Translation and Meaning of: 今年 - kotoshi

If you are learning Japanese or just curious about the language, you may have come across the word 今年 (ことし). It is essential for talking about the present, but do you know everything about its usage, origin, and how it is perceived in Japan? In this article, we will explore the meaning, writing, and cultural context of this word that is so common in the daily lives of the Japanese people.

What does 今年 (ことし) mean?

The word 今年 is composed of the kanji 今 (いま), which means "now" or "present," and 年 (とし), which means "year." Together, they form the term that we translate as "this year" or "current year." It is a word commonly used in daily conversations, planning, and even personal goals.

Unlike expressions like "next year" or "last year," 今年 has a more immediate weight. The Japanese use it to talk about ongoing events, such as festivals, changes of seasons, or professional goals. If you want to say "this year I'm going to travel to Japan," for example, you can use: 今年は日本に行きます (ことしはにほんにいきます).

How to write and pronounce 今年 correctly.

The most common reading of 今年 is ことし (kotoshi), but in some formal or regional contexts, you might hear こんねん (konnen). This second pronunciation is less frequent, but it appears in speeches or official documents. It’s worth knowing both to avoid confusion when you hear them.

In writing, it's important to note that 今年 has no alternative kanji variations, but it can appear in hiragana (ことし) in informal texts or when the author wants to give a softer tone. If you are starting to learn Japanese, practicing the writing of these kanjis helps to reinforce the word in memory.

The cultural use of 今年 in Japan

In Japan, the concept of time is taken seriously, and 今年 is not just a reference to the current year, but also carries a meaning of renewal. During shōgatsu (New Year), it is common for Japanese people to reflect on what they want to achieve "this year," using expressions like 今年こそ (ことしこそ), which means "this time, finally."

Furthermore, the word appears in contexts such as fortune predictions (おみくじ) in temples, where one reads things like This year will be a good year (ことしはよいとしになります) – "This year will be a good year". This type of usage reinforces how the Japanese language connects simple words to deep cultural values.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 本年度 (Hon'nen) - This fiscal year.
• 本年 (Honnen) - This year.
• 今回 (Konkai) - This time.
• 今年度 (Konen) - This year, considered in terms of a fiscal period.
• 今年の (Kotoshi no) - Of the current year.
• 今年の一年間 (Kotoshi no ichinenkan) - All of the current year.
• 今年一年 (Kotoshi ichinen) - A year of this year.
• 今年の年度の期間 (Kotoshi no nendo no kikan) - Current fiscal year period.
• 今年の年度の一年間 (Kotoshi no nendo no ichinenkan) - The entire current fiscal year.

今年

Romaji: kotoshi
Kana: ことし
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n5

Translation / Meaning: This year

Meaning in English: this year

Definition: "This year" refers to the period from January 1st to December 31st.

Example Sentences - (今年) kotoshi

See below some example sentences:

今年は良い年になりますように。

Kotoshi wa yoi toshi ni narimasu you ni

May this year be a good year.

• 今年 (kotoshi) - This year
• は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 良い (yoi) - Good
• 年 (toshi) - Year
• に (ni) - particle that indicates purpose or objective
• なります (narimasu) - become
• ように (youni) - expression that indicates desire or hope

今年は豊作になるように祈っています。

Kotoshi wa hōsaku ni naru yō ni inotte imasu

I pray for a good harvest this year.

• 今年 - This year
• は - Topic particle
• 豊作 - abundant harvest
• に - target particle
• なる - become
• ように - for what
• 祈っています - I'm praying

今年は暑い夏だった。

Kotoshi wa atsui natsu datta

This year was a hot summer.

• 今年 - This year
• は - Topic particle
• 暑い - hot
• 夏 - summer
• だった - past of the verb "to be"

今年度の予算は増えました。

Konendo no yosan wa fuetamashita

This year's budget has increased.

• 今年度の - This fiscal year
• 予算は - budget
• 増えました - Increased

今年の年鑑はとても素晴らしいです。

Kotoshi no nenkan wa totemo subarashii desu

This year's annual look is very wonderful.

• 今年の - This year
• 年鑑 - directory
• は - Topic particle
• とても - very
• 素晴らしい - amazing
• です - verb to be in the polite form

私は今年二十歳です。

Watashi wa kotoshi nijuu sai desu

I am 20 years old this year.

I am 20 years old this year.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• 今年 (kotoshi) - noun meaning "this year"
• 二十 (hatachi) - numeral meaning "twenty"
• 歳 (sai) - suffix indicating age
• です (desu) - Verb "to be" in polite form