Japanese Conversation · Level 6
89 words
Japanese word
三年
Pronunciation
Romajisannen
Meaning
- nounthree years
Example
日本に三年住んでいます。nihon ni san nen su n de i ma su
I have lived in Japan for three years.
More examples
三年ぶりに家族に会いました。san nen bu ri ni ka zoku ni a i ma shi ta
I saw my family for the first time in three years.
Core concept
三年 (sannen) presents three years as one measured length of time.
Common phrases
三年後san nen ato
in three years
三年前san nen mae
three years ago
三年ごとにsan nen go to ni
every three years
Definition in Japanese
三つの年にわたる期間。mit tsu no toshi ni wa ta ru ki kan
Word origin
三年 (sannen) combines 三 (san, "three") with 年 (nen, "year"), so the compound names a period consisting of three years.
Usage tips
- Japanese commonly uses 三年 (sannen) after an action to express its duration, whereas English often uses for in the same expression.
Other meanings
- third yearnoun