年号
ねんごう · nengou · JLPT N1 · noun
era
📅 年 = year + 号 = name or number: the name given to an era, and the year count within it
Japan counts years within named eras, like Reiwa. 年 means year and 号 means name, title, or number, so 年号 is the era's name or its year number.
年 — grain 禾 over person 人 (oracle bone)
Originally a pictograph of a person carrying a bundle of harvested grain on their back, representing the yearly grain harvest. Because harvests came once a year, the character shifted from meaning 'harvest' to meaning 'year.' The modern form 年 obscures the original 禾 (grain) + 人 (person) structure.
号 — mouth 口 + tiger 虎
Originally written 號, combining 口 (mouth, indicating a cry or call) with 虎 (tiger) as the phonetic and a hint at a loud roar. It first meant to shout or call out, then extended to a name, title, or signal. The simplified form 号 keeps only the upper element.