今年(ことし)

ことし
noun, adverb
this year
time-general
1. this year
The current year; the year we are in now. Used to talk about events, plans, or states within the present year.
今年(ことし)は忙(いそが)しいです。
I'm busy this year.
今年(ことし)の夏(なつ)はどこに行(い)きますか。
Where are you going this summer?
今年(ことし)は雪(ゆき)が多(おお)かったです。
There was a lot of snow this year.
今年(ことし)は旅行(りょこう)に行(い)きたいので、毎月(まいつき)少(すこ)しずつお金(かね)を貯(た)めています。
I want to go on a trip this year, so I'm saving a little money each month.
今年(ことし)は去年(きょねん)より暖(あたた)かくて、桜(さくら)が早(はや)く咲(さ)きました。花見(はなみ)は三(さん)月(がつ)の終(お)わりにしましたが、天気(てんき)がよくてとてもきれいでした。
This year was warmer than last year, and the cherry blossoms bloomed early. We did hanami at the end of March, and the weather was good so it was very beautiful.

今年(ことし) means "this year" — the calendar year we are currently in.

Pronunciation

The reading ことし is irregular and must be memorized as a whole: neither half follows from the usual readings of the two characters. Learners who guess こんねん by analogy with 今月(こんげつ) will not be understood.

Year series

Common patterns

  • 今年(ことし)の夏(なつ): this summer (any 季節(きせつ) or month works the same way)
  • 今年(ことし)も: this year too, this year again
  • 今年(ことし)こそ: this year for sure (typical of New Year's resolutions)

Register

  • 今年(ことし): neutral, the everyday word
  • 本年(ほんねん): formal, used in business writing, speeches, and official notices

Usage

Like the other year words, it attaches to a verb adverbially with no particle (今年(ことし)行(い)く, "go this year").

Related Words

Compare: 去年(きょねん) (last year)
Compare: 来年(らいねん) (next year)
Synonym: 本年(ほんねん) (formal)
Related: 今月(こんげつ) (this month)
Related: 今週(こんしゅう) (this week)
Related: 昨年(さくねん) (last year)
Related: 一昨年(いっさくねん) (the year before last)
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Added 2026.1.7 21:35 · Revised 2026.9.2 12:02
00500/00722_kotoshi