What you will learn on this page
- The basic meaning and nuance of the kanji 「月」
- JLPT level and stroke count
- Main readings: つき (tsuki), げつ (getsu), がつ (gatsu)
- Common words like 一月, 今月, 来月, 月曜日
- Easy example sentences with English translations
- Typical mistakes learners make with 「月」
1. Basic info
- Kanji: 月
- Meaning (simple): moon, month
- JLPT level: N5
- Stroke count: 4
- On-yomi (Chinese-derived readings): ゲツ (getsu), ガツ (gatsu)
- Kun-yomi (native Japanese reading): つき (tsuki)
2. Easy explanation (for beginners)
The kanji 「月」 has two main meanings:
- the moon in the sky
- a month in the calendar
It is like English “moon” and “month” in one character.
You see it in words such as 一月, 今月, 来月, and 月曜日.
3. Readings and usage
3-1. Kun-yomi: つき (tsuki)
Used when talking about the moon itself.
Example word:
- 月【つき】 – the moon
Example sentence:
- Japanese: 月がきれいですね。
- Reading (Kana): つきが きれいですね。
- English: The moon is beautiful, isn’t it?
3-2. On-yomi: ガツ (gatsu) – month names
Used in names of months.
Example words:
- 一月【いちがつ】 – January
- 二月【にがつ】 – February
- 三月【さんがつ】 – March
Example sentence:
- Japanese: 誕生日は三月です。
- Reading (Kana): たんじょうびは さんがつ です。
- English: My birthday is in March.
3-3. On-yomi: ゲツ (getsu) – “this month”, “next month”
Used for “this month / next month / every month” and some other words.
Example words:
- 今月【こんげつ】 – this month
- 来月【らいげつ】 – next month
- 毎月【まいつき／まいげつ】 – every month
- 月曜日【げつようび】 – Monday
Example sentence:
- Japanese: 今月はテストがあります。
- Reading (Kana): こんげつは テストが あります。
- English: There is a test this month.
4. Example vocabulary list
| Kanji word | Reading | Meaning (English) |
|---|---|---|
| 月 | つき | the moon |
| 一月 | いちがつ | January |
| 今月 | こんげつ | this month |
| 来月 | らいげつ | next month |
| 月曜日 | げつようび | Monday |
5. Example sentences
Sentence 1
- Japanese: 今月はとても忙しいです。
- Reading (Kana): こんげつは とても いそがしい です。
- English: This month is very busy for me.
Sentence 2
- Japanese: あなたの誕生日は何月ですか。
- Reading (Kana): あなたの たんじょうびは なんがつ ですか。
- English: In which month is your birthday?
Sentence 3
- Japanese: 月がきれいですね。
- Reading (Kana): つきが きれいですね。
- English: The moon is beautiful, isn’t it?
6. Common mistakes & tips
Common mistakes
- Using only one reading for all words with 「月」 (for example, reading everything as げつ).
- Mixing up がつ and げつ in words like 今月 / 来月 / 一月.
- Forgetting that 「月」 can mean both moon and month.
Study tips
- Remember this simple rule:
- “moon” → つき
- month names (January, February…) → がつ
- this month / next month / Monday → げつ
- Look at a Japanese calendar and read all the months and this month / next month out loud.
7. Related kanji
- 日 – “day, sun”. Often used together with 月 for dates and calendars.
- 年 – “year”. Combine 年, 月, 日 to read full dates.
- 時 – “time, hour”. Used together with 日/月 to talk about schedules.