1.
year-end and New Year period
The period spanning late December through early January, covering both the end of the old year and the beginning of the new year. A major holiday season in Japan when most businesses close.
年末年始は実家で過ごす。
I spend the year-end and New Year period at my parents' house.
年末年始の休みは12月29日から1月3日までです。
The year-end and New Year holiday is from December 29 to January 3.
年末年始は帰省ラッシュで新幹線も高速道路も混雑する。
During the year-end and New Year period, the bullet trains and expressways are crowded due to the rush of people returning home.
USAGE:
A compound of 年末 (year-end) and 年始 (beginning of the year). The typical 年末年始 holiday for companies and government offices runs from December 29 to January 3. This is one of the three major holiday periods in Japan, along with Golden Week and Obon. Major activities include 大掃除 (year-end cleaning), 年賀状 (New Year's cards), and 初詣 (first shrine visit).
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 年末年始の休み: year-end/New Year holiday
- 年末年始休業: closed for year-end/New Year
- 年末年始を過ごす: to spend the year-end/New Year period
- 年末年始の営業: year-end/New Year business hours