In Japanese, when we talk about months of the year, we use a special word: ～月 (gatsu). You might hear it pronounced as -gatsu or sometimes -zuki, depending on the month.
Think of ～月 (gatsu) as a suffix that gets attached to a number to tell you which month it is. For example, if you want to say 'January,' you combine 'ichi' (one) with 'gatsu' to make Ichigatsu (一月). For 'February,' it's 'ni' (two) plus 'gatsu,' so you get Nigatsu (二月).
It's also used when you're simply counting how many months. Like saying 'one month' or 'two months.'
Don't worry too much about the different pronunciations for now; the main thing to remember is that ～月 (gatsu) is the key to talking about months in Japanese!
When counting months in Japanese, the suffix ～月 (getsu/gatsu) is added after the number. For example, 一月 (ichigatsu) means January or one month, and 二月 (nigatsu) means February or two months. The pronunciation can change depending on the number it's attached to. For instance, sometimes it's pronounced 'gatsu' and sometimes 'getsu'.
You'll often see this used when talking about specific months of the year, like when you say your birthday is in August, or when you mention how many months you've been studying Japanese.
When counting months in Japanese, you'll generally attach the suffix ～月 (がつ - gatsu) to the number. For example, 1月 (いちがつ - ichigatsu) is January, 2月 (にがつ - nigatsu) is February, and so on. There are a few irregular readings, such as 4月 (しがつ - shigatsu) for April, 7月 (しちがつ - shichigatsu) for July, and 9月 (くがつ - kugatsu) for September.
It's important to differentiate this from ヶ月 (かげつ - kagetsu), which is used when talking about a duration of months, like 3ヶ月 (さんかげつ - sankagetsu) meaning 'three months long.'
Also, when asking "what month?", you'll use 何月 (なんがつ - nangatsu). For instance, 「誕生日は何月ですか？」(Tanjōbi wa nangatsu desu ka?) means "What month is your birthday?"
When counting months in Japanese, the suffix ～月 (つき or げつ) is used. It's often paired with a number to indicate a specific month in the year (e.g., 1月 - いちがつ - January). However, it can also be used as a general counter for an unspecified number of months, as in 数ヶ月 (すうかげつ - several months).
Understanding the difference between its use for specific months and as a general counter is important for fluency. While the reading changes depending on context, the core meaning of indicating a month remains consistent. Pay attention to the accompanying number or phrase to determine the correct reading and nuance.
§ What does ～月 mean and when do people use it?
The Japanese word ～月 (つき / げつ) is a crucial suffix for talking about months. You'll hear it all the time when people discuss dates, events, and schedules. Essentially, it means 'month' or 'moon' depending on the context, but in this lesson, we're focusing on its use as a counter for months of the year.
When you want to say 'January,' 'February,' or any other month in Japanese, you'll almost always use ～月. It attaches to a number to form the name of the month. For example, 一月 (いちがつ) means January (literally 'first month').
- Definition
- Suffix for month; counter for months.
This suffix is super common and essential for anyone learning Japanese. Without it, you can't accurately talk about dates or schedule anything. Think of it like how we use 'month' after a number in English to specify a period of time, but in Japanese, it's integrated directly into the name of the month itself.
来月、日本に行きます。
I'm going to Japan next month.
You'll also find ～月 used when asking or stating how many months something will take or has taken. For instance, if you're talking about a project duration or how long you've been studying something. It functions as a counter in these situations.
Here are some common ways you'll encounter ～月:
- Naming months: As mentioned, for January (一月), February (二月), etc.
- Counting months: Saying 'for three months' (三ヶ月 - さんかげつ).
- General terms related to months: Such as 'last month' (先月 - せんげつ) or 'every month' (毎月 - まいつき).
The key takeaway is that ～月 is versatile. It's not just for naming specific months, but also for indicating periods of time measured in months. Mastering this suffix is a huge step in being able to communicate clearly about time in Japanese.
このプロジェクトは三ヶ月かかります。
This project will take three months.
Pay close attention to the small differences in how it's used. For example, when you just want to say 'month' in a general sense, you might use 月 (つき) by itself, referring to the calendar month or even the moon itself. However, when specifying a particular month in the year or counting a duration, ～月 comes into play as a suffix.
§ Understanding ～月: A Quick Look
The Japanese word ～月 (つき, がつ, げつ) is a super common and important word. You'll hear and use it constantly if you're talking about dates. Basically, it means 'month'. But like many Japanese words, how you read and use it changes a bit depending on the situation. Don't worry, it's not too hard!
