新しん月げつ

noun

new moon; first day of the lunar month

Refers to the astronomical new moon when the moon is not visible, or the first day of the lunar calendar month.

• 今こん夜やは新しん月げつで、月つきがまったく見みえない。

  Tonight is the new moon, so the moon is completely invisible.

• 旧きゅう暦れきでは新しん月げつの日ひが月つきの始はじまりだった。

  In the old lunar calendar, the day of the new moon was the start of the month.

noun

crescent moon

Sometimes used loosely for a thin crescent moon, though 三日月 is the more precise term. This usage is less common and may be considered non-standard.

See also: 三日月

• 空そらに細ほそい新しん月げつが浮うかんでいた。

  A thin crescent moon hung in the sky.