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I learned 去年 well before 昨年, so I just always use 去年 out of habit. But now I'm
wondering if they really are interchangeable or if there's even a subtle
difference that would make one more appropriate in some situations over the
other.

So are they interchangeable, or does a subtle difference exist?
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2015-09-14T03:19:55.707
27993
2015-09-15T04:32:12.020
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question
nuances
What's the difference between 去年 and 昨年?
From what my teacher told me, 去年{きょねん} and 昨年｛さくねん｝mean the same thing, but 昨年
sounds more sophisticated.

I would guess that depending on the situation they may or may not be
interchangeable with the difference being who your audience is.

_There may be a situation where this specifically is the case, but I am not
aware of it, someone more knowledgeable than I will have to answer as to
whether or not this is the case._
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2015-09-14T03:46:20.220
27994
2015-09-14T03:46:20.220
7417
27993
answer
去年 can be used in almost any situation. 昨年 is more formal and not good for
casual conversation.

For example,

> 1) 去年、結婚いたしました。  
>  2) 昨年、結婚いたしました。

2) is better because いたしました is a humble form but 1) is totally acceptable. On
the other hand,

> 1) 去年、結婚しちゃった  
>  2) 昨年、結婚しちゃった

1) is natural but 2) sounds a bit strange.

The same applies to:

> 昨日{きのう} vs. 昨日{さくじつ} (yesterday; the same kanji but read differently)

**前年{ぜんねん}** is a similar word and it means ' **previous year** '.

> 大統領{だいとうりょう}選挙{せんきょ}の前年は、株価{かぶか}が上がる。  
>  Stock prices rise in a pre-presidential election year.

前年 is often used to compare a certain year with the previous year.

> 前年比{ぜんねんひ} 50%増{ぞう}  
>  Up 50% over the previous year

Without reference to another year, 前年 means 'last year' and it is used almost
always to compare 'last year' with 'this current year'.

> 1) 息子が生まれる前年に、結婚しました。(I got married in the year before my son was born.)  
>  2) 前年、結婚しました .

1) is natural. 2) sounds incomplete because it doesn't compare anything or
specify the reference year.
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2015-09-14T05:36:36.993
27997
2015-09-14T15:53:22.400
2015-09-14T15:53:22.400
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answer