Meaning and Usage
"おととし" means "the year before last," referring to the year two years ago from the current year. It is a common time expression used in everyday conversation and writing.
Common Contexts
You will often hear "おととし" when people talk about past events, experiences, or changes that happened two years ago. It is frequently used with seasons, activities, or milestones.
Collocations and Patterns
- おととし + noun (e.g., おととしの冬): specifying a particular season or event two years ago.
- おととしから + verb (e.g., おととしから勉強している): indicating the starting point of an action or state from the year before last.
Register and Politeness
"おととし" is neutral and polite enough for daily conversation and formal speech. It is more common than the more formal "一昨年" (いっさくねん), which is often seen in writing.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "おととし" with "きょねん" (last year) or "さくねん" (also last year, more formal). Remember, "おととし" always means two years ago, not one year ago.