年末

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 年末 is read as ねんまつ and means year-end, the period when a calendar year is drawing to a close.
• Basic usage: Use 年末に掃除する for cleaning at year-end and 年末までに終える for finishing something by the end of the year.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Difference between 年末 and 年度末
  • The former is the end of the calendar year, whereas the latter is the end of a fiscal, school, or administrative year.