年越し

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 年越し(としこし) refers to the turn of the year or the act of seeing out one year and welcoming the next.
• Basic usage: It describes welcoming the new year over a family meal or deciding where to spend that time.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Year-end and the turn of the year
  • 年末 broadly names the end-of-year period, while 年越し focuses on the transition into the new year.
• A date and an activity
  • 大晦日 names the date December 31. 年越しをする describes seeing out the old year and welcoming the new one.