月
tsuki[t͡sɨ̥kʲi]
The English word 'month' is translated into Japanese as 月 (tsuki). If unsure, use 月. Wiktionary also lists 月間 (gekkan).
Meaning: period into which a year is divided (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 月 | tsuki | [t͡sɨ̥kʲi] (narrow) [ɡe̞t͡sɨ] (narrow) |
| 月間 | gekkan | [ɡe̞k̚kã̠ɴ] (narrow) |
The word refers to a period into which a year is divided.
How does it change in a sentence?
When counting the months of the year, the number is placed before 月 (e.g., 一月 for January, 二月 for February). To express a duration of a certain number of months, the counter suffix -ヶ月 is typically added after the number (e.g., 一ヶ月 for one month).
How do you pronounce it?
tsuki
Did you know?
- While 月 is usually read as 'tsuki' or 'getsu', in the Edo period the reading 'gachi' was used to describe a specific rank of low-end prostitute in the Kansai region.
- The word for 'month' is homophonous with the word for 'moon', meaning the same character is used for both celestial bodies and calendar measurements.
- The character 月 can be read as 'tsuki' in native Japanese, but it also has several different 'On' or Chinese-derived readings, such as 'getsu' and 'gatsu'.
Examples in context
- 私は月給です。I get paid every month.This sentence is useful for talking about receiving a monthly salary with 月.Tatoeba #9640708 by small_snow, translation #9584732 by DJ_Saidez
- 今何月だっけ？What month is it now?This sentence is useful for asking which month it is with 月.Tatoeba #11831595 by small_snow, translation #11817460 by ddnktr
- 月に2回です。It's twice a month.This sentence is useful for stating frequency within a month with 月.Tatoeba #13795166 by Kojimano, translation #13795307 by rul
- 私の誕生日は4 月 です。My birthday is in April.
- 今 月 のスケジュールは忙しいです。I'm busy with this month's schedule.
- 419 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hina and Yota are talking about their vacation plans.
- 陽葵 Himari来月は旅行に行きますか？Raigetsu wa ryokou ni ikimasu ka?Are you going on a trip next month?
- 陽太 Yotaはい、来月は北海道へ行きます。Hai, raigetsu wa Hokkaido e ikimasu.Yes, I am going to Hokkaido next month.
- 陽葵 Himariいいですね。一月くらい行きますか？Ii desu ne. Ichigatsu kurai ikimasu ka?That's nice. Will you go for about one month?
- 陽太 Yotaいいえ、一週間だけです。Iie, isshuukan dake desu.No, only for one week.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “month” translations and entries 月, 月間, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 月, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
