Toshi no Se (年の瀬 - The End of the Year)

The end of the year is sometimes referred to as 年の瀬 (toshi no se) in Japanese.

The 年 (toshi) means "year" and the 瀬 (se) means "shallow area of a river."

Since the flow of water becomes faster in the shallow area of the river, it's difficult to cross over there by ship.

On the other hand, many Japanese people in the Edo period often used money on deferred payments, and they settled these bills at the end of the year.

By comparing such a rush at the end of the year with a shallow area of a river, this term 年の瀬 (toshi no se) was born.

年の瀬

日本では、年末のことを「年の瀬」と表現することがあります。

ここで「瀬」とは、川の浅いところを意味する言葉です。

川の浅いところは、水の流れが早くなるため、船で渡ることが困難です。

一方、江戸時代の日本の生活ではつけ払いが多く、年末に未払いのものをまとめて精算していたようです。

このような精算の慌ただしさや大変さを川の瀬に例えて、年の瀬という言葉が生まれたとされています。

• The end of the year is sometimes referred to as 年の瀬 (toshi no se) in Japanese.
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• The 年 (toshi) means "year" and the 瀬 (se) means "shallow area of a river."
• The character 年 (toshi) means "year" and the 瀬 (se) means "shallow area of a river."

• Since the flow of water becomes faster in the shallow area of the river, it's difficult to cross over there by ship.
• Since the flow of water is faster in the shallow area of a river, it's difficult to cross over there by ship.

  Or:
  
  Since the flow of water is fastest/quickest in the shallow area of a river, it's difficult to cross by ship.

• On the other hand, many Japanese people in the Edo period often used money on deferred payments, and they settled these bills at the end of the year.
• On a different note, many Japanese people in the Edo period often had money on deferred payments, and they settled these bills at the end of the year.

  I think this might be more natural

• By comparing such a rush at the end of the year with a shallow area of a river, this term 年の瀬 (toshi no se) was born.
• By comparing such a rush at the end of the year with a shallow area of a river, the term 年の瀬 (toshi no se) was born.

  It would be nice to have a sentence before it to explain what the "rush" at the end of the year is, but I can understand what you mean!

• Toshi no Se (年の瀬 - The End of the Year)
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• The end of the year is sometimes referred to as 年の瀬 (toshi no se) in Japanese.
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• Since the flow of water becomes faster in the shallow area of the river, it's difficult to cross over there by ship.
• Since the flow of water becomes faster inat the shallow area of the river, it's difficult to cross over ithere by ship.

• By comparing such a rush at the end of the year with a shallow area of a river, this term 年の瀬 (toshi no se) was born.
• By comparing such a rush at the end of the year with a shallow area of a river, this term, 年の瀬 (toshi no se), was born.

I always learn new phrases and expressions from your entries. Keep it up!