also: はつあき
early autumn; beginning of fall
Refers to the early part of autumn, typically around September in the modern calendar. Both しょしゅう and はつあき are used, with しょしゅう being more common.
The early autumn breeze is pleasant.
seventh month of the lunar calendar
Only with reading しょしゅう
Obsolete term referring to the seventh month of the traditional lunar calendar, roughly corresponding to August in the modern calendar. Only used with the reading しょしゅう.
See also: 文月
初秋には紅葉がまだ早い。
It's still too early for autumn leaves in early autumn.
In the old lunar calendar, the seventh month was also called 文月.
Standard kanji spelling for 'early autumn'. The reading しょしゅう is the most common.
Alternate reading for 'early autumn', less common than しょしゅう but still used.
Compound of 初 (first, early) and 秋 (autumn). The reading しょしゅう is the on'yomi, while はつあき combines the kun'yomi of 初 with the on'yomi of 秋.