Translation guide
Expresses a long span of time, typically years. Japanese uses various nouns and adverbs depending on whether you mean 'many years' as a duration, a point in time, or a recurring period.
To say that something takes or lasts for many years.
Commonly used to mean 'for many years' or 'over many years'. Often used with verbs like 続ける (continue) or かかる (take time).
彼は長年この会社で働いている。
He has been working at this company for many years.
そのプロジェクトは長年かかった。
That project took many years.
More formal and often used in written language or official contexts. Can also mean 'many years' as a duration.
多年にわたる研究の成果が発表された。
The results of many years of research were announced.
Literally 'many years', used adverbially to mean 'for years' or 'for many years'. Very common in everyday speech.
何年も待っていた。
I waited for many years.
彼女は何年も英語を勉強している。
She has been studying English for many years.
Emphasizes the length of time, often with a sense of passage. Can be used for 'many years' or 'long years'.
長い年月が過ぎた。
Many years passed.
To refer to something that happened many years ago or will happen many years from now.
Means 'many years ago'. The も emphasizes the quantity.
それは何年も前の出来事だ。
That's an event from many years ago.
Means 'many years from now' or 'many years in the future'.
完成は何年も先になるだろう。
Completion will be many years from now.
Refers to 'years gone by' or 'the old days', often used in nostalgic contexts. Not a direct translation of 'many years' but can imply a long past period.
To express that something happens annually over a long period.
Means 'almost every year' or 'year after year', implying repetition over many years.
毎年のように台風が来る。
Typhoons come almost every year (for many years).
Means 'year by year' or 'annually', often used to describe gradual change over many years.
年々、技術が進歩している。
Technology advances year by year (over many years).
Directly translating 'many years' as 多くの年 (おおくのとし) is unnatural in Japanese. Use the expressions above instead.
長年 (ながねん) is a single word often used in formal or written contexts, while 何年も (なんねんも) is more colloquial and flexible. Both mean 'for many years'.
往年の名選手
A great player of many years past