Year
とし (toshi)
Interesting Fact
Since 1995, every 12th December, Japan has selected a Kanji of the Year (今年の漢字) to reflect the events, mood, and defining themes of the previous twelve months. The winning character is dramatically written with a giant brush at Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto. In 2024, the chosen kanji was 金 (gold), reflecting Olympic gold medals, new banknotes, and major financial stories. In 2025, the chosen kanji was 熊 (bear), after a year marked by a surge in bear sightings and attacks across Japan, with bears increasingly appearing near towns and residential areas and also return of Four Pandas in China.
Memory Trick
Imagine a man carrying a giant flat-screen TV on his shoulders. Every New Year, he shows up with a brand-new TV.
Readings
Onyomi: ネン (nen)
Kunyomi: とし (toshi)
Example Words
Example Sentence
今年は日本へ行きます。
ことし は にほん へ いきます。
kotoshi wa nihon e ikimasu
I will go to Japan this year.