年度末

• Reading: ねんどまつ
• Romaji: nendomatsu
• Kanji breakdown: 年 (nen/toshi) — year; 度 (do) — unit, degree; 末 (matsu/sue) — end, conclusion
• Pronunciation: /nen.do.mat͡sɯ/

Meaning

End of the fiscal year or academic year; year-end in the Japanese administrative calendar. Typically refers to late March.

年度末 (March) is one of the busiest periods on the Japanese calendar. It marks the closing of fiscal accounts, final examinations, graduation ceremonies, employee transfers (異動), and project completions. The phrase 年度末の慌ただしさ (the hectic rush of year-end) captures the collective experience of this period. Contrasts with 年度始め or 年度初め (beginning of the fiscal year, April).

Examples

1. 年度末になると経理部門はいつも深夜まで残業が続く。 As the end of the fiscal year approaches, the accounting department always works overtime late into the night.
2. 年度末に退職者が増えるため、来月から人員補充が始まる。 Because the number of people leaving increases at the end of the fiscal year, recruitment to fill positions will begin next month.
3. 年度末の引越し繁忙期は、業者の予約が数週間前から埋まってしまう。 During the busy moving season at the end of the fiscal year, removal companies are fully booked weeks in advance.

Usage Guide

Context: business, finance, education, administration

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

年度 (fiscal/academic year) + 末 (end, conclusion). 末 commonly marks the close of a defined period — cf. 月末 (end of month), 週末 (weekend, literally end of the week).

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults (professional)

Social background: Professional/Universal