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Kotomora

月

month, moon

JLPTN5StatusJōyō · grade 1FrequencyTop 100Strokes4

Readings

On'yomi

  • ゲツ
  • ガツ

Kun'yomi

  • つき

Nanori

  • おと
  • がっ
  • す
  • ずき
  • もり

Meaning

月 centers on the moon and its cycle: the moon itself, and the month as a unit of time based on that cycle.

Most common words using 月

24 of 518
  • 月つき
    N5

    Moon

  • ヶ月かげつ
    N3

    counter for months

  • 今月こんげつ
    N5

    this month

  • 毎月まいつき
    N5

    every month; each month; monthly

  • 月曜日げつようび
    N5

    Monday

  • 月曜げつよう
    N3

    Monday

  • 月末げつまつ
    N3

    end of the month

  • 先月せんげつ
    N5

    last month

  • 正月しょうがつ
    N4

    New Year (esp. first three days)

  • 来月らいげつ
    N5

    next month

  • 月刊げっかん
    N1

    monthly publication; monthly issue

  • 月額げつがく

    monthly sum; monthly amount

  • 月間げっかん

    month-long period; month

  • 月収げっしゅう

    monthly income

  • 満月まんげつ
    N1

    full moon

  • 年月としつき
    N3

    months and years

  • 月給げっきゅう
    N2

    monthly salary

  • 生年月日せいねんがっぴ
    N3

    birth date; date of birth; DOB

  • 望月もちづき

    full moon; moon on the 15th day of the month (by the lunar calendar)

  • 三日月みかづき
    N2

    crescent moon; young moon

  • 一月ひとつき
    N5

    one month

  • 月日つきひ
    N2

    time; years; days; (one's) life

  • 月日がっぴ
    N1

    month and day (of the year); (the) date

  • 半月はんげつ
    N1

    half-moon

Explore all words using 月 →

Study

Etymology

月 is a pictograph of a crescent moon. The modern form retains the curved outer shape and the inner strokes representing the moon's features.

Meaning mnemonic

The curved outer strokes suggest the crescent shape of the moon, and the two inner lines mark its surface. See the moon and think of a month passing.

Reading mnemonic

For ゲツ, imagine a moon that looks like a giant glowing geta sandal in the sky: geta -> ゲツ, and the moon's shape reminds you of the sandal's wooden base.