§ How to Say Specific Months
When you want to say a specific month, you just put the number before ～月. For example, 'January' is '一月' (いちがつ), 'February' is '二月' (にがつ), and so on. Easy, right? Let's look at all twelve months:
- 一月 (いちがつ) - January
- 二月 (にがつ) - February
- 三月 (さんがつ) - March
- 四月 (しがつ) - April
- 五月 (ごがつ) - May
- 六月 (ろくがつ) - June
- 七月 (しちがつ) - July
- 八月 (はちがつ) - August
- 九月 (くがつ) - September
- 十月 (じゅうがつ) - October
- 十一月 (じゅういちがつ) - November
- 十二月 (じゅうにがつ) - December
§ Using ～月 with Counters: Counting Months
Sometimes you don't want to say 'January' or 'February' but rather 'for one month' or 'two months'. This is where the counter reading げつ (getsu) comes in. You'll often see it paired with the particle 間 (かん - kan) to mean 'for a duration of'. So, 'one month' (duration) is '一ヶ月' (いっかげつ), 'two months' is '二ヶ月' (にかげつ), and so on.
- DEFINITION
- ～ヶ月 (～かげつ): Suffix used to count the duration of months.
Let's look at some examples:
- 一ヶ月 (いっかげつ) - one month (duration)
- 二ヶ月 (にかげつ) - two months (duration)
- 三ヶ月 (さんかげつ) - three months (duration)
- 四ヶ月 (よんかげつ) - four months (duration)
- 五ヶ月 (ごかげつ) - five months (duration)
- 六ヶ月 (ろっかげつ) - six months (duration)
- 七ヶ月 (ななかげつ) - seven months (duration)
- 八ヶ月 (はちかげつ or はっかげつ) - eight months (duration)
- 九ヶ月 (きゅうかげつ) - nine months (duration)
- 十ヶ月 (じゅっかげつ or いっかげつ) - ten months (duration)
- 何ヶ月 (なんげつ) - how many months?
§ Putting it into Sentences
Now let's see how these forms look in actual sentences. This is where it gets practical!
彼女の誕生日は五月です。
Kanojo no tanjoubi wa gogatsu desu.
(Her birthday is in May.)
日本に三ヶ月住んでいます。
Nihon ni sankagetsu sunde imasu.
(I have lived in Japan for three months.)
旅行は先月行きました。
Ryokou wa sengetsu ikimashita.
(I went on a trip last month.)
- DEFINITION
- 先月 (せんげつ): Last month
来月また会いましょう。
Raigetsu mata aimashou.
(Let's meet again next month.)
- DEFINITION
- 来月 (らいげつ): Next month
今月中に終わらせます。
Kongetsu chuu ni owarasemasu.
(I will finish it within this month.)
- DEFINITION
- 今月 (こんげつ): This month
§ Asking About Months
If you want to ask 'What month?' or 'How many months?', you'll use specific question words with ～月.
- 何月 (なんがつ) - What month?
- 何ヶ月 (なんげつ) - How many months? (duration)
誕生日は何月ですか？
Tanjoubi wa nangatsu desu ka?
(What month is your birthday?)
日本に何ヶ月いますか？
Nihon ni nankagetsu imasu ka?
(How many months will you be in Japan?)
§ Key Takeaways for ～月
To sum it up, here are the main things to remember about ～月:
- Use ～月 (がつ) after numbers to name specific months (e.g., 一月 - January).
- Remember the irregular readings for April (四月 - しがつ), July (七月 - しちがつ), and September (九月 - くがつ).
- Use ～ヶ月 (かげつ) to count the duration of months (e.g., 三ヶ月 - three months).
- Pay attention to the sound changes for 一ヶ月 (いっかげつ) and 十ヶ月 (じゅっかげつ).
- Learn 今月 (こんげつ - this month), 先月 (せんげつ - last month), and 来月 (らいげつ - next month).
Practice using these in sentences, and you'll get the hang of it quickly. Good luck!
§ Don't confuse it with 'moon'
The kanji for ～月 is 月. This kanji on its own also means 'moon'. This can be a source of confusion for learners. When you see 月 by itself, it usually means 'moon'. When it's attached to a number, like 一月 (いちがつ) or 二月 (にがつ), it means 'month'.
昨夜は美しい月が見えました。
_Last night I saw a beautiful moon._
来週は三月になります。
_Next week will be March (the third month)._
§ Irregularities in pronunciation
While most months follow a straightforward pattern (number + がつ), there are two common irregularities that learners often trip over: April and July.
- April
- Instead of よんがつ (yongatsu), which you might expect for 'four', April is しがつ (shigatsu). This is due to '四' (four) having two common readings, 'よん' (yon) and 'し' (shi). In this case, 'し' is used.
- July
- Similarly, for July, instead of なながつ (nanagatsu), it's しちがつ (shichigatsu). Again, '七' (seven) has two readings, 'なな' (nana) and 'しち' (shichi), with 'しち' being used for this month.
