上个月
shàng ge yuè
The English phrase "last month" is translated into Chinese as 上个月 (shàng ge yuè).
The phrase refers to the month immediately before the current one.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 上个月 is composed of 上 (shàng), meaning 'up' or 'previous'. 个 (ge), which is a classifier. And 月 (yuè), meaning 'month'.
Which one should you use?
While 上个月 means 'last month', the word for 'next month' uses the character 下 (xià, meaning 'down' or 'next') instead.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Chinese, time phrases like 上个月 are typically placed either before the subject or after the subject, but always before the verb.
How do you pronounce it?
shàng ge yuè
Did you know?
- When the character 月 (yuè) appears on the left side of other characters as a radical, it often indicates a connection to 'flesh' or the 'body' rather than the 'moon'.
- If you want to refer to 'the month before last', you do not need a new word, you simply double the direction and say 上上个月 (shàng shàng ge yuè).
- The vertical metaphor used in 上个月 extends to other time units. You can say 上周 (shàngzhōu) for 'last week' and 上次 (shàngcì) for 'last time'.
Examples in context
- 我是上个月来的北京。I came to Beijing last month.This sentence is useful for describing when you arrived in Beijing using 上个月.Tatoeba #2737457 by GlossaMatik, translation #2737465 by eastasiastudent
- 你上个月减了多少公斤？How many kilograms did you lose last month?This sentence is useful for asking about weight loss in a specific month using 上个月.Tatoeba #13839302 by JackyJiaqiSun, translation #6431061 by CK
- 我上个月从公司离职了。I left the company last month.This sentence is useful for stating when you left a company using 上个月.Tatoeba #13880778 by jan_OkulaJu, translation #12005450 by Winter
- 我上个月去了北京。I went to Beijing last month.
- 我上个月的工作很繁忙。My work was busy last month.
- 上月的销售额有所增长。There was some growth in sales last month.
- 上月我们的项目进展得很顺利。Our project progressed smoothly last month.
- 16 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are chatting about their recent travel plans.
- 伟 Wei你上个月去哪儿旅游了？Nǐ shàng ge yuè qù nǎr lǚyóu le?Where did you go traveling last month?
- 晓雯 Xiaowen我上个月去了上海。Wǒ shàng ge yuè qù le Shànghǎi.I went to Shanghai last month.
- 伟 Wei上海的天气怎么样？Shànghǎi de tiānqì zěnmeyàng?How was the weather in Shanghai?
- 晓雯 Xiaowen非常热，不过很有趣。Fēicháng rè, bùguò hěn yǒuqù.It was very hot, but very interesting.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
