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.
今年の気温は平年より高い。
This year's temperatures are higher than average.
桜の開花は平年より一週間早かった。
The cherry blossoms bloomed one week earlier than the average year.
平年であれば、梅雨は六月上旬に始まる。
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.
今年は平年だ。
This year is a common year (non-leap year).
平年は三百六十五日ある。
A common year has 365 days.
来年は閏年ではなく平年だ。
Next year is a common year, not a leap year.
Compound of 平 ('flat; ordinary; average') and 年 ('year'). The meteorological sense (sense 1) is far more common in everyday use than the calendar sense (sense 2). The Japan Meteorological Agency recalculates 平年値 ('normal values') every ten years based on the preceding 30-year average.
USAGE:
- In weather reports, 平年 is the baseline for comparison — you hear phrases like 平年より高い/低い ('higher/lower than average') constantly.
- 平年並み means 'on par with the average,' a very common weather forecast term.
- The calendar sense (sense 2) contrasts with 閏年 ('leap year').
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 平年より高い: higher than average
- 平年より低い: lower than average
- 平年並み: average; on par with the norm
- 平年値: average value (statistical baseline)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 例年: every year; a typical year — emphasizes what happens year after year, rather than a statistical average
- 閏年: leap year — the calendar counterpart to 平年 (sense 2)
- 豊作: bumper crop — the positive deviation from 平年 in agriculture