Do Japanese actually use 一昨年 and 再来年? if so, why?

8 comments

1. Solid yes for 再来年。it’s convenient. I find my self stumbling in English when I try to say “the year after next.”

2. Yes, it’s the same as saying the year before last or the year after next. People use the terms in English and Japanese. Some people say 2 years from now or two years ago, but some use the the prior. I use it when I mistake the year. For example, 去年東京に住んでいた。ええ、ちがう。一昨年住んでいた。Simple example, but is the type of instance I’ve used it. There’s no difference in 二年前 and 一昨年 as far as I know, just the users preferences and the situation.

3. Yes for both

4. 一昨年 and 2年前 are different. 一昨年 is the year before last year, and 2年前 is two years ago, which is 24 months ago.

   By the way, 一昨年 (おととし) is shorter than 2年前 (にねんまえ) so if context allows you to use them interchangeably, still no obvious reason to say the latter is easier to say.

5. 再来年 just rolls off the tongue much easier than 2年後

   Same with おととし.

   I find myself wishing we had equivalents in English.

6. I like to say 去の去の去の去年etc ahahaha

7. yes they do. 再来年more than 一昨年 though.

8. Yes, we use 一昨年(いちさくねん) and 再来年(さらいねん), especially in ceremonial situations because they have a more elegant tone than ２年前 or 二年前.

   Say, “see you one day later” instead of “see you tomorrow.”

   I am a native Japanese speaker. I assume native English speakers find slight a difference between those two phrases. How do you guys feel when you are told “see you one day later?”

   If there are different words, they must have different meanings, tones, or usage. If they are identical, one will eventually disappear.