年 – Year (Nen / Toshi Kanji)
Learn the meaning, Onyomi and Kunyomi readings, stroke order, common vocabulary, and example sentences for the Japanese Kanji 年.
Kanji 年 Readings – Onyomi & Kunyomi
年 has both an Onyomi (Chinese-derived) reading and Kunyomi (native Japanese) readings, each used in different word contexts.
Used in compound words such as 来年 (rainen – next year) and 毎年 (mainen – every year).
Used as a standalone word meaning year or age, such as 今年 (kotoshi – this year) and 年を取る (toshi o toru – to grow old).
年 Stroke Order – How to Write 年
年 is written with 6 strokes. Follow the numbered order below to write it correctly.
💡 Tip: Write the top horizontal stroke, then the left diagonal, then the second horizontal stroke, then the long vertical stroke, finishing with the third horizontal and the bottom horizontal.
Common Words Using 年 (Vocabulary List)
Here are 10 essential words that use the kanji 年, worth memorizing first.
Example Sentences with 年
See 年 used in real, natural Japanese sentences with Kanji, Kana, Romaji and English meaning.
今年は忙しい年でした。
ことしは いそがしい としでした。
Kotoshi wa isogashii toshi deshita.
This year was a busy year.
来年、大学を卒業します。
らいねん、だいがくを そつぎょうします。
Rainen, daigaku o sotsugyou shimasu.
I will graduate from university next year.
彼女は私と同じ年齢です。
かのじょは わたしと おなじ ねんれいです。
Kanojo wa watashi to onaji nenrei desu.
She is the same age as me.
彼は三年生です。
かれは さんねんせいです。
Kare wa sannensei desu.
He is a third-year student.
新年おめでとうございます。
しんねん おめでとう ございます。
Shinnen omedetou gozaimasu.
Happy New Year.
Frequently Asked Questions About 年
What does the Kanji 年 mean?
年 means year. It is one of the most common JLPT N5 kanji and appears in many everyday words such as 今年 (kotoshi, this year) and 来年 (rainen, next year).
What is the Onyomi reading of 年?
The Onyomi (Chinese-derived) reading of 年 is ネン (nen), as in 来年 (rainen, next year) and 毎年 (mainen, every year).
What is the Kunyomi reading of 年?
The Kunyomi (native Japanese) reading of 年 is とし (toshi), meaning "year" or "age," as in 今年 (kotoshi, this year) and 年を取る (toshi o toru, to grow old).
How many strokes does 年 have?
年 is written with 6 strokes.
Is 年 a JLPT N5 kanji?
Yes, 年 is part of the official JLPT N5 kanji list and is essential for talking about time, dates, and age in Japanese.
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