General noun for a calendar year or a period of 12 months. Used in expressions like 年に一度 (once a year).
See also: 年に一度
One year has twelve months.
I get a health checkup once a year.
counter for years; counter for grades
Counter used for years (e.g., of an era, age, or duration) and for school grades. Attaches directly to numbers.
He turns twenty this year, meaning he has lived for twenty years.
I am in the sixth grade of elementary school.
apprenticeship period (usu. ten years)
Abbreviation of 年季. Refers to the fixed term of an apprentice's contract, typically ten years. Rare standalone use; mostly encountered in historical or traditional craft contexts.
See also: 年季
In the past, craftsmen could not become independent until their apprenticeship period ended.
She remains beautiful even as she grows older.
He is a third-year university student.
I came to Japan three years ago.
He travels abroad three times a year.