Japan also uses era names (元号, gengō) alongside the Western calendar. For example, 令和5年 (Reiwa go-nen) refers to the 5th year of the Reiwa era.
Combine with 'mae' for 'years ago'
To say 'years ago', add 前 (mae) after ～年. 5年前 (go-nen mae) means 'five years ago'.
Combine with 'go' for 'years later'
To say 'years later', add 後 (go) after ～年. 10年後 (jū-nen go) means 'ten years later'.
Formal vs. informal use
In very formal contexts, you might see 歳 (sai) used as a counter for age, but ～年 is specifically for counting years or indicating a calendar year.
暗記しよう
記憶術
Think of 'nen' sounding a bit like 'when' you're talking about a year. 'When will it be 2025年?'
視覚的連想
Imagine a calendar with the current year prominently displayed, and the word 'nen' stamped next to it. Or visualize a child proudly holding up a number of fingers, representing the 'years' (～年) they've been alive.
Word Web
チャレンジ
Try to say your birth year in Japanese using ～年. Then, say how many years you've been studying Japanese (if applicable) using the counter.
実生活で練習する
実際の使用場面
Talking about age
- 私は20歳です。 (I am 20 years old.)
- 私の犬は3歳です。(My dog is 3 years old.)
- 何歳ですか？ (How old are you?)
Discussing academic years or school grades
- 私は大学1年生です。(I am a first-year university student.)
- 彼は高校2年生です。(He is a second-year high school student.)
- 何年生ですか？ (What grade/year are you in?)
Mentioning the year of an event or birth
- 2023年に日本に行きました。(I went to Japan in 2023.)
- 私は1990年生まれです。(I was born in 1990.)
- 何年に生まれましたか？ (What year were you born?)
Referring to a period of time in years
- 日本に3年住んでいます。(I have lived in Japan for 3 years.)
- この仕事は5年目です。(This is my fifth year at this job.)
- 何年くらい住んでいますか？ (How many years have you lived there?)
Describing the duration of a project or plan
- このプロジェクトは2年かかります。(This project will take 2 years.)
- 来年、新しい家を建てます。(Next year, we will build a new house.)
- 何年計画ですか？ (How many years is the plan?)
会話のきっかけ
"何歳ですか？ (How old are you?)"
"何年に生まれましたか？ (What year were you born?)"
"日本に何年住んでいますか？ (How many years have you lived in Japan?)"
"今、何年生ですか？ (What grade/year are you in now?)"
"来年、何をしたいですか？ (What do you want to do next year?)"
日記のテーマ
あなたは来年、何を達成したいですか？ (What do you want to achieve next year?)
あなたの人生で最も印象的だった年は何年ですか？なぜですか？ (What was the most memorable year in your life? Why?)
今まで何年間、日本語を勉強していますか？ (How many years have you been studying Japanese?)
あなたの好きな季節は、何年にもわたって変わりましたか？ (Has your favorite season changed over the years?)
あなたの住んでいる国で、何年に特別なイベントがありましたか？ (In what year was there a special event in the country you live in?)
よくある質問
10 問Great question! While you *can* sometimes just say the number, adding ～年 (nen) after a number makes it explicitly clear you're referring to a duration of years. For example, 三年 (san-nen) means 'three years,' whereas 三 (san) alone could just mean 'three' of anything.
Good one! For 'this year,' we say 今年 (kotoshi). For 'next year,' it's 来年 (rainen). And for 'last year,' we use 去年 (kyonen) or 昨年 (sakunen). Notice that for these specific terms, we don't directly attach ～年 to a number.
Yes, it does! ～年 (nen) has a few sound changes. For example, after 一 (ichi - one), it becomes 一年 (ichi-nen). After 二 (ni - two), it's 二年 (ni-nen). But after 四 (yon - four), it becomes 四年 (yo-nen). And for 八 (hachi - eight), it's 八年 (hachi-nen). It's best to learn these variations as you go.
To ask 'How many years?', you use 何年 (nan-nen). For example, 何年日本に住んでいますか？ (Nan-nen Nihon ni sunde imasu ka?) means 'How many years have you lived in Japan?'
Absolutely! To say 'in 2023,' you'd say 二千二十三年 (nisen ni-jū san-nen). The ～年 directly follows the numerical year.
