Japanese word

年明け

Pronunciation

Romajitoshiake

Meaning

  • nounearly in the new year

Example

年明けに友達と旅行します。toshi a ke ni tomo dachi to ryo kō shi ma su

I will travel with a friend early in the new year.

Illustration for 年明け (early in the new year)

More examples

年明けには新しい目標を立てます。toshi a ke ni wa atara shi i moku hyō o ta te ma su

I set new goals early in the new year.

Core concept

Frames the new year as a period that has just opened, rather than as a single named holiday.

Common phrases

  • 年明けにtoshi a ke ni

    early in the new year

  • 年明け早々toshi a ke haya baya

    right after the new year begins

  • 年明けからtoshi a ke ka ra

    from early in the new year

Similar words

年初nensho: The early part of a year, viewed as a period rather than a specific date.
年始nenshi: The period marking the start of a year and its associated seasonal activities.

Definition in Japanese

新しい年になって間もない時期。atara shi i toshi ni na tte ma mo na i ji ki

Word origin

The compound 年明け (toshiake) combines 年 (toshi, "year") with 明け (ake, "beginning"), a noun form related to 明ける (akeru, "to dawn or end").

Usage tips

  • The noun 年明け (toshiake) appears in plans and deadlines when the speaker treats the start of the year as a stretch of time rather than as a fixed date.

Other meanings

  • beginning of the yearnoun

Word lists with this word