Translation guide
How to express 'the end of last year' in Japanese, covering common time expressions and contextual usage.
Referring to the period around December of the previous year.
The most direct and common way to say 'the end of last year'. 年末 means 'year-end'.
去年の年末に引っ越しました。
I moved at the end of last year.
A more formal, written-style compound. Often used in business or news contexts.
昨年末の時点で、会員数は100万人を超えた。
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.
去年の暮れに大掃除をした。
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.
Use までに to mean 'by (a certain time)'. This is the most natural way to express a deadline.
去年の年末までに報告書を提出しなければならなかった。
I had to submit the report by the end of last year.
Formal version of the above, suitable for business documents.
昨年末までに全店舗で新システムを導入した。
By the end of last year, we had introduced the new system in all stores.
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.
去年の年末からずっと忙しい。
I've been busy since the end of last year.
Emphasizing the final days or moments of the previous year.
ぎりぎり means 'just barely' or 'at the very last moment'. Adds a sense of urgency or timing.
去年の年末ぎりぎりに年賀状を出した。
I sent out New Year's cards at the very end of last year.
大晦日 specifically means New Year's Eve (December 31st). Use only when referring to that exact day.
去年の大晦日は雪が降った。
It snowed on New Year's Eve last 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.
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.