Japanese word

新年

Pronunciation

Romajishinnen

Meaning

  • nounnew year

Example

新年には新しい目標を立てます。shin nen ni wa atara shi i moku hyō o ta te ma su

I set new goals for the new year.

Illustration for 新年 (new year)

More examples

家族と一緒に新年を祝います。ka zoku to is sho ni shin nen o iwa i ma su

I celebrate the new year with my family.

Core concept

Marks the start of a new yearly cycle, with the early part of that cycle treated as a fresh beginning.

Common phrases

  • 新年を迎えるshin nen o muka e ru

    welcome the new year

  • 新年のあいさつshin nen no a i sa tsu

    new year's greetings

  • 新年の抱負shin nen no hō fu

    new year's resolutions

Similar words

お正月oshōgatsu: The holiday season around the start of the year, including its traditional customs.
新春shinshun: A formal or literary term for the beginning of a new year.

Definition in Japanese

年が改まった最初の時期。また、その年の一年。nen ga arata ma tta sai sho no ji ki ma ta so no toshi no ichi nen

Word origin

新 (shin, "new") + 年 (nen, "year") forms the Sino-Japanese compound 新年 (shinnen), meaning a newly begun year.

Usage tips

  • The term 新年 (shinnen) is common in formal greetings and writing, while お正月 (oshōgatsu) more often names the holiday season and its customs.

Word lists with this word