also: ふるとし
the old year; last year
Refers to the previous year, often used in New Year's greetings or when contrasting with the new year. The reading きゅうねん is more formal; ふるとし is colloquial and often written in kana.
Thank you very much for your kindness during the past year.
Let's forget about last year and start the new year.
旧年 means 'the old/previous year' and is used in formal contrast to 新年, 'the new year'.
Standard kanji form for the reading きゅうねん.
Rare reading; ふるとし is more commonly written in kana or as 古年.
Kana spelling for the reading ふるとし, which is more common than the kanji form.
Compound of 旧 (old, former) and 年 (year). The reading きゅうねん is on'yomi; ふるとし is a kun'yomi reading where 旧 is read as ふる (old) and 年 as とし (year).