一月
ichigatsu[it͡ɕiɡa̠t͡sɨ]
The English phrase 'January' is 一月 (ichigatsu) in Japanese. Wiktionary also lists 睦月 (mutsuki).
Meaning: first month of the Gregorian calendar (name)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 一月 | ichigatsu | [it͡ɕiɡa̠t͡sɨ] (narrow) [it͡ɕiɡe̞t͡sɨ] (narrow) |
|
| 睦月 | mutsuki | [mɯ̟t͡sɨ̥kʲi] (narrow) | archaic |
一月 is the name for the first month of the Gregorian calendar.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 一月 is composed of 一 (one) and 月 (month).
Which one should you use?
While 一月 is the standard term for January, 睦月 is a traditional poetic name used in literature or seasonal greetings.
How does it change in a sentence?
When counting months in Japanese, the number is followed by the counter 月.
How do you pronounce it?
ichigatsu
Did you know?
- The poetic name for January, 睦月, contains a character meaning 'affectionate' or 'harmonious'. It refers to the custom of family members gathering to strengthen their bonds at the start of the new year.
- Before the adoption of the Gregorian calendar, the first month of the lunar calendar did not always align with the English 'January'.
- The term 一月 uses the Chinese-derived reading 月 (gatsu), whereas the poetic name uses the native Japanese reading 月 (tsuki).
Examples in context
- 一月に彼に会いました。I met him in January.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use 一月 to indicate when an event occurred.Tatoeba #1035889 by bunbuku, translation #641118 by CS
- サムは一月にスキーに行った。Sam went skiing in January.This sentence shows how to use 一月 to describe an activity occurring in that month.Tatoeba #216722 by KK_kaku_, translation #54028 by CN
- 一年の十二ヶ月とは、一月、二月、三月、四月、五月、六月、七月、八月、九月、十月、十一月、十二月です。The twelve months of the year are January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, and December.This sentence lists the months of the year, showing 一月 as the first entry.Tatoeba #1614595 by Meow, translation #10830295 by Luornu
- 一月には多くの人々が新年の抱負をたてます。In January, many people make New Year's resolutions.
- 睦月は新しい始まりへの希望を抱かせてくれます。Mutsuki gives us hope for a fresh beginning.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their travel plans.
- 大翔 Hiroto一月に旅行に行く予定です。Ichigatsu ni ryokou ni iku yotei desu.I plan to travel in January.
- 結衣 Yui一月はとても寒いですよ。Ichigatsu wa totemo samui desu yo.January is very cold, you know.
- 大翔 Hiroto大丈夫です。暖かい服を持っていきます。Daijoubu desu. Atatakai fuku o motte ikimasu.It's okay. I will bring warm clothes.
- 結衣 Yuiいいですね。楽しんできてください。Ii desu ne. Tanoshinde kite kudasai.That's good. Please have a great trip.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “January” translations and entries 一月, 睦月, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 一月, 睦月, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