四月に日本へ行きます。
_I will go to Japan in April._
七月は私の誕生日です。
_July is my birthday._
§ When to use ヶ月 (kagetsu) vs. 月 (gatsu)
Another common point of confusion is differentiating between when to use ～月 (gatsu) for naming months (like January, February) and ヶ月 (kagetsu) for counting duration (like 'for three months').
- ～月 (gatsu)
- Used when you are referring to a specific calendar month. For example, '一月' means 'January'.
私の誕生日は九月です。
_My birthday is in September._
- ～ヶ月 (kagetsu)
- Used when you are counting a duration of months. For example, '三ヶ月' means 'for three months'.
彼は三ヶ月間日本に住んでいました。
_He lived in Japan for three months._
§ Understanding ～月 (gatsu)
The Japanese suffix ～月 (gatsu) is crucial for talking about months. It attaches to numbers to form the names of the months, from January to December. It also works as a general counter for months when you want to say 'one month', 'two months', etc.
- Japanese Word
- ～月 (gatsu)
- Definition
- Suffix for month; counter for months.
§ How to Use ～月 for Month Names
To say a specific month, you simply put the number before ～月. There are a couple of pronunciation changes to be aware of.
一月 (ichigatsu): January
誕生日が一月です。
My birthday is in January.
二月 (nigatsu): February
二月は寒い月です。
February is a cold month.
三月 (sangatsu): March
四月 (shigatsu): April (Note: It's 'shi' not 'yon' for this month)
四月に日本へ行きます。
I'm going to Japan in April.
五月 (gogatsu): May
六月 (rokugatsu): June
七月 (shichigatsu): July (Note: It's 'shichi' not 'nana' for this month)
七月は暑い。
July is hot.
八月 (hachigatsu): August
九月 (kugatsu): September (Note: It's 'ku' not 'kyuu' for this month)
九月に学校が始まります。
School starts in September.
十月 (juugatsu): October
十一月 (juuichigatsu): November
十二月 (juunigatsu): December
十二月はクリスマスがあります。
December has Christmas.
§ Using ～月 as a Counter for Months
When you want to say 'for one month', 'for two months', etc., you use ～月 as a counter. The pronunciation changes slightly compared to month names.
一ヶ月 (ikkagetsu): one month
このプロジェクトは一ヶ月かかります。
This project takes one month.
二ヶ月 (nikagetsu): two months
三ヶ月 (sankagetsu): three months
日本に三ヶ月滞在しました。
I stayed in Japan for three months.
四ヶ月 (yonkagetsu): four months
五ヶ月 (gokagetsu): five months
六ヶ月 (rokkagetsu): six months
七ヶ月 (nanakagetsu): seven months
八ヶ月 (hachikagetsu): eight months
九ヶ月 (kyuukagetsu): nine months
十ヶ月 (jukkagetsu or jikkagetsu): ten months
何ヶ月 (nankagetsu): how many months?
このコースは何ヶ月ですか。
How many months is this course?
§ Similar Words and When to Use ～月 (gatsu) vs. Alternatives
While ～月 (gatsu) is essential for expressing months, you'll encounter other ways to talk about periods of time.
月 (tsuki): This is the general word for 'moon' or 'month'. When used on its own, it refers to a generic month, or the celestial body. You wouldn't use this to say 'January' or 'two months'.
今月のイベント。
This month's event.
今日は良い月が見えます。
You can see a beautiful moon tonight.
毎月 (maitsuki): This means 'every month'. It's used for recurring events or actions.
毎月本を読みます。
I read books every month.
先月 (sengetsu): Last month.
先月京都へ行きました。
I went to Kyoto last month.
来月 (raigetsu): Next month.
来月新しい仕事が始まります。
My new job starts next month.
今月 (kongetsu): This month.
今月は忙しいです。
I'm busy this month.
期間 (kikan): This is a more general term for 'period of time' or 'duration'. You would use this when talking about a length of time in a broader sense, not specifically counting months.
プロジェクトの期間は一年です。
The project's duration is one year.
To recap, use ～月 (gatsu) when you need to specify a particular month (like 'January') or when you are counting a specific number of months (like 'for three months'). For other time-related concepts involving months, you'll use the specific terms above.
How Formal Is It?
"先月、日本へ出張しました。 (Last month, I went on a business trip to Japan.)"
"来月、友達と旅行に行きます。 (Next month, I'm going on a trip with friends.)"
"今月、引っ越すんだ。 (I'm moving this month.)"
"おたんじょうびは、なんがつ？ (What month is your birthday?)"
"この月、やばいことになったわ。 (This month, something crazy happened.)"
रोचक तथ्य
The kanji 月 (tsuki) can mean both 'moon' and 'month' depending on context and reading.
उच्चारण मार्गदर्शिका
- The 'u' is often devoiced, making it sound more like 'gats'.
ज़रूरी व्याकरण
「～月」 (gatsu) is attached to numbers to indicate a specific month of the year.