Yes, there is! While you can ask 何歳ですか？ (Nan-sai desu ka?) for 'How old are you?', a more formal or polite way, especially in certain contexts, is to inquire about someone's birth year or ask about their age more indirectly. You wouldn't typically use ～年 directly in the question for 'how old,' but it's used when stating your age. For example, 二十歳です (Hatachi desu) for 'I am 20 years old' (special reading) or 三十歳です (San-jussai desu) for 'I am 30 years old'.
A common mistake is forgetting the sound changes we talked about earlier. Another is sometimes omitting ～年 when it's needed to specify a duration. Always remember that ～年 helps clarify 'years' as a unit of time.
To say 'every year,' you use 毎年 (mai-nen). For example, 毎年日本に行きます (Mai-nen Nihon ni ikimasu) means 'I go to Japan every year.'
Yes, there are a few. For instance, 一年 (ichi-nen - one year), 二年 (ni-nen - two years), 三年 (san-nen - three years), 四年 (yo-nen - four years), and 八年 (hachi-nen - eight years) are common. There are also specific readings for multiples of ten, like 十年 (jū-nen - ten years), which can sometimes be pronounced じゅうねん (jū-nen) or じゅうねん (jū-nen) depending on context and speaker preference. It's good to pay attention to these when you encounter them.
Yes, it can. When referring to historical periods, ～年 is often used. For example, if you say 平安時代 (Heian-jidai), and then want to mention a specific year within that era, you'd use ～年. It helps specify the exact year within a broader time frame.
自分をテスト 120 問
Listen for the year word.
Listen for when the speaker will become a student.
Listen for the word meaning 'last year'.
Read this aloud:
今年は寒いですね。
Focus: ことしは
あなたの回答：
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Read this aloud:
来年、また会いましょう。
Focus: らいねん
あなたの回答：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
去年は何をしましたか。
Focus: きょねん
あなたの回答：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Write the year 2023 in Japanese using ～年.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
二千二十三年
Write 'next year' in Japanese.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
来年 (らいねん)
How do you write 'this year' in Japanese?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
今年 (ことし)
What year does the speaker want to go to Japan?
Read this passage:
2024年は日本に行きたいです。日本の桜はとてもきれいです。
What year does the speaker want to go to Japan?
The passage states '2024年は日本に行きたいです。' which means 'I want to go to Japan in 2024.'
The passage states '2024年は日本に行きたいです。' which means 'I want to go to Japan in 2024.'
What is the speaker's status next year?
Read this passage:
来年、私は高校生になります。
What is the speaker's status next year?
The passage says '来年、私は高校生になります。' which translates to 'Next year, I will become a high school student.'
The passage says '来年、私は高校生になります。' which translates to 'Next year, I will become a high school student.'
What is the weather like this year?
Read this passage:
今年は暑いです。
What is the weather like this year?
The passage says '今年は暑いです。' which means 'This year is hot.'
The passage says '今年は暑いです。' which means 'This year is hot.'
私は___日本に来ました。(I came to Japan last year.)
昨年 (sakunen) means last year. The blank requires a word indicating a past year.
彼女は高校2___です。(She is a second-year high school student.)
年生 (nensei) is used to count years of schooling or experience. In this context, it refers to the second year of high school.
次のオリンピックは2028___に開催されます。(The next Olympics will be held in the year 2028.)
年 (nen) is the counter for years. We need to specify 'year 2028'.
この会社は創立100___を迎えました。(This company celebrated its 100th anniversary.)
周年 (shūnen) is the counter for anniversaries or 'number of years since establishment'.
彼は5___前にこの町に引っ越してきました。(He moved to this town 5 years ago.)
年 (nen) is used with a number to indicate a period of years, like '5 years ago'.
毎年、私は___末に実家に帰ります。(Every year, I go back to my hometown at the end of the year.)
年末 (nenmatsu) means 'end of the year'. The sentence refers to an annual event at that specific time.
Choose the correct way to say 'Year 2023' in Japanese.
To say a specific year, you attach '～年' (nen) to the number. For 2023, it's 'にせんさんねん'.
How would you ask 'What year is it?' in Japanese?
To ask 'what year,' you use '何年' (nan nen).
If someone is 5 years old, which is the correct way to express '5 years' using ～年?
