Onyomi: ネン · Kunyomi: とし · Meanings: counter for years, year
Kanji for counter for years, year
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Find visually similar kanji, commonly confused characters, related meanings, and useful words connected to 年.
The kanji 年 originated from the image of a man carrying a bundle of harvested grain on his back — a symbol of the passing of seasons and the yearly harvest. In ancient times, this character represented both “harvest” and “year,” since each year was marked by the success of crops. Over time, 年 came to mean a full cycle of time — the measure of growth, change, and life’s rhythm through the years.
A person carrying the harvest of a season — 年 means year, the symbol of time’s steady cycle and growth.
Think of each year as a harvest you carry proudly — that’s 年, the passing of time marked by effort and reward.
| Word | Reading | Meaning | Meta |
|---|---|---|---|
| 年 | とし | year | common JLPT-N5 Noun |
| 年 | ねん | year | common Noun |
| 年 | とせ | counter for years | Counter |
| 年寄り | としより | old person, elderly person, senior citizen | common JLPT-N3 JLPT-N1 Noun, Noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no' |
| 年間 | ねんかん | (period of) a year | common JLPT-N3 Noun, Adverb (fukushi) |
| 年齢 | ねんれい | age, years | common JLPT-N3 Noun |
| 年代 | ねんだい | age, era, period, date | common JLPT-N3 Noun |
| 年月 | としつき | months and years | common JLPT-N3 Noun |
| 年中 | ねんじゅう | whole year, all year round, throughout the year | common JLPT-N3 Noun |
| 年鑑 | ねんかん | yearbook, almanac, annual | JLPT-N1 Noun |