平年(へいねん)

へいねん
noun
normal year; average year; common year (non-leap year)
writtenspokenweathertime-general
1. normal year; average year (meteorological)
A year with typical or average conditions, especially regarding weather, crop yields, or seasonal events. In Japanese meteorology, 平年 refers to the 30-year statistical average used as a baseline for comparison.
今年(ことし)の気温(きおん)は平年(へいねん)より高(たか)い。
This year's temperatures are higher than average.
桜(さくら)の開花(かいか)は平年(へいねん)より一週間(いっしゅうかん)早(はや)かった。
The cherry blossoms bloomed one week earlier than the average year.
平年(へいねん)であれば、梅雨(つゆ)は六月(ろくがつ)上旬(じょうじゅん)に始(はじ)まる。
In a normal year, the rainy season starts in early June.
2. common year; non-leap year
A calendar year that is not a leap year — having 365 days rather than 366.
今年(ことし)は平年(へいねん)だ。
This year is a common year (non-leap year).
平年(へいねん)は三百六十五日(さんびゃくろくじゅうごにち)ある。
A common year has 365 days.
来年(らいねん)は閏年(うるうどし)ではなく平年(へいねん)だ。
Next year is a common year, not a leap year.

Compound of 平(へい) ('flat; ordinary; average') and 年(ねん) ('year'). The meteorological sense (sense 1) is far more common in everyday use than the calendar sense (sense 2). The Japan Meteorological Agency recalculates 平年(へいねん)値(ち) ('normal values') every ten years based on the preceding 30-year average.

Usage

  • In weather reports, 平年(へいねん) is the baseline for comparison — you hear phrases like 平年(へいねん)より高(たか)い/低い ('higher/lower than average') constantly.
  • 平年(へいねん)並(な)み means 'on par with the average,' a very common weather forecast term.
  • The calendar sense (sense 2) contrasts with 閏年(うるうどし) ('leap year').

Common collocations

  • 平年(へいねん)より高(たか)い: higher than average
  • 平年(へいねん)より低(ひく)い: lower than average
  • 平年(へいねん)並(な)み: average; on par with the norm
  • 平年(へいねん)値(ち): average value (statistical baseline)

Similar words

  • 例年(れいねん): every year; a typical year — emphasizes what happens year after year, rather than a statistical average
  • 閏年(うるうどし): leap year — the calendar counterpart to 平年(へいねん) (sense 2)
  • 豊作(ほうさく): bumper crop — the positive deviation from 平年(へいねん) in agriculture

Related Words

Compare: 例年(れいねん) (every year)
Compare: 閏年(うるうどし) (leap year)
Compare: 豊作(ほうさく) (bumper crop)
general
Added 2026.4.18 4:31 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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