When counting years (e.g., age), '～年' (nen) is used directly after the number.
The word '～年' can only be used to refer to a specific calendar year.
No, '～年' can also be used as a counter for a duration of years (e.g., three years).
The pronunciation of '～年' is always 'nen'.
No, it can also be pronounced 'toshi' when referring to a specific year or 'とし' in some contexts.
To say 'last year', you can use '去年' (kyonen).
Yes, '去年' (kyonen) is the correct word for 'last year'.
Write a sentence saying 'I lived in Japan for three years.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
私は日本に三年住んでいました。
Write a sentence saying 'How many years have you been studying Japanese?'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
あなたは何年日本語を勉強していますか。
Write a sentence saying 'Next year, I will be 20 years old.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
来年、私は二十歳になります。
How long has Tanaka-san been living in Japan?
Read this passage:
田中さんは、去年から日本に住んでいます。彼は日本での生活を楽しんでいます。もう一年になりますね。
How long has Tanaka-san been living in Japan?
The passage says 'もう一年になりますね' which means 'It's already been one year.'
The passage says 'もう一年になりますね' which means 'It's already been one year.'
When did the speaker join this company?
Read this passage:
私は五年前にこの会社に入りました。毎日、新しいことを学んでいます。この仕事が本当に好きです。
When did the speaker join this company?
The passage states '私は五年前にこの会社に入りました' which means 'I joined this company five years ago.'
The passage states '私は五年前にこの会社に入りました' which means 'I joined this company five years ago.'
How many years has passed since this school was established?
Read this passage:
この学校は設立から八年が経ちました。多くの生徒が卒業し、それぞれの道に進んでいます。
How many years has passed since this school was established?
The passage says '設立から八年が経ちました' meaning 'eight years have passed since its establishment.'
The passage says '設立から八年が経ちました' meaning 'eight years have passed since its establishment.'
This sentence means 'I lived in Japan for three years.' The word '三年' (san-nen) means 'three years.'
This sentence means 'She will become a university student next year.' '来年' (rai-nen) means 'next year.'
This sentence means 'This company has continued for ten years.' '十年' (jū-nen) means 'ten years.'
Choose the correct way to say 'the year 2023' in Japanese.
～年 (nen) is the suffix used for counting years. 時 (ji) is for hours, 月 (gatsu) is for months, and 日 (nichi) is for days.
Which sentence correctly uses ～年 (nen) to state someone's age?
While ～年 (nen) is for counting years, ～歳 (sai) is specifically used for stating age. The other options are grammatically incorrect in this context.
How would you express 'five years from now' in Japanese?
～年後 (nen-go) means 'after X years' or 'X years from now'. 年中 (nen-chuu) means 'all year round', 年前 (nen-mae) means 'X years ago', and 年間 (nen-kan) means 'for X years' (duration).
You can use ～年 (nen) to count the number of years a person has been alive.
While ～年 (nen) is for counting years, you specifically use ～歳 (sai) to state a person's age. For example, 'He is 30 years old' is 彼は三十歳です (Kare wa sanjuu sai desu), not 彼は三十年です (Kare wa sanjuu nen desu).
The phrase '来年 (rainen)' means 'next year'.
来年 (rainen) directly translates to 'next year', using 来 (rai) for 'next' and 年 (nen) for 'year'.
When referring to a specific year like 'the year 2000', you must always use the kanji for the numbers.
While kanji is common, numbers can also be written using Arabic numerals (e.g., 2000年). Both are acceptable.
What kind of year was this year?
I hope next year will be an even better year.
He has lived in Japan for ten years.
Read this aloud:
あなたの生まれた年は何年ですか？
Focus: なんねん
あなたの回答：
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Read this aloud:
私は来年日本へ行きます。
Focus: らいねん
あなたの回答：
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
今年の夏はとても暑い年でした。
Focus: ことし
あなたの回答：
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Write a short sentence saying what year it is now. For example, '今は2024年です。'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
今は2024年です。
Write a sentence stating how many years you have been studying Japanese. For example, '私は日本語を3年勉強しています。'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
私は日本語を2年勉強しています。
Write a sentence asking someone what year they were born. For example, '何年に生まれましたか？'
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Sample answer
何年に生まれましたか？
When did he come to Japan?
