八月
hachigatsu[ha̠t͡ɕiɡa̠t͡sɨ]
The English word "August" is translated into Japanese as 八月 (hachigatsu). Wiktionary also lists 葉月 (hazuki).
Meaning: eighth month of the Gregorian calendar (name)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 八月 | hachigatsu | [ha̠t͡ɕiɡa̠t͡sɨ] (narrow) |
| 葉月 | hazuki | [ha̠zɨkʲi] (narrow) |
八月 is used to refer to the eighth month of the Gregorian calendar.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 八月 is composed of the kanji for eight (八) and the kanji for month (月), literally meaning "eighth month".
Which one should you use?
八月 is the standard way to refer to the month. In contrast, 葉月 is a poetic or archaic name for August used primarily in literature or traditional contexts.
How do you pronounce it?
hachigatsu
When do people say it?
In some regions of Japan, the Tanabata Festival, also known as the Star Festival, is celebrated in August.
Did you know?
- While 八月 is the standard name, many Japanese people associate August with 'Obon', a Buddhist festival to honor the spirits of ancestors.
- The kanji for eight, used in 八月, is one of the oldest characters and is often associated with growth and prosperity because of its shape.
- The pronunciation of 葉月 undergoes a phonetic change called 'rendaku', where the second syllable 'tsuki' transforms into 'zuki' to make it easier to say.
Examples in context
- 八月にレッスンはないよ。There are no lessons in August.This example shows how to use 八月 to indicate when lessons do not occur.Tatoeba #10306279 by small_snow, translation #10306275 by sundown
- 八月のはじめに彼は英国へ発った。He left for England at the beginning of August.This example shows how to use 八月 when describing a departure at the beginning of the month.Tatoeba #121331 by KK_kaku_, translation #282675 by CN
- 日本では、八月八日はヒゲの日です。August 8th is Beard Day in Japan.This example uses 八月 to identify a specific date in Japan.Tatoeba #9472440 by small_snow, translation #9472436 by DJ_Saidez
- この八月に日本を訪れる予定です。I'm planning to visit Japan this August.
- 去年の八月はとても暑かった。Last August was very hot.
- 八月生まれの友達がいます。I have a friend who was born in August.
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yota and Misaki are discussing their summer vacation plans.
- 陽太 Yota八月に旅行に行きたいです。Hachigatsu ni ryokou ni ikitai desu.I want to go on a trip in August.
- 美咲 Misakiいいですね。どこへ行きますか？Ii desu ne. Doko e ikimasu ka?That sounds great. Where will you go?
- 陽太 Yota北海道はどうかなと思っています。Hokkaido wa dou kana to omotte imasu.I'm thinking about how Hokkaido would be.
- 美咲 Misaki八月の北海道は涼しくて最高ですよ。Hachigatsu no Hokkaido wa suzushikute saikou desu yo.Hokkaido is cool and wonderful in August.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “August” translations and entries 八月, 葉月, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 八月, 葉月, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
