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Kotomora

朔

conjunction (astronomy), first day of month, north

JLPTN1StatusJinmeiyōFrequencyTop 5,000Strokes10

Readings

On'yomi

  • サク

Kun'yomi

  • ついたち

Nanori

  • たち

Meaning

朔 centers on the start of a lunar cycle: the astronomical conjunction when the moon is invisible, marking the first day of the month. The north sense is a less common application, possibly from directional associations in ancient calendars.

Most common words using 朔

  • 朔さく

    new moon

  • 八朔はっさく

    Hassaku orange (Citrus hassaku)

  • 朔日さくじつ

    first day of the month (in the lunar calendar)

  • 初朔日はつついたち

    first day of the second month

  • 晦朔かいさく

    last and first days of the month

  • 朔望さくぼう

    first and fifteenth days of the lunar month (corresponding to new moon and full moon)

  • 朔望月さくぼうげつ

    synodic month

  • 朔望潮さくぼうちょう

    spring tide

  • 朔風さくふう

    north wind

  • 正朔せいさく

    beginning of the month or the year; New Year's Day; the calendar

  • 綿抜の朔日わたぬきのついたち

    1st day of the 4th month of the lunisolar calendar

  • 視告朔こうさく

    ceremony where the Emperor would inspect the records of attendance and absence of officials

Explore all words using 朔 →

Study

Etymology

朔 combines 屰 (which historically relates to going against or returning) with 月 (moon), suggesting the moon's return to the starting point of its cycle. The exact development of 屰 is uncertain, but the compound points to the new moon conjunction.

Meaning mnemonic

The left side 屰 looks like a person turning back, and the right side 月 is the moon. Picture the moon turning back to its invisible starting point at the first day of the month.

Reading mnemonic

For サク, imagine the moon's cycle starting with a sudden 'sack' of darkness: sack -> サク, and the new moon is hidden in that sack.