1.
the previous year — the year immediately before the one being discussed, or the year before a particular reference point
A formal noun meaning 'the year before'. The reference point is usually clear from context: in business reports it usually means the preceding fiscal year, in narrative writing it means the year before the events described. Very common in economic and statistical contexts in expressions like 前年比 (compared to the previous year).
売り上げは前年より増えた。
Sales increased compared to the previous year.
前年同期比で五パーセントの成長だ。
A five percent growth compared to the same period in the previous year.
今年の収穫量は前年を大きく下回った。
This year's harvest fell far short of the previous year's.
前年に建てられた計画が、今ようやく実行に移された。
The plan drawn up the previous year has finally been put into action now.
A formal noun used mainly in writing, news, and business reporting. Less common in casual conversation, where 去年 is preferred.
USAGE:
- Frequent in economic reports, statistics, and year-over-year comparisons.
- 前年比 (compared to the previous year) and 前年同期比 (compared to the same period the previous year) are fixed expressions in financial writing.
- In narrative or historical writing, it means "the year before" whatever year is the reference point — not necessarily last year relative to now.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 前年比: compared to the previous year
- 前年同期比: year-on-year (same period)
- 前年度: the previous (fiscal) year
- 前年を上回る: to exceed the previous year
- 前年を下回る: to fall short of the previous year
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 去年: last year — casual, means specifically the calendar year before this one.
- 昨年: last year — formal written/spoken equivalent of 去年; contrasts with 前年 in that 昨年 is anchored to the present moment.
- 前年度: the previous fiscal or academic year — used when the year runs April–March.