the beginning of the year
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- 1 the beginning of the year、early in the year
Refers to the early part of a year, without specifying an exact date or fixed period.
the beginning of the year、early in the year
The early part of a year, usually understood as a general period rather than a specific day.
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ยอดขายเพิ่มขึ้นตั้งแต่ต้นปี yɔ̂ɔt khǎay phə̂əm khʉ̂n tâŋ tɛ̀ɛ tôn pii Sales have increased since the beginning of the year. ยอดขายเพิ่มขึ้นตั้งแต่ต้นปี details
Learning notes
Explanation
ต้น means “beginning” here, and ปี means “year,” so the expression literally refers to the beginning of a year. It describes a general stretch of time early in the year, not one particular day. Its exact range depends on context. Although it is a noun phrase, it is also commonly placed in a sentence as a time expression, as in ฉันจะไปต้นปีหน้า, “I’m going early next year.” Common forms include ต้นปีนี้ (early this year), ต้นปีหน้า (early next year), ต้นปีที่แล้ว (early last year), ช่วงต้นปี (during the early part of the year), and ตั้งแต่ต้นปี (since the beginning of the year). Contrasting expressions include กลางปี (the middle of the year) and ปลายปี (late in the year).
Usage
Common in both conversation and writing when giving an approximate time for travel, moves, product launches, business plans, budgets, staffing changes, and similar events.
Caution
It does not mean the New Year celebration or New Year’s Day. Use ปีใหม่ for “New Year” and วันขึ้นปีใหม่ for “New Year’s Day.” Because ต้นปี is intentionally approximate, use a month name or ไตรมาสแรก (“the first quarter”) when precision is needed.