年度

• Reading: ねんど
• Romaji: nendo
• Kanji breakdown: 年 (nen/toshi) — year; 度 (do) — degree, unit, time, occasion
• Pronunciation: /nen.do/

Meaning

Fiscal year; academic year; official year. A defined annual period used for administrative, educational, or financial purposes, often not aligned with the calendar year.

In Japan, 年度 almost always runs from April 1 to March 31, covering both the fiscal year (会計年度) and the academic year (学年度). This is why school begins in April, companies launch new hires in April, and government budgets reset in April. Saying 今年度 (this fiscal/academic year) vs. 今年 (this calendar year) is an important distinction in official and professional communication.

Examples

1. 今年度の予算案は先月の国会で可決された。 This fiscal year's budget proposal was passed in the Diet last month.
2. 年度が変わると同時に、新入社員が各部署に配属された。 As the new fiscal year began, new employees were assigned to their respective departments.
3. 来年度からカリキュラムが大幅に改定されることが発表された。 It was announced that the curriculum will be significantly revised from the next academic year.

Usage Guide

Context: business, education, government, finance

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 年 (year) + 度 (degree, unit, occasion). 度 here carries the sense of a defined unit or interval of time — the year as a formal administrative measure.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal