Translation and Meaning of: 一昨年 - issakunen

Have you ever wondered how the Japanese talk about the year before last? The word 一昨年 (いっさくねん) is the answer, and it holds fascinating details about how Japanese structures time. In this article, we will explore its etymology, everyday use, and even tips for memorizing this term that, at first glance, seems complicated. If you have studied Japanese, you know that Suki Nihongo is the largest online dictionary of the language, and here you will also find the correct writing of the kanji, as well as practical examples to include in your Anki or other spaced repetition system. Shall we uncover together the secrets of this very specific expression?

Etymology and construction of the kanji

The word 一昨年 is made up of three kanji: 一 (ichi, "one"), 昨 (saku, "past"), and 年 (nen, "year"). Together, they literally mean "one year before the past," or in other words, the year before last. The first character, 一, acts as an intensifier, conveying the idea of "one step back" in relation to the previous year. This construction is common in Japanese temporal terms, such as 一昨日 (issakujitsu, "the day before yesterday"), which follows the same logic.

Interestingly, the kanji 昨 appears in various words related to the recent past, such as 昨日 (kinō, "yesterday") and 昨年 (sakunen, "last year"). This family of terms shows how Japanese organizes time hierarchically, almost like steps on a chronological ladder. When you understand this pattern, it becomes easier to decipher other temporal expressions without needing to memorize each one.

Usage in everyday life and common situations

In daily life, Japanese people use いっさくねん mainly in formal or written contexts, such as official documents, work reports, and news articles. In casual conversations, many prefer simpler expressions like "２年前" (ni-nen mae, "two years ago"), which sounds less technical. However, knowing 一昨年 is essential for those who want to master Japanese at an advanced level, especially for proficiency tests like the JLPT N2 and N1.

A valuable tip: pay attention to the kanji 昨 when it appears in other combinations. It functions as a temporal marker that always indicates the recent past. If you have struggled with dates in Japanese, try creating sentences like "一昨年の夏は暑かったです" (Issakunen no natsu wa atsukatta desu, "The summer of the year before last was hot") to practice. This type of construction helps to solidify not only the vocabulary but also the grammatical structure behind it.

Memory tips and curiosities

To avoid confusing 一昨年 with 昨年 (sakunen, "last year"), imagine a timeline where 一 acts as a sign for "-1". If 今年 (kotoshi) is the current year, 昨年 is -1, and 一昨年 would be -2. This visual trick especially helps in situations where we need to talk about consecutive events, like trips or work projects. Another strategy is to associate the sound "issaku" with something memorable - perhaps remembering that "this happened in issakunen" can create a mental anchor.

A cultural curiosity: the Japanese have a very particular relationship with the passage of time, reflected in expressions like this one. While in Portuguese we use "ano retrasado" (which comes from the Latin "retro"), the Japanese opt for a precise mathematical construction. This difference reveals how each language categorizes time - the Japanese prefer clear counts (one year before the past), while we use terms that suggest distance ("retrasado" comes from "behind"). When you notice these details, the study of the language gains a new dimension.