Key Facts
- Word: 올해 (olhae), noun, native origin
- Register: Neutral, everyday native word.
This Year in Korean: What Does 올해 Mean?
올해 means this year. The register is neutral and everyday, and it is a native word. A formal Sino-Korean synonym exists: 금년. 올해 goes in front of seasons and parts of the year, as in 올해 여름, 올해 초 and 올해 말.
How Do You Pronounce It?
Say ol-hae. The romanization olhae matches the spelling. In fast speech the ㅎ weakens between ㄹ and the vowel, so you may hear something close to o-rae.
Example Sentences with 올해
올해는 한국어를 열심히 공부할 거예요.
Olhaeneun hangugeoreul yeolsimhi gongbuhal geoyeyo
I will study Korean hard this year.
A resolution: the ending 할 거예요 states a future plan, and 열심히 means hard or diligently.
올해 몇 살이에요?
Olhae myeot sarieyo
How old are you this year?
An age question: 몇 살이에요 asks how many years old, and 올해 ties it to the current year.
올해 여름은 정말 더워요.
Olhae yeoreumeun jeongmal deowoyo
This summer is really hot.
A weather remark: 올해 여름 means this summer, and 정말 더워요 means it is really hot.
Common Phrases and Collocations
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 올해 여름 | this summer |
| 올해 안에 | within this year |
| 올해 초 | early this year |
| 올해 말 | late this year |
The collocation 올해 안에 means within this year, the phrase to use for deadlines. 올해 초 and 올해 말 mark the start and end of the year.
The Mistake to Avoid
Wrong: ✗ 이 해 / ✗ 이년
Correct: ✓ 올해
Why: Korean has a dedicated word for this year, and 이 해 sounds unnatural in everyday speech. 이년 is worse: two years is written 2년, and 이년 written as one word is a crude insult for a woman, so avoid it completely.
올해 Compared with Similar Words
Year words line up as last, this and next, plus one formal synonym.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 금년 | this year (formal) | 금년 is a formal, written Sino-Korean word for this year. |
| 작년 | last year | 작년 is the previous year. |
| 내년 | next year | 내년 is the coming year. |
Where Does the Word Come From?
올해 is a native Korean word with no hanja, which is why it looks nothing like its Sino-Korean partners 작년 and 내년.
Discussing a Goal for This Year
Two friends are talking about studying Korean. One has a goal for the current year; the other asks when they will start. Both use polite endings.
Hana
올해 목표가 뭐예요?
Olhae mokpyoga mwoyeyo?
What’s your goal this year?
Doyun
한국어를 배우고 싶어요.
Hangugeoreul baeugo sipeoyo.
I want to learn Korean.
Hana
언제 시작할 거예요?
Eonje sijakal geoyeyo?
When will you start?
Doyun
올해 봄에 시작할 거예요.
Olhae bome sijakal geoyeyo.
I’ll start this spring.
올해 목표 means “this year’s goal”, with no possessive particle required between the two nouns. 올해 봄에 narrows the time to spring in the current year. The final 에 attaches to 봄, because the whole phrase identifies when the learning will start.
How Do You Describe a Year in Progress?
올해는 sets this year as the topic. In the existing study-resolution example, 는 can suggest a fresh focus compared with earlier years. 올해도 means “this year too”, so it carries continuity instead. 올해만 means “only this year”, a useful limit for a temporary arrangement.
올해 처음 means “for the first time this year”. It does not necessarily mean the first time in your life. Someone might visit a familiar place many times over several years but still describe one visit as the first of the current year. Look for the time limit before interpreting 처음.
올해 초 refers to the early part of the year, while 올해 말 refers to its late part or end. Neither phrase specifies a calendar date. 올해 안에 presents the current year as the window for finishing something. If a booking or application closes on a particular day, the date gives more precision than “by year-end”.
Where Will You Encounter 올해?
올해 appears in conversations about study plans, birthdays, holidays, weather and annual events. A news story can also use 올해 without becoming informal. 금년 is a written alternative, but 올해 itself is suitable for both everyday speech and many kinds of public writing.
A heading such as 올해 목표 lists goals for the year. 올해의 책 means “book of the year”: 의 connects the year to a title or selection. That label alone does not identify who chose the book. Read the surrounding heading or organization name to understand the selection.
올해 always takes its reference from the time of speaking or writing. An old article’s 올해 belongs to its publication year. When explaining an event from an older document, using the actual year can prevent confusion. The same issue arises when a saved message about “this summer” is read much later.
Neighboring Year Expressions
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 매년 | every year | Describes repetition rather than the current year alone. |
| 일 년 | one year | Measures a duration. |
| 연초 | beginning of the year | Often appears in discussions of plans and goals. |
| 연말 | end of the year | Common in talk about gatherings and annual deadlines. |
The time expressions lesson helps connect these to other calendar words. 올해 answers “which year?” and 일 년 answers “how long?” A plan made 올해 can take 일 년 to complete, so its finishing date may fall in the following calendar year.
Quick Self-Test
- What changes when you add 도 to make 올해도?
- Does 올해 초 identify one exact date?
- In an old article, which year does 올해 refer to?
Show answers
- It means this year too, linking the situation to an earlier year.
- No. It refers broadly to the early part of the year.
- The article’s year of writing or publication, as established by context.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I say 'this year' in Korean?
Say 올해 (olhae), a native word. It works alone as a time word, as in 올해 몇 살이에요? (How old are you this year?).
What is the formal version?
금년 is the formal, written Sino-Korean word for this year. It appears in notices and news; in conversation, 올해 is normal.
How do I say last year and next year?
Last year is 작년 and next year is 내년. Together with 올해 they make the set 작년, 올해, 내년.
How do I say 'early this year'?
Say 올해 초. Late this year is 올해 말, and within this year is 올해 안에.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: Time expression words groups 올해 with its neighbours.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.
- Practice: add it to the vocabulary flashcard decks.
- See also: today in Korean.