初しょ年ねん

noun, adverb

first year; initial year

Refers to the first year after something begins, often in somewhat formal or written contexts. 初年度 is often more common when referring to an accounting, school, or program year.

• 創そう業ぎょう初しょ年ねんから会かい社しゃは黒くろ字じだった。

  The company was profitable from its first year in business.

• 留りゅう学がく初しょ年ねんは、言こと葉ばに慣なれるだけで精せい一いっ杯ぱいだった。

  In my first year studying abroad, just getting used to the language was all I could manage.

noun, adverb

early years of an era; early years of a reign

Common in historical expressions such as 明治初年 or 昭和初年, referring not necessarily to a single year but to the early part of an era or reign.

• 明めい治じ初しょ年ねんには、西せい洋ようの制せい度どが急きゅう速そくに取とり入いれられた。

  In the early years of the Meiji era, Western systems were rapidly adopted.