How to Say "May" in Japanese - How To Say Guide

5月

gogatsu

The English word 'may' is translated into Japanese as 5月 (gogatsu).

Meaning: have permission to (verb)

Which one should you use?

While the provided form is 5月, the month can also be written using the kanji 五月 or the poetic term 皐月.

gogatsu

The date 5月5日 is 'Children's Day', where families fly carp-shaped streamers called koinobori to wish for the strength and success of their children.
The kanji 月 in 5月 literally means 'moon'. This is because the ancient Japanese calendar was lunar and the months were counted as 'moons'.
The poetic term 皐月 is derived from ancient Japanese words meaning 'early month'. It specifically refers to the time when rice seedlings are planted.

5月1日のことだった。
It happened on the first of May.
This sentence shows how to use 5月 when specifying a date.
Tatoeba #11138230 by small_snow, translation #4463667 by AlanF_US
スイスでは5月に春が来る。
In Switzerland, spring comes in May.
This sentence shows how to use 5月 when describing seasonal occurrences.
Tatoeba #2800163 by tommy_san, translation #52450 by CK
選挙は5月16日に行われた。
The vote took place on May sixteenth.
This sentence shows how to use 5月 when referring to a specific date of an event.
Tatoeba #2869676 by tommy_san, translation #804327 by Source_VOA
五月には京都に行く予定です。
I plan to go to Kyoto in May.
五月はいい季節だね。
May is a nice season, isn't it?
13 more sentences on Tatoeba

Himari and Yota are talking about their school calendar.

陽葵 Himari

5月にはたくさんイベントがあるね。
Gogatsu ni wa takusan ibento ga aru ne.
There are a lot of events in May, aren't there?
陽太 Yota

うん、5月は忙しくなりそうだよ。
Un, gogatsu wa isogashiku narisou da yo.
Yeah, it looks like May will be busy.
陽葵 Himari

5月の連休にどこかへ行く？
Gogatsu no renkyu ni dokoka e iku?
Are you going anywhere during the May holidays?
陽太 Yota

まだ決まっていないんだ。
Mada kimatte inain da.
I haven't decided yet.

Sources

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