年月(ねんげつ)

ねんげつ
noun
years; time; months and years
1. years; months and years; time; passage of time
A period of time, typically a long one spanning years. Often used to emphasize the duration or passage of time.
年月(ねんげつ)が経(た)つ。
Time passes.
年月(ねんげつ)が経(た)つのは早(はや)いものだ。
Time flies.
年月が経つ is a common expression for the passage of time
長(なが)い年月(ねんげつ)をかけて完成(かんせい)させた。
It was completed over many years.
あれから随分(ずいぶん)年月(ねんげつ)が流(なが)れた。
A lot of time has passed since then.
年月が流れる also means 'time passes'
この建物(たてもの)は長(なが)い年月(ねんげつ)の間(あいだ)に少(すこ)しずつ傷(いた)んできた。
This building has gradually deteriorated over many years.

READING: Also read as としつき, which is a native Japanese reading with the same meaning. ねんげつ is the more common reading in formal contexts.

PATTERNS:

  • 年月(ねんげつ)をかける (to spend years on)
  • 年月(ねんげつ)が経(た)つ/過(す)ぎる (time passes)
  • 年月(ねんげつ)が流(なが)れる (time flows/passes)
  • 長(なが)い年月(ねんげつ) (many years)

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 歳月(さいげつ) (years, time - more literary)
  • 時間(じかん) (time - general)
  • 月日(つきひ) (days and months, time)

Related Words

Related: 歳月(さいげつ) (years (literary))
core
Added 2026.1.13 19:53 · Revised 2026.2.5 11:22
00000/00310_nengetsu