Read this passage:
A: 彼は何年に日本に来ましたか？ B: 彼は2020年に日本に来ました。 A: そうですか。もう4年になりますね。
When did he come to Japan?
The passage clearly states '彼は2020年に日本に来ました。' (He came to Japan in 2020.)
The passage clearly states '彼は2020年に日本に来ました。' (He came to Japan in 2020.)
What year did the speaker go to Hokkaido?
Read this passage:
私は毎年夏に旅行に行きます。今年は京都に行きたいです。去年は北海道に行きました。来年はどこに行こうかな。
What year did the speaker go to Hokkaido?
The passage says '去年は北海道に行きました。' (Last year, I went to Hokkaido.)
The passage says '去年は北海道に行きました。' (Last year, I went to Hokkaido.)
What milestone is the company celebrating this year?
Read this passage:
私の会社は今年で創立10周年を迎えます。長い間、多くのお客様に支えられてきました。これからも頑張ります。
What milestone is the company celebrating this year?
The passage states '私の会社は今年で創立10周年を迎えます。' (My company is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.)
The passage states '私の会社は今年で創立10周年を迎えます。' (My company is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.)
This sentence means 'I have lived in Japan for 5 years.' The counter ～年 (nen) comes after the number.
This sentence means 'She will graduate from university next year.' 来年 (rainen) means 'next year.'
This sentence means 'It has been 20 years since this company was established.' 設立 (setsuritsu) means 'establishment.'
彼女は日本に5___住んでいます。(She has lived in Japan for 5 years.)
「年間」is used for counting a period of years.
この会社は創業以来、20___が経ちました。(20 years have passed since this company was founded.)
「年」is a general counter for years. In this context, it refers to the elapsed years.
彼は毎年、このイベントに参加しています。今年で3___目になります。(He participates in this event every year. This will be his third year.)
「年目」is used to indicate the 'N-th year' of something.
私の息子は来年、小学校に入学します。彼は現在6___です。(My son will enter elementary school next year. He is currently 6 years old.)
「歳」is used for counting age. While not directly '～年' in structure, it's highly related to counting years for a person's age.
あの建物は建設に10___かかりました。(That building took 10 years to construct.)
「年」is used here to count the duration in years.
この計画は数___にわたる大規模なプロジェクトです。(This plan is a large-scale project spanning several years.)
「数年」means 'several years', using 「年」as the counter.
Choose the correct way to say 'the year 2023' in Japanese.
To express a specific year, you attach ～年 (nen) directly to the number.
Which sentence correctly uses ～年 to ask 'How many years have you lived in Japan?'
何年 (nan-nen) is the correct way to ask 'how many years' when counting duration.
You want to say 'I've been studying Japanese for three years.' Which option is correct?
三年 (san-nen) means 'three years' and is used directly after the activity to indicate duration. 三年間 (sannenkan) is also correct and emphasizes the duration of 'three years'. However, '三年日本語を勉強しています' is simpler and commonly used.
The phrase '去年' (kyonen) uses ～年 to mean 'last year'.
去年 (kyonen) literally means 'past year' and is the standard word for 'last year'.
You can use ～年 to refer to a person's age.
～年 (nen) is for counting years or specifying a year. To refer to age, you use ～歳 (sai).
When referring to 'next year', you can say '次の年' (tsugi no toshi).
While '次の年' (tsugi no toshi) is grammatically understandable, the natural and common word for 'next year' is 来年 (rainen).
Do you remember the year you graduated from university?
She returned to her hometown for the first time in several years.
This company has been steadily growing every year since its establishment.
Read this aloud:
日本の会計年度は4月に始まり、翌年の3月に終わります。
Focus: 会計年度 (kaikei nendo)
あなたの回答：
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Read this aloud:
彼は来年、海外で働くことを計画しています。
Focus: 来年 (rainen)
あなたの回答：
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Read this aloud:
今年は例年になく暑い夏でしたね。
Focus: 例年 (reinen)
あなたの回答：
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You are writing an email to a Japanese colleague. Mention that you have been working at your current company for 5 years. Write the sentence in Japanese.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
私は今の会社で5年働いています。
You are making a presentation about your project timeline. One slide needs to say: 'Development will take 2 years.' Write this phrase in Japanese.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
開発には2年かかります。
You are explaining to a friend that your younger sister is 10 years old. Write the sentence in Japanese.
