年ねん

noun

year

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

• 一いち年ねんは十じゅう二にか月げつです。

  One year has twelve months.

• 年ねんに一いち度ど、健けん康こう診しん断だんを受うけている。

  I get a health checkup once a year.

counter

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.

• 彼かれは今年ことしで二十歳はたち、つまり二に十じゅう年ねん生いきたことになる。

  He turns twenty this year, meaning he has lived for twenty years.

• 私わたしは小しょう学がっ校こう六ろく年ねんです。

  I am in the sixth grade of elementary school.

noun

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

• 昔むかしの職しょく人にんは年ねん季きが明あけるまで独どく立りつできなかった。

  In the past, craftsmen could not become independent until their apprenticeship period ended.