初しょ月げつ

noun

first month of the lunar calendar

Only with reading しょげつ / はつづき

Refers specifically to the first month of the traditional lunar calendar, equivalent to 睦月 (むつき). Used in historical or cultural contexts.

See also: 睦月

• 旧きゅう暦れきでは初しょ月げつを睦月むつきとも呼よぶ。

  In the old calendar, the first month is also called mutsuki.

noun

first month (of a period)

Only with reading しょげつ

General term for the first month of any period, such as a fiscal year or a reign. Reading is しょげつ.

• 新しん年ねん度どの初しょ月げつの売うり上あげは好こう調ちょうだった。

  Sales in the first month of the new fiscal year were strong.

noun

first moon of the month; new moon

Refers to the first visible crescent moon of a lunar month, or the new moon. A somewhat literary or astronomical term.

• 初しょ月げつが西にしの空そらに細ほそく輝かがやいていた。

  The new moon shone slenderly in the western sky.