Translation guide
How to express 'years' in Japanese, depending on whether you mean a duration, a specific year, age, or a period.
Expressing a span of time in years (e.g., 'for three years', 'many years').
Attach to a number to say 'X years'. Use with 間 (かん) to emphasize duration, but often omitted.
日本に３年住んでいます。
I have lived in Japan for three years.
He was in America for five years.
Means 'many years' or 'for a long time'. Often used with verbs.
長年お世話になりました。
Thank you for your support over the years.
Formal/literary word for 'many years'. Used in written contexts.
多年の経験を活かす。
Utilize many years of experience.
Referring to a particular year, like 'this year', 'last year', or a numbered year.
This year. Note: not 'こんねん'.
今年は何年ですか？
What year is it this year?
Last year.
Next year.
Attach to a number to say a specific year (e.g., 2024年).
２０２４年はオリンピックがありました。
The Olympics were held in 2024.
Talking about someone's age.
Counter for age. Use after a number. Note irregular readings for 1, 8, 10, 20, etc.
Rarely used for age, mainly in formal contexts like '年齢' (age). Not recommended for everyday use.
Do not use 年 alone for age; use 歳.
年齢はおいくつですか？
What is your age?
Referring to a year in school or university.
Suffix for 'year student'. E.g., 一年生 (first-year student).
私は大学２年生です。
I am a second-year university student.
Used in contexts like '高校３年' (third year of high school). Often combined with 生.
高校３年の時に留学しました。
I studied abroad in my third year of high school.
Referring to a historical period or era.
Means 'era' or 'period'. Used for historical periods like 江戸時代 (Edo period).
江戸時代は長く続きました。
The Edo period lasted for many years.
Means 'age', 'era', or 'decade'. Often used for decades like 1980年代 (the 1980s).
年 (ねん) is for counting years as a duration or calendar year. 歳 (さい) is the counter for age. Do not mix them up.
３年 (three years) vs. ３歳 (three years old)
3年 (three years) vs. 3歳 (three years old)
Some ages have special readings: 1歳 (いっさい), 8歳 (はっさい), 10歳 (じゅっさい/じっさい), 20歳 (はたち).
日本語を５年勉強しています。
I've been studying Japanese for five years.
何年生まれですか？
What year were you born?
I went to Japan last year.
来年大学を卒業します。
I will graduate from university next year.
１９９０年代に生まれました。
I was born in the 1990s.