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年明ける (としあける) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
expression, ichidan verb
the new year begins ; the New Year dawns
Used to describe the arrival of the new year, often in a slightly literary or formal context. The synonymous phrase 年が明ける is more common in everyday speech.
See also: 年が明ける
Antonyms: 年暮れる
I plan to look for a new job after the new year starts.
Similar words 年とし が 明あ ける More common and slightly less formal than 年明ける. Both mean 'the new year begins', but 年が明ける is the standard phrasing.
年とし 暮く れる Antonym meaning 'the year comes to an end'. Used to describe the closing days of the year.
Etymology Compound of 年 (toshi, 'year') and 明ける (akeru, 'to dawn, to begin'). The verb 明ける originally refers to the break of day, and by extension the start of a new period.