noun, adverb
first year; initial year
Refers to the first year after something begins, often in somewhat formal or written contexts. 初年度 is often more common when referring to an accounting, school, or program year.
創業初年から会社は黒字だった。
The company was profitable from its first year in business.
留学初年は、言葉に慣れるだけで精一杯だった。
In my first year studying abroad, just getting used to the language was all I could manage.
noun, adverb
early years of an era; early years of a reign
Common in historical expressions such as 明治初年 or 昭和初年, referring not necessarily to a single year but to the early part of an era or reign.
明治初年には、西洋の制度が急速に取り入れられた。
In the early years of the Meiji era, Western systems were rapidly adopted.
Specifically the first year of an era name, reign, system, or major change; narrower and more fixed than 初年.
A Sino-Japanese compound of 初, associated with 'first' or 'beginning,' and 年, 'year.'