一月 (ichigatsu): January; 二月 (nigatsu): February; 三月 (sangatsu): March
The pronunciation of 「～月」 changes depending on the preceding number. For example, April, July, and September use 'shi', 'shichi', and 'ku' instead of 'yon', 'nana', and 'kyuu'.
四月 (shigatsu): April (not yongatsu); 七月 (shichigatsu): July (not nanagatsu); 九月 (kugatsu): September (not kyuugatsu)
To ask 'What month?', use 「何月」 (nangatsu).
今は何月ですか？ (Ima wa nangatsu desu ka?) What month is it now?
「～月」 can also function as a counter for a duration of months. In this case, the pronunciation is typically 'kagetsu' (ヶ月 or 箇月).
一ヶ月 (ikkagetsu): one month (duration); 三ヶ月 (sankagetsu): three months (duration)
When expressing a duration of months, some numbers have irregular pronunciations before 'kagetsu'. For example, 'one month' is 'ikkagetsu' and 'six months' is 'rokkagetsu'.
一ヶ月 (ikkagetsu): one month (duration); 六ヶ月 (rokkagetsu): six months (duration); 八ヶ月 (hakkagetsu): eight months (duration); 十ヶ月 (jikkagetsu): ten months (duration)
स्तर के अनुसार उदाहरण
一月。
January.
二月。
February.
三月。
March.
四月。
April.
五月。
May.
六月。
June.
七月。
July.
八月。
August.
先週の金曜日から働き始めて、もうすぐ一ヶ月になります。
I started working last Friday, and it will be one month soon.
このプロジェクトを完了するのに、あとどのくらい月が必要ですか？
How many more months do you need to complete this project?
来月、新しいアパートに引っ越す予定です。
I plan to move to a new apartment next month.
彼女は三ヶ月前に日本に来ました。
She came to Japan three months ago.
先月はとても忙しかったので、あまり休めませんでした。
Last month was very busy, so I couldn't rest much.
彼は何ヶ月も前からこの旅行を計画していました。
He had been planning this trip for many months.
次の学期は九月から始まります。
The next semester starts from September.
毎年、この時期になると花粉症で苦しみます。
Every year, around this month, I suffer from hay fever.
2月の初旬は雪が多く、交通機関に影響が出やすい時期だ。
Early February is a time with heavy snow, making public transport susceptible to disruptions.
来月、新しいプロジェクトが立ち上がる予定で、準備に追われている。
Next month, a new project is scheduled to start, and we're busy with preparations.
毎年10月には、この地域で盛大な収穫祭が開催されます。
Every October, a grand harvest festival is held in this region.
彼女は3月の終わりに海外へ転勤することになった。
She was transferred overseas at the end of March.
私たちは9月中にその報告書を提出しなければならない。
We must submit that report by September.
今年の7月は記録的な猛暑となり、熱中症への注意が呼びかけられた。
July this year saw record-breaking heat, and warnings were issued for heatstroke.
5月に開催される国際会議に向けて、準備が着々と進められている。
Preparations are steadily progressing for the international conference to be held in May.
12月に入ると、街はクリスマスムード一色になる。
As December begins, the town is completely filled with Christmas cheer.
मुहावरे और अभिव्यक्तियाँ
"一月"
January
一月は日本で一番寒い月です。(January is the coldest month in Japan.)
neutral"二月"
February
二月は短い月です。(February is a short month.)
neutral"三月"
March
三月は卒業の季節です。(March is graduation season.)
neutral"四月"
April
四月は新しい学年が始まります。(April is when the new school year begins.)
neutral"五月"
May
五月はゴールデンウィークがあります。(May has Golden Week.)
neutral"六月"
June
六月は雨が多いです。(It rains a lot in June.)
neutral"七月"
July
七月は夏祭りがあります。(There are summer festivals in July.)
neutral"八月"
August
八月は暑い月です。(August is a hot month.)
neutral"九月"
September
九月は秋が始まります。(Autumn begins in September.)
neutral"十月"
October
十月はハロウィンがあります。(October has Halloween.)
neutralवाक्य संरचनाएँ
[Month] です。
今日は七月です。 (Kyō wa shichigatsu desu.) Today is July.
[Month] に [event] があります。
一月に誕生日があります。 (Ichigatsu ni tanjōbi ga arimasu.) My birthday is in January.
何月ですか？
今は何月ですか？ (Ima wa nangatsu desu ka?) What month is it now?
[Month] から [Month] まで
四月から八月まで旅行します。 (Shigatsu kara hachigatsu made ryokō shimasu.) I will travel from April to August.
[Month] は [Adjective] です。
二月は寒いです。 (Nigatsu wa samui desu.) February is cold.
