Meaning

Primary

Year Before Last

Word Type

noun

Explanation

Remember how 一昨日 means "day before last"? Similarly, one year previous to that year is the year before last.

Reading

おととし
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)
いっさくねん
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

The last time you tossed something into a trash can was the year before last. Why? Because you got a trash can with an auto tossing (おととし) feature. What amazing technology!

Context

Common Word Combinations

  • 一昨年の一月

    January two years ago

    一昨年の秋

    autumn two years ago

    一昨年の市長

    the former mayor two years ago

Context Sentences

一昨年の市長って誰だったっけ?

Who was the mayor two years ago again?

一昨年から毎日ジョギングをしています。

I have been jogging every day since two years ago.

一昨年、ハウステンボスでハウステンボス歌劇団のショーを見てきました。

The year before last, I saw a show by the Huis Ten Bosch Revue in Huis Ten Bosch.

Kanji Composition