What does it mean word for word?
The word 내년 is a compound of 내, meaning 'next' or 'coming' and 년, meaning 'year'.
Which one should you use?
내년 is used specifically to mean the year following the present year. In contrast, 다음 해 is a more general term meaning 'the following year' which can be used in any context to describe the year after any given year.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
내년 can be used in informal contexts when speaking casually with friends. For more formal situations, such as written documents or official announcements, you might use 다음 해 or the written term 익년. Additionally, 다음 연도에 is a formal way to express 'next year' primarily used in written form.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
By adding the particle 에 to create 내년에, you create a time adverbial form used to indicate when an action occurs (e.g., 'in' or 'during' next year).
How do you pronounce it?
naenyeon
Did you know?
- In some traditional contexts, the transition to 내년 is marked by the Lunar New Year, called 설날. This means the 'next year' begins on a shifting date in January or February rather than January 1st.
- Because the character 來 in 내년 means 'to come', the concept of the future in Korean is often linguistically framed as something approaching the speaker.
- In Korean, you can express 'the year after next' by saying 내후년. This follows a logical pattern where 후 means 'after' or 'behind', extending the concept of 내년 further into the future.
Examples in context
- 나는 내년에 호주에 간다.I'm going to Australia next year.The sentence is useful for stating a future travel plan using 내년.Tatoeba #5526650 by raining211, translation #2712940 by CK
- 나 내년에 입학시험을 봐야 돼.I have to take the entrance exams next year.The sentence is useful for describing a necessary future action using 내년.Tatoeba #6820124 by yesjustryan, translation #415447 by CM
- 내년이면 나는 열여섯 살이 된다.I will be sixteen years old next year.The sentence is useful for stating an age one will reach in the future using 내년.Tatoeba #11106429 by intertime, translation #262153 by CK
- 저희 회사는 내년에 새로운 제품을 출시할 예정입니다.Our company plans to launch new products next year.
- 내년에는 함께 해외 여행을 가자!Let's travel abroad together next year!
- 다음 해에 뵙겠습니다.We will meet you next year.
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their future plans while sitting in a cafe.
- 수빈 Su-bin내년에 뭐 할 거야?naenyeone mwo hal geoya?What are you going to do next year?
- 지훈 Ji-hun나는 내년에 여행을 갈 거야.naneun naenyeone yeohaengeul gal geoya.I am going to travel next year.
- 수빈 Su-bin지훈아, 정말 좋겠다!Jiun-a, jeongmal joketda!Jihoon, that sounds great!
- 지훈 Ji-hun수빈이 너는 내년에 계획 있어?Subin-i neoneun naenyeone gyehoek isseo?Subin, do you have plans for next year?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “next year” translations and entries 내년, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 내년, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