[Verb] のは [Month] です。
日本に行くのは五月です。 (Nihon ni iku no wa gogatsu desu.) Going to Japan is in May.
शब्द परिवार
संज्ञा
इसे कैसे इस्तेमाल करें
When counting months in Japanese, you attach the suffix ～月 (つき or げつ) to the number. For example, 1月 (いちがつ) means January, and 2月 (にがつ) means February. When referring to how many months something has been, like “for three months,” you use the same suffix. For instance, 三ヶ月 (さんかげつ) means three months.
It's important to note the pronunciation changes for certain months. For example:
- 1月 (いちがつ): January
- 2月 (にがつ): February
- 3月 (さんがつ): March
- 4月 (しがつ): April (not よんがつ)
- 5月 (ごがつ): May
- 6月 (ろくがつ): June
- 7月 (しちがつ): July (not なながつ)
- 8月 (はちがつ): August
- 9月 (くがつ): September (not きゅうがつ)
- 10月 (じゅうがつ): October
- 11月 (じゅういちがつ): November
- 12月 (じゅうにがつ): December
For how many months:
- 一ヶ月 (いっかげつ): one month
- 二ヶ月 (にかげつ): two months
- 三ヶ月 (さんかげつ): three months
- 四ヶ月 (よんかげつ): four months
- 五ヶ月 (ごかげつ): five months
- 六ヶ月 (ろっかげつ): six months
- 七ヶ月 (ななかげつ): seven months
- 八ヶ月 (はちかげつ): eight months
- 九ヶ月 (きゅうかげつ): nine months
- 十ヶ月 (じゅっかげつ or じっかげつ): ten months
- 何ヶ月 (なんげつ or なんかげつ): how many months
A common mistake is confusing ～月 (つき or げつ) for the month counter with 月 (つき) meaning moon or simply month in general. When used as a counter, it's almost always read as ～がつ for specific months (like January, February) and ～かげつ for duration (like for three months). Another mistake is using the regular readings for numbers like よん for 4 or なな for 7 when counting months. Always remember the irregular readings for 4月 (しがつ), 7月 (しちがつ), and 9月 (くがつ) for specific months.
सुझाव
Basic use of ～月
To say a specific month in Japanese, you typically attach ～月 (つき or がつ) to the end of the number representing the month. For example, 一月 (いちがつ) is January. Remember to always use the kanji for numbers.
Pronunciation matters
The pronunciation of ～月 changes based on whether it's part of a specific month name (e.g., 一月, いちがつ) or used as a counter for months (e.g., 一ヶ月, いっかげつ). Pay attention to these nuances.
Months as part of dates
When stating a date, the month comes first, followed by the day. For example, 3月15日 (さんがつじゅうごにち) means March 15th. This is the standard Japanese order.
Irregular month pronunciations
Be aware that some months have irregular pronunciations. For instance, 四月 (しがつ) is April, and 七月 (しちがつ) is July. These are common pitfalls for learners.
Counting months with ～ヶ月
When you want to say 'for X months' or 'X months duration,' you use the counter ～ヶ月 (かげつ). For example, ３ヶ月 (さんかげつ) means three months. This is different from just naming the month.
Asking 'What month?'
To ask 'What month?' you say 何月 (なんがつ). This is a direct question form and is very useful in daily conversation. Make sure to use the correct kanji.
Months in Japanese calendars
Japanese calendars often show the month number with the ～月 suffix. It's a very common and intuitive way to understand the date. You'll see this everywhere.
Literary use of 読み (よみ)
While less common in everyday speech, sometimes ～月 can be read as 読み (よみ) in a more literary context, particularly when referring to the moon itself. This is an advanced nuance.
Practice saying all 12 months
The best way to master ～月 is to practice saying all 12 months repeatedly until they become natural. Flashcards or a dedicated app can help with this.
Context is key for pronunciation
The pronunciation of ～月 (つき vs がつ) depends entirely on the context of its use. Is it a specific month, or is it indicating a duration? Pay close attention.
याद करें
स्मृति सहायक
Think of 'tsuki' sounding like 'two key' – you need two keys to unlock the calendar for each month. Or, 'tusk' – like an elephant's tusk, one for each month of the year.
दृश्य संबंध
Imagine a calendar with the numbers for each month, and each number has a tiny '月' symbol next to it, like a moon or a crescent shape, since '月' also means moon.
Word Web
चैलेंज
Try to list all 12 months in Japanese using the ~月 counter. Then, practice asking and answering 'What month is it?' with a friend.
शब्द की उत्पत्ति
Suffix derived from the kanji for 'moon' or 'month'.
मूल अर्थ: Refers to the lunar cycle, which historically marked months.
Sino-Japanese (on'yomi reading of 月)सांस्कृतिक संदर्भ
In Japan, months are typically numbered from 1 to 12 followed by ～月. For example, 一月 (ichigatsu) is January and 四月 (shigatsu) is April. This simple system makes it straightforward to refer to any month of the year.
