noun-modifying (irregular)
annual; yearly
Prenominal modifier used in formal or business contexts for yearly events, reports, plans, etc.
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 studied abroad in his third year.
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.
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.