一月
yīyuè
In Chinese, the English phrase "January" is translated as 一月 (yīyuè). If unsure, use 一月. Wiktionary also lists 元月 (yuányuè).
Meaning: first month of the Gregorian calendar (name)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 一月 | yīyuè |
| 元月 | yuányuè |
一月 is the most common and widely accepted way to say January in Chinese. Months in Chinese are formed by stating the number of the month followed by the word 月, which means month.
Which one should you use?
一月 is the standard way to say January, whereas 元月 is a more formal or literary term often used in news reports or official documents.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can add the suffix 份 to 一月 to create 一月份, which is often used when referring to the month as a specific period or time frame.
How do you pronounce it?
yīyuè
Did you know?
- The character 月 originally depicted a crescent moon, which is why it is used for both 'month' and 'moon' in Chinese.
- While 一月 is January in the Gregorian calendar, the first month of the traditional Chinese lunar calendar often begins in February, making it a different 'first month' entirely.
- The structure of naming months in Chinese is so regular that once you know the word for 'month', you can name all twelve months instantly without learning new roots.
Examples in context
- 一月通常是最冷的月份。January is usually the coldest month.This sentence is useful for describing general weather characteristics of 一月.Tatoeba #10752760 by GlossaMatik, translation #73176 by CK
- 雖然二月電風扇的產量減少了，但還是超過了一月。Although the production of electric fans was reduced in February, it still beats January.This sentence is useful for comparing the production levels of different months using 一月.Tatoeba #5250670 by xjjAstrus, translation #11277832 by Aphima
- 一月份这里很冷。It's very cold here in January.This sentence shows how to refer to the month as a period of time using 一月.Tatoeba #3669424 by trieuho, translation #3669425 by trieuho
- 我计划在一月去中国旅行。I plan to travel to China in January.
- 我一月份过生日，你会来参加吗？My birthday is in January, will you come to celebrate with us?
- 我们计划在一月底搬家。We plan to move at the end of January.
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a trip plan in a cafe.
- 伟 Wei我们一月去旅游吗？Wǒmen yīyuè qù lǚyóu ma?Are we going traveling in January?
- 晓雯 Xiaowen一月太冷了，还是等春天吧。Yīyuè tài lěng le, háishì děng chūntiān ba.January is too cold, let's wait for spring.
- 伟 Wei也是，那时候天气会好点。Yěshì, nà shíhou tiānqì huì hǎo diǎn.True, the weather will be better then.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen对，春天去最合适。Duì, chūntiān qù zuì héshì.Right, going in spring is best.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “January” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
