How to say 'New year' in Japanese | 年始

Wondering how to say 'New year' in Japanese? You're in the right place!

The Japanese word for New year is 'Nenshi', written as 年始 in Japanese.'New year' in hiragana is ねんし.

word

年始

Meaning

New year

Reading

ねんし

nenshi

Kanji

年Year 始Begin

Explanation

The Japanese noun '年始 (ねんし)' refers to the beginning of the new year, typically encompassing the first few days or weeks of January. It is often associated with traditional celebrations, greetings, and customs. For example: I will visit my relatives at the beginning of the year「年始に親戚を訪ねます」(ねんしにしんせきをたずねます). The company holds a meeting at the start of the year「会社は年始に会議を開きます」(かいしゃはねんしにかいぎをひらきます). This term is commonly used in formal contexts and is distinct from '正月 (しょうがつ)', which specifically refers to the New Year's holiday period.

Part Of Speech

noun

Kanji JLPT

Kanji Grade

Frequency

5959

Composition

kanji

Handwriting

Kanji in the Word 年始

This word contains 2 kanji characters:

kanji

年

Meaning

Year

kanji

始

Meaning

Begin

Words Related to 年始 Through the Kanji 年

These 46 Words contain the Kanji 年 as well.

word

年

Meaning

Year

word

年下

Meaning

Younger

word

一昨年

Meaning

Year before last

word

年間

Meaning

Year

word

少年

Meaning

Boy

word

年金

Meaning

Pension

word

年齢

Meaning

Age

word

年度

Meaning

Year, Fiscal

word

青年

Meaning

Youth

word

今年

Meaning

This year

word

再来年

Meaning

Year after next

word

万年筆

Meaning

Fountain pen

word

年賀状

Meaning

New years card

word

毎年

Meaning

Every year

word

生年月日

Meaning

Birthdate

word

半年

Meaning

Half year

word

近年

Meaning

Recent

word

翌年

Meaning

Next year

word

年寄り

Meaning

Elderly

word

昨年

Meaning

Last year

word

元年

Meaning

First year

word

去年

Meaning

Last year

word

長年

Meaning

Many years

word

お年玉

Meaning

Money

word

年月

Meaning

Years

word

年月日

Meaning

Date

word

年々

Meaning

Yearly

word

年代

Meaning

Era, Age

word

中年

Meaning

Middle age

word

年中

Meaning

Year round

word

学年

Meaning

Grade

word

同年

Meaning

Same year

word

本年

Meaning

This year

word

晩年

Meaning

Later years

word

年長

Meaning

Older

word

年末

Meaning

Year end

word

来年

Meaning

Next year

word

忘年会

Meaning

Year end party

word

年配

Meaning

Elderly

word

年収

Meaning

Annual income

word

定年

Meaning

Retirement

word

前年

Meaning

Previous year

word

年上

Meaning

Older

word

未成年

Meaning

Minor

word

例年

Meaning

Usual year

word

年賀

Meaning

New years card

Words Related to 年始 Through the Kanji 始

These 9 Words contain the Kanji 始 as well.

word

始める

Meaning

Start

word

始まる

Meaning

Begin

word

始め

Meaning

Beginning

word

開始

Meaning

Start

word

始めに

Meaning

Firstly

word

始終

Meaning

Always

word

始発

Meaning

First departure

word

始末

Meaning

Management, Conclusion

word

始まり

Meaning

Beginning

Learn the Word 年始

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What does 'Nenshi' (年始) mean?

'Nenshi' means 'New year' .

To help you master this word, here's an interactive lesson where you'll practice its readings and meanings.