असल ज़िंदगी में अभ्यास करें
वास्तविक संदर्भ
Talking about the current month
- 今月は何月ですか？ (What month is it now?)
- 今は一月です。(It's January now.)
- 来月は二月です。(Next month is February.)
Asking about someone's birthday month
- お誕生日は何月ですか？ (What month is your birthday?)
- 私の誕生日は七月です。(My birthday is July.)
- 彼女の誕生日は九月です。(Her birthday is September.)
Discussing event dates
- パーティーは何月ですか？ (What month is the party?)
- パーティーは三月です。(The party is in March.)
- イベントは八月にあります。(The event is in August.)
Talking about travel plans
- いつ旅行に行きますか？ (When are you going to travel?)
- 五月に日本に行きます。(I'm going to Japan in May.)
- 十月に旅行する予定です。(I plan to travel in October.)
Referring to academic or work schedules
- 新学期は何月からですか？ (From what month does the new semester start?)
- 四月から新しい仕事が始まります。(My new job starts in April.)
- 試験は六月にあります。(The exam is in June.)
बातचीत की शुरुआत
"今月は何月ですか？そして、あなたは今月何をしますか？ (What month is it now? And what will you do this month?)"
"あなたの好きな月は何月ですか？なぜですか？ (What is your favorite month? Why?)"
"来月、何か特別な予定はありますか？ (Do you have any special plans next month?)"
"今年の何月が一番忙しいですか？ (Which month is the busiest for you this year?)"
"来年の何月にどこかへ旅行する予定はありますか？ (Do you have plans to travel somewhere in what month next year?)"
डायरी विषय
今月あった良いことや悪いことを書いてみましょう。(Write about the good and bad things that happened this month.)
来月は何を達成したいですか？目標を書いてみましょう。(What do you want to achieve next month? Write down your goals.)
あなたが生まれた月について、何か特別な思い出がありますか？ (Do you have any special memories about the month you were born?)
一年の中で、どの月が一番好きですか？その理由も書いてみましょう。(Out of the year, which month do you like the most? Write down the reasons too.)
もしあなたが時間を遡れるとしたら、どの月に戻りたいですか？ (If you could go back in time, to which month would you like to return?)
अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल
10 सवालYou can say months in Japanese by adding the suffix ～月 (つき - tsuki) after the number of the month. For example, 一月 (いちがつ - ichigatsu) means January.
一つ月 (ひとつき - hitotsuki) specifically means 'one month' as a duration. 一月 (いちがつ - ichigatsu) means 'January'.
To count months as a duration, you typically use ヶ月 (かげつ - kagetsu) after the number. So, for example, 三ヶ月 (さんかげつ - sankagetsu) means 'three months'.
Yes, for April, it's 四月 (しがつ - shigatsu). For July, it's 七月 (しちがつ - shichigatsu). For September, it's 九月 (くがつ - kugatsu). Be careful with the readings for these!
For 'this month,' you say 今月 (こんげつ - kongetsu). For 'next month,' it's 来月 (らいげつ - raigetsu). And for 'last month,' it's 先月 (せんげつ - sengetsu).
You can ask 'what month is it?' by saying 何月ですか？ (なんがつですか？ - nan gatsu desu ka?).
Yes, when referring to specific months of the year (like January, February), you will always use ～月 with the number. For durations, you'll often use ～ヶ月 (～かげつ).
A common mistake is confusing the duration counter ヶ月 (かげつ) with the month suffix 月 (がつ). Remember 月 (がつ) is for the name of the month (e.g., January), and ヶ月 (かげつ) is for counting how many months (e.g., three months).
To say 'every month,' you use 毎月 (まいつき - maitsuki).
When 月 is by itself, it usually refers to the 'moon' (つき - tsuki) or can be read as 'month' (つき - tsuki) in a general sense, but for specific months of the year (January, February, etc.), you always combine it with the number, reading it as ～がつ.
खुद को परखो 96 सवाल
Which month is '一月' (いちがつ)?
一 (ichi) means one, and ～月 (gatsu) is the counter for months. So, 一月 is January.
How do you say 'July' in Japanese?
七 (shichi) means seven, and ～月 (gatsu) is the counter for months. So, 七月 is July.
Which of these is 'June'?
六 (roku) means six, and ～月 (gatsu) is the counter for months. So, 六月 is June.
八月 (hachigatsu) means August.
八 (hachi) means eight, and ～月 (gatsu) is the counter for months. So, 八月 is August.
三月 (sangatsu) means September.
三 (san) means three, so 三月 is March, not September. September is 九月 (kugatsu).
十二月 (juunigatsu) means December.
十二 (juuni) means twelve, and ～月 (gatsu) is the counter for months. So, 十二月 is December.
