Translation and Meaning of: 年間 - nenkan

The Japanese word 年間 (ねんかん) is a common term in everyday life in Japan, but it can raise questions for language learners. In this article, we will explore its meaning, practical use, and cultural curiosities that help to understand how it is perceived by native speakers. If you have ever wondered how to translate 年間 into Portuguese or in which contexts it appears, keep reading to find out.

Meaning and translation of 年間

The term 年間 is composed of the kanji 年 (year) and 間 (interval, period), giving the meaning of "a period of one year" or "annual". The most direct translation to English would be "throughout the year" or "during the year", depending on the context. For example, 年間予算 (ねんかんよさん) means "annual budget".

It is worth noting that 年間 does not refer to a specific year, but rather to a complete cycle of 12 months. This distinction is important to avoid confusion with terms like 今年 (ことし), which means "this year." The use of 年間 is frequent in reports, planning, and statistics, emphasizing its quantitative nature.

Everyday use and practical examples

In daily life, 年間 appears in both formal and informal contexts. Companies use expressions like 年間売上 (ねんかんうりあげ, "annual sales") for reports, while ordinary people might say 年間パス (ねんかんパス, "annual pass") when talking about transport or subscriptions. The term is also common in news, such as in 年間降水量 (ねんかんこうすいりょう, "annual precipitation").

An interesting detail is that 年間 can be combined with verbs to indicate continuous actions. Phrases like 年間を通じて (ねんかんをとおじて, "throughout the entire year") are used to describe activities or phenomena that persist over the 12 months, such as climates or cultural habits.

Tips for memorization and curiosities

An effective way to remember 年間 is to associate it with recurring events. Festivals like 年間祭 (ねんかんさい, "annual festival") or traditions like 年間行事 (ねんかんぎょうじ, "annual events") are tangible examples that help reinforce the term. Another tip is to practice with apps like Anki using sentences like 年間10回旅行する ("travel 10 times a year").

Culturally, 年間 reflects the importance that Japanese people place on long-term planning. Companies and families often organize their goals in annual cycles, a trait visible in expressions like 年間計画 (ねんかんけいかく, "annual plan"). This aspect makes the word a key element to understanding not only the language but also the Japanese mentality.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 一年間 (ichinengan) - A full year, often used to indicate a specific duration.
• 一年 (ichinen) - A year, often used in a more general way.
• 年間 (nenkan) - A period of one year, often used to describe the duration of an event or activity.
• 年間の期間 (nenkan no kikan) - Period within a year, emphasizing the specific duration during that year.
• 年間にわたる (nenkan ni wataru) - Extending over a year, used to describe something that happens or applies throughout a year.
• 年間を通じて (nenkan o tsujite) - Throughout a year, indicating that something is continuous or permanent all year round.
• 年間中 (nenkan-chuu) - Throughout the year, emphasizing the action or event that takes place over the course of the year.

年間

Romaji: nenkan
Kana: ねんかん
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n3

Translation / Meaning: Year

Meaning in English: year

Definition: Equivalent period to one year.

Example Sentences - (年間) nenkan

See below some example sentences:

1年間は365日あります。

Ichinenkan wa sanbyakurokujūgonichi arimasu

One year has 365 days.

One year is 365 days.

• 1年間 - Indicate a period of one year
• は - Topic marking particle
• 365日 - Indicates the number of days in a year
• あります - verb "exist" in polite form