Translation guide
How to express 'the end of last year' in Japanese, covering common time expressions and contextual usage.
I moved at the end of last year.
A more formal, written-style compound. Often used in business or news contexts.
As of the end of last year, the number of members exceeded one million.
暮れ refers to the year-end period, often with a nuance of the busy holiday season. Slightly more casual than 年末.
I did a big cleaning at the end of last year.
Indicating a deadline or point in time by which something happened or was completed.
Describing a state or action that started at the end of last year and continues.
から indicates the starting point. Use with continuing states or actions.
I've been busy since the end of last year.
Emphasizing the final days or moments of the previous year.
年末 is the standard word for 'year-end' and can be used in any context. 暮れ also means year-end but carries a nuance of the bustling holiday season and is slightly more casual. In formal writing, 年末 or 昨年末 is preferred.
year-end greetings
the busy year-end period
Do not translate 'end' as 終わり (おわり) in this context. 去年の終わり is understandable but unnatural; use 年末 or 暮れ instead.
By the end of last year, we had introduced the new system in all stores.
It snowed on New Year's Eve last year.