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Sample answer
私の妹は10歳です。
田中さんはこの町にどのくらい住んでいますか？
Read this passage:
田中さんは、この町に住んで10年になります。最初は慣れませんでしたが、今はとても気に入っています。
田中さんはこの町にどのくらい住んでいますか？
文章に「10年になります」と書かれているため、田中さんがこの町に住んで10年であることがわかります。
文章に「10年になります」と書かれているため、田中さんがこの町に住んで10年であることがわかります。
このプロジェクトはいつ5周年を迎えますか？
Read this passage:
このプロジェクトは来年で5周年を迎えます。多くの困難がありましたが、チーム一丸となって乗り越えてきました。
このプロジェクトはいつ5周年を迎えますか？
文章に「来年で5周年を迎えます」と書かれているため、プロジェクトの5周年は来年であることがわかります。
文章に「来年で5周年を迎えます」と書かれているため、プロジェクトの5周年は来年であることがわかります。
彼は会社に入社して何年目ですか？
Read this passage:
彼は会社に入社して3年目ですが、すでに多くの重要な仕事を任されています。将来が楽しみな若手社員です。
彼は会社に入社して何年目ですか？
文章に「会社に入社して3年目ですが」と書かれているため、彼が会社に入社して3年目であることがわかります。
文章に「会社に入社して3年目ですが」と書かれているため、彼が会社に入社して3年目であることがわかります。
This sentence means 'It's already been three years since I came to Japan.' The particle '以来' (irai) means 'since' or 'from then on'. 'もう' (mou) means 'already'. '～になります' (ni narimasu) means 'it will be' or 'it has become'.
This sentence means 'She studied abroad for five years.' '～間' (kan) is a suffix indicating duration. '海外' (kaigai) means 'overseas' or 'abroad'. '勉強しました' (benkyoushimashita) is the past tense of 'to study'.
This sentence means 'Twenty years have passed since this company was established.' '設立' (setsuritsu) means 'establishment'. '～から' (kara) means 'from'. '経ちました' (tachimasita) is the past tense of 'to pass (time)'.
このプロジェクトの完成には、さらに数___を要するだろう。
文脈から、プロジェクトの完了には数年かかるという意味が適切です。
彼女は長___にわたり、この分野の研究に貢献してきた。
「長年にわたり」は、長い期間を指す慣用句です。
その企業は創立100___を記念して、特別なイベントを企画している。
「創立100周年」は、会社設立から100年を意味します。
私たちの祖先は、数万___前のアフリカに起源を持つと言われている。
人類の起源は数万年単位で語られます。
この遺跡は何百___もの間、地中に埋もれていたそうだ。
遺跡が地中に埋もれていた期間は、通常「何百年」と表現されます。
彼の作品は、発表されてから既に数十___が経過している。
作品が発表されてから長い期間を表すには「数十年の経過」が適切です。
The speaker is talking about someone's years of service.
The speaker mentions the duration of a project.
The speaker expresses a wish for next year.
Read this aloud:
私は日本に来てから今年で3年になります。
Focus: さんねん (san-nen)
あなたの回答：
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Read this aloud:
彼は勤続40年で、会社にとってなくてはならない存在です。
Focus: よんじゅうねん (yon-jū-nen)
あなたの回答：
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Read this aloud:
今年の夏は特に暑かったですね。
Focus: ことし (ko-to-shi)
あなたの回答：
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This sentence means 'He has lived in Japan for 20 years.' The counter ～年間 (nenkan) is used to express a duration of years.
This sentence means 'It has been 10 years since she founded the company.' Here, ～年になります (nen ni narimasu) indicates the passage of a certain number of years.
This sentence means 'This project is scheduled to be completed next year.' 来年 (rainen) means 'next year'.
