noun-modifying (irregular)
annual; yearly
Prenominal modifier used in formal or business contexts for yearly events, reports, plans, etc.
He studied abroad in his third year.
Please submit the annual report.
We need to review the annual plan.
year of entry/graduation; class year
Suffix attached to a year or event to indicate the year of joining, graduating, etc. Common in phrases like 入社年次 or 卒業年次.
He joined the company one year before me.
nth-year (student/employee)
Suffix used after a number to indicate the year of study or employment. E.g., 2年次 means second-year student or employee.
He studied abroad in his third year of university.
First-year employees receive training.
He is senior to me in years of service.
Tanaka and I are from the same class year.
The company announced its annual plan.
毎年 is a common adverb meaning 'every year', while 年次 is a more formal prenominal modifier used in business or official contexts.
annual leave; annual paid vacation
annual report
annual general meeting; AGM
annual paid leave; annual paid vacation
Compound of 年 (year) and 次 (order, sequence). The meaning 'annual' derives from the notion of something occurring in yearly order, while the suffix uses extend the idea of sequential year numbering.