Translation guide
Expresses how something changes or continues over a period of years. Japanese uses various adverbial phrases depending on whether the change is gradual, annual, or year-by-year.
Describing something that happens or changes each year, often with a sense of progression.
Describing a change or accumulation that happens over a span of several years.
Literally 'as the years pass', used for gradual change over multiple years.
年を追うごとに、技術は進歩している。
Technology advances from year to year.
Describing something that is not consistent and changes each year.
Common pattern meaning 'differs from year to year'.
桜の開花時期は年によって違う。
The cherry blossom blooming time varies from year to year.
学生の数は年々減少している。
The number of students is decreasing from year to year.
価格は年によって異なる。
Prices vary from year to year.
Most common and natural way to say 'year by year' or 'from year to year' when describing gradual change or annual occurrence.
年々、気温が上がっている。
The temperature is rising year by year.
この町の人口は年々減少している。
The population of this town is decreasing from year to year.
Means 'every year' or 'annually'. Used for regular, repeated events rather than gradual change.
毎年、この時期に花が咲く。
Flowers bloom at this time every year.
Emphasizes each individual year, often used in reflective or poetic contexts.
一年一年、成長していく子供たち。
Children growing up year by year.
Literary or formal expression meaning 'year after year', often used in written language.
年々歳々、同じ風景が広がっている。
Year after year, the same scenery spreads out.
Means 'changes every year' or 'varies by year'.
流行は年ごとに変わる。
Trends change from year to year.