You are writing a formal report on historical economic trends in Japan. In your report, mention that Japan's economic growth was particularly robust in the post-war period, roughly from 1950 to 1990. Use the counter for years. Your target audience is academic and professional, so maintain a formal and objective tone.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
戦後の日本経済は、1950年から1990年までの約40年間にわたり、特に堅調な成長を遂げました。
You are a historical document archivist. You need to annotate a document stating that a certain policy was in effect for 'more than twenty years' before being revised. Frame this in a precise and academic manner.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
当該政策は、改訂されるまで20年以上にわたり実施されておりました。
As a journalist, you are summarizing a long-term research project. State that the project, which began 'ten years ago', has finally yielded significant results. Use formal Japanese.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
10年前に開始されたこの研究プロジェクトは、ついに重要な成果を達成しました。
この文章によると、年金制度の持続可能性はどのくらいの期間にわたる課題だと述べられていますか？
Read this passage:
日本政府は、過去数年間にわたり、少子高齢化問題に対する様々な対策を講じてきました。しかしながら、これらの政策の効果が十分に現れるまでには、まだ数年かかる見込みです。特に、年金制度の持続可能性は、今後数十年にわたる重要な課題となるでしょう。
この文章によると、年金制度の持続可能性はどのくらいの期間にわたる課題だと述べられていますか？
文章の最後の部分に「今後数十年にわたる重要な課題となるでしょう」と明記されています。
文章の最後の部分に「今後数十年にわたる重要な課題となるでしょう」と明記されています。
この企業が世界市場でのシェアを大幅に拡大したのは、創業から何年後ですか？
Read this passage:
ある国際企業は、創業からわずか五年にして、世界市場でのシェアを大幅に拡大しました。これは、革新的な技術開発と積極的な海外戦略の成果であり、業界内で非常に注目されています。同社は、今後も毎年、安定した成長を続けると予測されています。
この企業が世界市場でのシェアを大幅に拡大したのは、創業から何年後ですか？
「創業からわずか五年にして、世界市場でのシェアを大幅に拡大しました」と書かれています。
「創業からわずか五年にして、世界市場でのシェアを大幅に拡大しました」と書かれています。
この地域が大規模な地震に見舞われたのは、およそ何年前のことですか？
Read this passage:
この地域は、約百年前に大規模な地震に見舞われ、その復興には長い年月を要しました。現在では、その当時の面影はほとんどなく、近代的な都市へと変貌を遂げています。しかし、その記憶は、世代を超えて語り継がれています。
この地域が大規模な地震に見舞われたのは、およそ何年前のことですか？
「約百年前に大規模な地震に見舞われ」と明確に記載されています。
「約百年前に大規模な地震に見舞われ」と明確に記載されています。
This sentence means 'I lived in Japan for 5 years.' The particle に marks the location, 5年間 specifies the duration, and 住んでいました is the past continuous form of 'to live'.
This sentence translates to 'She has been working at the company for over 10 years.' 彼女は is 'she', 10年以上 means 'more than 10 years', 会社で specifies the workplace, and 働いています is the present continuous form of 'to work'.
This sentence means 'The Olympics will be held in Tokyo next year.' 来年 is 'next year', オリンピックは is 'the Olympics', 東京で marks the location, and 開催されます is the passive form of 'to be held'.
/ 120 correct
Perfect score!
Basic use of ～年
You'll most often use ～年 to indicate a specific year, like 2023年 (nisen-nijūsan-nen) for 'year 2023'.
Pronunciation changes with numbers
The pronunciation of ～年 can change depending on the preceding number. For example, 1年 (ichi-nen) but 8年 (hachi-nen).
Counting years
When counting a duration of years, you also use ～年. For instance, 3年 (san-nen) means 'three years'.
Asking 'what year?'
To ask 'what year?', use 何年 (nan-nen). For example, 今年は何年ですか？ (Kotoshi wa nan-nen desu ka?) 'What year is it this year?'
関連コンテンツ
この単語を他の言語で
generalの関連語
いくつか
B1An unspecified small number of things; some, a few.
ちょっと
A2A little; a moment; a bit. Small amount or short time.
すこし
A2A little; a few.
さっき
A2A little while ago; a short time past.
能力
A1Nouryoku refers to the mental or physical power, skill, or capacity required to perform a specific task or function. It can describe both innate talent and skills acquired through learning and practice.
異常
A1A word used to describe something that deviates from the normal state, standard, or expected pattern. It often implies a problem, malfunction, or an extraordinary occurrence that requires attention or investigation.
～について
A2About, concerning; indicates topic.
〜について
B1About, concerning; on the subject of.
～ぐらい
A2about, approximately
ぐらい
A2About; approximately; to the extent of.
