四月
shigatsu[ɕiɡa̠t͡sɨ]
April in Japanese is 四月 (shigatsu). If unsure, use 四月. Wiktionary also lists 卯月 (uzuki).
Meaning: fourth month of the Gregorian calendar (name)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 四月 | shigatsu | [ɕiɡa̠t͡sɨ] (narrow) |
| 卯月 | uzuki | [ɯ̟zɨkʲi] (narrow) |
The term refers to the fourth month of the Gregorian calendar.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 四月 is composed of the kanji for four (四) and the kanji for month (月).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
四月 is the formal expression for April. In contrast, 卯月 is an archaic and poetic name for the month used in classical literature and seasonal greetings.
How do you pronounce it?
shigatsu
When do people say it?
In Japan, April is culturally significant as the start of the new academic and fiscal year. One of the significant holidays in April is Shōwa no Hi, also known as Showa Day.
Did you know?
- While 四月 is read as shigatsu, the number four is often avoided in other contexts because shi is a homophone for the word 'death'.
- The term 卯月 uses a kanji that also functions as a symbol for the year of the rabbit in the Chinese zodiac.
- The poetic name 卯月 (uzuki) refers to the blooming of the 卯の花 (unohana) flower, a type of deutzia, which is a signature sign of spring.
Examples in context
- 四月一日です。It's April first.This sentence is useful for stating the date using 四月.Tatoeba #168964 by bunbuku, translation #245523 by CK
- 四月馬鹿だよ！April Fool's!This sentence shows an expression using 四月.Tatoeba #11998679 by small_snow, translation #2349924 by Hybrid
- 学校は四月からです。School begins in April.This sentence illustrates the start of a period using 四月.Tatoeba #11648687 by small_snow, translation #21520 by CK
- 18 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two siblings are looking at a calendar in their living room.
- 陽葵 Himari四月はいつから？shigatsu wa itsu kara?When does April start?
- 陽太 Yota四月一日からだよ。shigatsu tsuitachi kara da yo.It starts from April 1st.
- 陽葵 Himari四月の予定を書き込もう。shigatsu no yotei o kakikomou.Let's write down the plans for April.
- 陽太 Yotaそうだね、陽葵。sou da ne, Himari.That's true, Himari.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “April” translations and entries 四月, 卯月, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
