year, counter for years
年 centers on the concept of a year as a unit of time, and by extension serves as a counter for years.
year
year
this year
(period of) a year
boy
age; years
age; era; period; date
fiscal year (usu. April 1 to March 31 in Japan); financial year
every year; yearly; annually
last year
next year
half a year; six months
recent years
annuity; pension
last year
many years; a long time
annual income
youth; young man
end-of-year; year-end
the preceding year; the previous year; last year
older; senior
old person; elderly person; senior citizen
academic year; school year
minority (i.e. being under age); minor; underage person
年 originally depicted a person carrying harvested grain, symbolizing the yearly harvest cycle. The modern form is simplified, but the association with the annual harvest remains.
The top strokes look like a simplified plant, and the lower part resembles a person carrying it. Imagine the yearly harvest being brought in, marking the passage of a year.
For ネン, think of a new year beginning: 'nen' sounds like the start of 'new', and the harvest marks the annual cycle. New year -> ネン.