元年
Meanings
1
first year of an era; inaugural year of a reign era
Used in Japanese era dating for the first year of an imperial era name; e.g. 令和元年 means the first year of Reiwa, not 令和一年 in formal date style.
We got married in the first year of Reiwa.
The first year of Heisei is 1989.
2
first year of a new development; year when something began
Figurative use for the year an important trend, industry, technology, or movement is considered to have started; common in media-style phrases like AI元年.
2024 is sometimes called the first year of generative AI.
That tournament became the starting year for the popularity of women's soccer.
Usage patterns
- 〈時〉元年the first year of the [era] era
A new era began in the first year of Reiwa.
- 〈事〉元年the year [something] is considered to have truly begun
2020 is said to be the year remote work truly began.