下个月
xià gè yuè
The English phrase "next month" is translated into Chinese as 下个月 (xià gè yuè).
下个月 is used to refer to the month that comes immediately after the current one.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 下 (xià, meaning down or next), 个 (gè, a measure word) and 月 (yuè, meaning month).
Which one should you use?
While 下个月 (xià gè yuè) means "next month", the phrase 上个月 (shàng gè yuè) is used to mean "last month".
How does it change in a sentence?
In Chinese, time expressions like 下个月 typically appear before the verb or at the very beginning of the sentence, rather than at the end as is common in English.
How do you pronounce it?
xià gè yuè
Did you know?
- In traditional Chinese culture, the 'next month' might be discussed in terms of the 'intercalary month'. Every few years, an extra leap month is added to the lunar calendar to stay aligned with the solar year.
- The word 月 is a pictograph that originally depicted a crescent moon. This visual link between the celestial body and the unit of time remains in the character's structure.
- Chinese conceptualizes time as a vertical or flowing sequence where 'next' is 'down' (xià) and 'last' is 'up' (shàng).
Examples in context
- 她下个月生孩子。She will give birth to a child next month.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use 下个月 when discussing a future event like giving birth.Tatoeba #2031422 by ydcok, translation #507506 by Ivanovb
- 下个月他会很忙。He will be very busy next month.This sentence shows how to use 下个月 to describe a future state of being busy.Tatoeba #5091211 by mirrorvan, translation #1430141 by CK
- 我下个月要搬家了。I am moving next month.This sentence demonstrates using 下个月 to talk about a future plan like moving house.Tatoeba #425566 by GlossaMatik, translation #325030 by CC
- 你下个月有什么计划？What are your plans for next month?
- 我们下月一起去看电影吧！Let's go watch a movie together next month!
- 15 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two colleagues are discussing their upcoming travel plans.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen你下个月要去旅行吗？Nǐ xià ge yuè yào qù lǚxíng ma?Are you going traveling next month?
- 志强 Zhiqiang是的，我下个月要去北京。Shì de, wǒ xià ge yuè yào qù Běijīng.Yes, I am going to Beijing next month.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen那太棒了，祝你玩得开心。Nà tài bàng le, zhù nǐ wán de kāixīn.That's great, have a wonderful time.
- 志强 Zhiqiang谢谢，晓雯。Xièxiè, Xiǎowén.Thank you, Xiaowen.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
