Translation and Meaning of: 月 - tsuki

The Japanese word 月[つき] is one of those that every Japanese learner encounters early in their journey. It means "moon" and is also used to refer to "month," a dualism that reflects the influence of the lunar calendar on Japanese culture. In this article, we will explore its meaning, origin, and how it is perceived in Japan, as well as tips for memorizing it effectively.

If you've ever wondered why 月 appears in words like 月曜日 (Monday) or 今月 (this month), you'll discover here how a single kanji can have such distinct meanings. We will also discuss its use in everyday expressions and cultural curiosities that make this word a fundamental piece in learning Japanese.

Meaning and origin of 月[つき]

The kanji 月 represents both the moon in the sky and the passage of time in months. This duality has historical roots: ancient Japan used a lunar calendar, where each complete cycle of the moon marked a new month. Therefore, 月 ended up carrying both meanings in an inseparable way.

In Chinese writing, which gave rise to kanji, the character 月 originally depicted the crescent shape of the moon. Over time, its representation simplified, but it retained the visual essence. Interestingly, when used as a radical in other kanji (like in 明, which means "bright"), 月 often refers to brightness, not the concept of time.

Everyday use and common expressions

In daily life, 月[つき] appears in surprisingly varied contexts. In 今月 (こんげつ), it means "this month," while in 月見 (つきみ) it refers to the traditional moon viewing in autumn. The word also forms part of the names of the days of the week, such as 月曜日 (げつようび) for Monday, showing how the moon marked the beginning of the week in the traditional calendar.

An interesting expression is 月日が経つ (つきひがたつ), which literally means "the moon and the sun pass," but it is used to say that time flies. This type of construction reveals how natural elements like the moon are deeply intertwined with the Japanese perception of the passage of time.

Tips for memorizing 月[つき]

An effective way to memorize 月 is to associate its shape with the crescent moon. Notice how the kanji retains the characteristic curve, especially in calligraphic fonts. Another technique is to create mental connections: imagine the moon completing its cycle to mark a new month, linking the two main meanings.

For practical students, it's worth noting that 月 as "month" usually appears in the second position of compound words (as in 先月 - last month), while as "moon" it tends to come first (月見 - moon viewing). This is not an absolute rule, but it serves as a helpful guide to get started.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• つき (tsuki) - moon
• がつ (gatsu) - Month
• げつ (getsu) - month (used in formal contexts)
• きづき (kiduki) - perception or awareness
• つくり (tsukuri) - creation or construction
• つきあかり (tsukiakari) - Luz da lua
• つきひ (tsukihi) - passage of time (referring to months and days, symbolizing the flow of time)
• つきよ (tsukiyo) - moonlight night
• つきさま (tsukisama) - the moon (honorific term)

月

Romaji: tsuki
Kana: つき
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n3

Translation / Meaning: Moon; month

Meaning in English: moon;month

Definition: A celestial object that is a satellite of Earth and shines in the sky at night.

Example Sentences - (月) tsuki

See below some example sentences:

先先月に東京に行きました。

Sensenshū ni Tōkyō ni ikimashita

In the last month

I went to Tokyo last month.

• 先先月 - "last month"
• に - particle indicating the place where the action took place
• 東京 - "Tokyo"
• に - particle indicating the place where the action took place
• 行きました - "was"

六月に日本に行きます。

Rokugatsu ni Nihon ni ikimasu

I will go to Japan in June.

• 六月 - June
• に - Time or location indication
• 日本 - Japan
• に - Time or location indication
• 行きます - will (verb to go in the future)

再来月に日本に行きます。

Sairai tsuki ni Nihon ni ikimasu

I go to Japan next month.

I will go to Japan again next month.

• 再来月 (sairaimotsuki) - means "next month again" or "the month following the next one."
• に (ni) - a particle that indicates destination or location.
• 日本 (nihon) - the name of the country Japan.
• に (ni) - again, the particle that indicates the destination or location.
• 行きます (ikimasu) - the verb "to go" in the present/future polite.

年月が過ぎるのは早いものだ。

Toshidzuki ga sugiru no wa hayai mono da

The years passed quickly.

• 年月 - means "years and months" in Japanese
• が - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 過ぎる - verb that means "pass" or "overtake"
• の - particle that indicates a nominal phrase
• は - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 早い - adjective that means "fast" or "early"
• もの - noun meaning "thing" or "object"
• だ - verb that indicates the affirmative present form of the sentence

月曜日は私の一番嫌いな曜日です。

Getsuyoubi wa watashi no ichiban kirai na youbi desu

Monday is my least favorite day of the week.

Monday is my most hated day.

• 月曜日 - means "Monday" in Japanese
• は - Japanese topic particle
• 私の - "Meu" in Japanese
• 一番 - "the most" or "number one" in Japanese
• 嫌いな - "hated" or "disliked" in Japanese
• 曜日 - "day of the week" in Japanese
• です - verb "to be" in Japanese

私は毎月貯金をしています。

Watashi wa maitsuki chokin o shiteimasu

I save money every month.

I save every month.

• 私 (watashi) - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - Japanese particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 毎月 (maitsuki) - Japanese adverb meaning "every month"
• 貯金 (chokin) - 日本語の名詞で「貯金」を意味します。
• を (wo) - Japanese particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence
• しています (shiteimasu) - Japanese verb that means "I am doing" (polite form)

私は毎月返済をする必要があります。

Watashi wa maitsuki hensai o suru hitsuyō ga arimasu

I need to make the payment monthly.

I need to pay every month.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• 毎月 (maitsuki) - adverb that means "every month"
• 返済 (hensai) - noun meaning "debt payment"
• を (wo) - direct object particle, in this case, "debt payment"
• する (suru) - verb that means "to do"
• 必要 (hitsuyou) - noun meaning "need"
• が (ga) - particle indicating the subject of the sentence, in this case "I"
• あります (arimasu) - verb that means "to have/to exist"

私は毎月基金にお金を入れています。

Watashi wa maitsuki kikin ni okane wo ireteimasu

I put money on the investment fund every month.

I have money in the background every month.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 毎月 (maitsuki) - adverb that means "every month"
• 基金 (kikin) - noun that means "bottom" or "investment"
• に (ni) - Particle indicating the target of the action
• お金 (okane) - noun meaning "money"
• を (wo) - Particle indicating the direct object of the action.
• 入れています (ireteimasu) - compound verb meaning "to put" or "to deposit" (in the present continuous)

私は来月入社します。

Watashi wa raigetsu nyūsha shimasu

I will join the company next month.

I will join the company next month.

• 私 (watashi) - signifies "I" in Japanese
• は (wa) - Japanese topic particle
• 来月 (raigetsu) - means "next month" in Japanese
• 入社 (nyūsha) - "Joining the company" in Japanese
• します (shimasu) - Politeness form of the verb "to do" in Japanese

私の月謝は高いです。

Watashi no getsusha wa takai desu

My monthly fee is expensive.

My monthly fee is high.

• 私 - personal pronoun "I"
• の - possessive particle "of"
• 月謝 - monthly fee
• は - Topic particle
• 高い - High, dear
• です - Verb "to be" in polite form