This means 'What month is it?' in Japanese. '何月' (nan-gatsu) means 'what month', 'です' (desu) is a polite copula, and 'か' (ka) is a question particle.
This translates to 'Today is January.' '今日' (kyou) means 'today', 'は' (wa) is a topic particle, '一月' (ichi-gatsu) means 'January', and 'です' (desu) is a polite copula.
This sentence means 'My birthday is in August.' '私' (watashi) is 'I', 'の' (no) is a possessive particle, '誕生日' (tanjoobi) is 'birthday', 'は' (wa) is a topic particle, '八月' (hachi-gatsu) is 'August', and 'です' (desu) is a polite copula.
先月、日本へ行きました。来月はイタリアへ行きます。では、今月はどこへ行きますか？___は、日本にいます。
The speaker went to Japan last month (先月) and will go to Italy next month (来月). So, 'this month' (今月) is the correct answer for where they are now.
誕生日は何___ですか？
To ask 'what month' for a birthday, you use '何月' (nan gatsu).
私の誕生日は１０___です。
When stating a specific month, you attach '月' (gatsu) to the number. For example, '１０月' (juu gatsu) means October.
日本への旅行は７___にしました。
To indicate the month of a trip, you use '月' (gatsu) after the number representing the month. So, '７月' (shichi gatsu) means July.
私は日本に３___住んでいました。
When counting the duration of months, you use '～か月' (ka getsu) after the number. So, '３か月' (san ka getsu) means three months.
来月は６___です。
To say 'next month is June', you would use '６月' (roku gatsu) for June.
Which month is July?
七 (nana/shichi) means seven, so 七月 (shichigatsu) is July.
How do you say 'three months'?
ヶ月 (kagetsu) is the counter for months when counting duration.
Which month is November?
十一 (juuichi) means eleven, so 十一月 (juuichigatsu) is November.
The Japanese word for April is 四月 (Shigatsu).
四 (shi) means four, so 四月 (shigatsu) is indeed April.
To say 'one month' (duration), you use 一月 (Ichigatsu).
一月 (Ichigatsu) means January. To say 'one month' (duration), you use 一ヶ月 (Ikkagetsu).
五月 (Gogatsu) refers to May.
五 (go) means five, so 五月 (Gogatsu) is May.
What month is this?
What month is it?
When is my birthday?
Read this aloud:
四月
Focus: しがつ (shi-gatsu)
तुमने कहा:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
今、何月ですか？
Focus: いま、なんがつですか？ (ima, nan-gatsu desu ka?)
तुमने कहा:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
来月は五月です。
Focus: らいげつはごがつです。(rai-getsu wa go-gatsu desu)
तुमने कहा:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
How do you say 'July' in Japanese? Write it out.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
七月
You want to say 'August'. How would you write that using the kanji for month?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
八月
Write 'September' in Japanese.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
九月
What month is it next month?
Read this passage:
今日(きょう)は一月(いちがつ)です。来月(らいげつ)は二月(にがつ)です。
What month is it next month?
来月(らいげつ) means 'next month' and 二月(にがつ) means 'February'.
来月(らいげつ) means 'next month' and 二月(にがつ) means 'February'.
What month is the speaker's birthday?
Read this passage:
私(わたし)の誕生月(たんじょうびつき)は三月(さんがつ)です。あなたはどうですか？
What month is the speaker's birthday?
誕生月(たんじょうびつき) means 'birth month' and 三月(さんがつ) means 'March'.
誕生月(たんじょうびつき) means 'birth month' and 三月(さんがつ) means 'March'.
When do schools in Japan start?
Read this passage:
日本(にほん)の学校(がっこう)は四月(しがつ)に始(はじ)まります。
When do schools in Japan start?
四月(しがつ) means 'April' and 始(はじ)まります means 'starts'.
四月(しがつ) means 'April' and 始(はじ)まります means 'starts'.
私の誕生日は七___です。
「七月（しちがつ）」 means July. The suffix ～月 is used for months.
この映画は先___公開されました。
「先月（せんげつ）」 means last month. The suffix ～月 is used for months.
来___日本へ旅行に行く予定です。
「来月（らいげつ）」 means next month. The suffix ～月 is used for months.
会社に入ってから、もう三年___になります。
While this sentence typically uses '年' for years, if we are counting months, '三年三ヶ月' (three years and three months) is a common way to express duration. In this context, to make it a fill-in-the-blank with '月' for months, we can assume the user is trying to use '月' as a counter for a period of months if the context were about a short term project. However, for a three year period, '年' is more natural. Let's adjust for '月' as a counter for a specific number of months within a period. Let's reframe this for direct use of '～月' as a counter for months. A better example: このプロジェクトは三___かかります。
このプロジェクトは三___かかります。
「三ヶ月（さんかげつ）」 means three months. The suffix ～月 is used as a counter for months.
