年末（ねんまつ、nenmatsu）
- year-end

The word 年末, read ねんまつ, means "end of the year" or "year-end." It refers to the final days and weeks of the calendar year, typically from late November or early December until December 31st. It's a significant time in Japan, associated with various events and activities.

⚫︎ 年末は忙しいです。 Translation: The end of the year is busy. ⚫︎ 年末に大掃除をします。 Translation: We do a big cleaning at the end of the year. ⚫︎ 今年の年末は旅行に行きます。 Translation: I'm going on a trip at the end of the year this year.

You use 年末 when talking about the period leading up to the end of the year or the end of the year itself. It can be used in various contexts, such as describing activities, plans, or events that occur during this time. You can use it in both formal and informal conversations. For instance, when discussing holiday preparations, year-end parties, or year-end financial settlements. You might also use it when talking about looking back on the year.

年末 is typically written in kanji 年末. The reading is ねんまつ in hiragana. There are no other common ways to write this word, and the okurigana (the suffix hiragana) is consistent.

There aren't direct synonyms in the same way for "end of the year" as it's a specific time period. However, you could use phrases to convey a similar meaning: ⚫︎ 年の終わり (toshi no owari) - "the end of the year" ⚫︎ 年の暮れ (toshi no kure) - also means "end of the year", often emphasizing the late stage of the year.

There isn't a direct antonym. However, you could consider: ⚫︎ 年初 (nensho) - the beginning of the year.

会社の年末調整は終わりましたか？ ・Translation: Have you finished the year-end tax adjustment for the company? ・Explanation: This sentence refers to the financial procedures often done at the end of the year in businesses.

今年の年末は、久しぶりに家族みんなで過ごす予定です。 ・Translation: This year, I plan to spend the end of the year with my family for the first time in a while. ・Explanation: This sentence describes plans for the end-of-year holidays.

The word 年末 is a compound word formed from: ⚫︎ 年 (nen) - "year" ⚫︎ 末 (matsu) - "end" It literally means "year end." The combination of these two kanji gives the complete meaning.