彼は毎___一度、故郷に手紙を書きます。
「毎月（まいつき）」 means every month. The suffix ～月 is used for months.
Choose the correct way to say 'April' in Japanese.
四月 (shi-gatsu) is 'April'. Remember that the pronunciation for 'four' changes when combined with 月.
Which month is represented by '十月'?
十 (jū) means ten, so 十月 (jū-gatsu) is October.
You want to say 'last month'. Which of these is correct?
先月 (sen-getsu) means 'last month'. 今月 (kon-getsu) is 'this month', and 来月 (rai-getsu) is 'next month'.
The word for 'May' is 五月 (go-gatsu).
五 (go) is 'five', so 五月 (go-gatsu) is indeed May.
The Japanese word for 'July' is pronounced 'nana-gatsu'.
While 七 (nana) means seven, when combined with 月 to form 'July', it is usually pronounced しちがつ (shichi-gatsu).
In Japanese, '毎月' (mai-tsuki) means 'every month'.
毎 (mai) means 'every', so 毎月 (mai-tsuki) means 'every month'.
The correct order is Subject (私), Time (先月), Destination (日本 へ), Verb (行きました).
The correct order is Time (来月), Possessive (彼女の), Noun (誕生日), Copula (です).
The correct order is Possessive (あなたの), Noun (試験), Topic Marker (は), Interrogative (何月), Particle (に), Verb (ありますか).
来月、日本へ旅行に行く予定です。日本には___間滞在する予定です。
文脈から、日本に滞在する期間を表す「二ヶ月」が適切です。
このプロジェクトは来年の___までに完成させる必要があります。
「来年の」という言葉があるので、月を表す「三月」が適切です。
彼女は___間、海外で語学研修を受けていました。
「語学研修」という文脈から、比較的長い期間を表す「半年」が適切です。
新しいアパートの契約は___からです。
「契約」という言葉から、ある時点からの期間を表す「来月」が適切です。
子供の頃、夏休みはいつも___楽しみに待っていました。
夏休みは一般的に七月から始まるため、「七月」が適切です。
この本を読み終えるのに、___くらいかかりました。
「読み終えるのに」という文脈から、ある程度の期間を表す「二ヶ月」が適切です。
Choose the correct way to say 'September' in Japanese.
九月 (kugatsu) is the correct way to say September. Some months have irregular readings, so it's good to memorize them.
Which of these is 'April' in Japanese?
四月 (shigatsu) is the correct way to say April. The 'shi' reading for four is used here.
How do you say 'three months' in Japanese?
To count the duration of months, you add ヶ月 (kagetsu) after the number. 三月 (sangatsu) means 'March'.
八月 (hachigatsu) means 'August'.
Yes, 八月 (hachigatsu) correctly translates to August.
二月 (nigatsu) refers to the second month of the year.
That's correct. 二月 (nigatsu) means February.
To say 'for one month', you would say 一月 (ichigatsu).
一月 (ichigatsu) means January. To say 'for one month', you would use 一ヶ月 (ikkagetsu).
You are planning a trip to Japan and want to visit during the cherry blossom season. Write an email to a Japanese friend asking when the best month would be to see cherry blossoms and suggest a month you are considering.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
〇〇さん お元気ですか？ 日本への旅行を計画しています。桜を見に行きたいのですが、一番良い時期は何月ごろでしょうか？私は4月を考えているのですが、どう思いますか？ よろしくお願いします。 [Your Name]
You are writing a short blog post about the different seasons in Japan and what makes each unique. Describe two different months and what special events or natural phenomena occur during those months.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
日本の四季はそれぞれ美しいです。例えば、3月は卒業シーズンで、別れの季節でもあります。多くの学校で卒業式が行われます。一方、8月は夏祭りの季節で、花火大会がたくさん開催されます。どちらの月も特別な魅力があります。
Imagine you are explaining to a friend how to read dates in Japanese, specifically focusing on months. Write a short explanation on how to use the counter '～月' and give an example of two different months.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
日本語で日付を読むとき、月は「～月」を使います。例えば、「1月」は「いちがつ」と読み、1番目の月、つまりJanuaryを意味します。同様に、「2月」は「にがつ」と読み、Februaryを意味します。数字の後に「月」をつけるだけなので、とても簡単です。
友達は来年の何月に日本に引っ越す予定ですか？
Read this passage:
先日、東京で友達と会いました。彼女は「来年の3月には日本に引っ越す予定だよ」と言っていました。私たちは一緒に日本の生活についてたくさん話しました。特に、日本の春のイベントについて盛り上がりました。彼女は桜を見るのが楽しみだと言っていました。
友達は来年の何月に日本に引っ越す予定ですか？
文章中に「来年の3月には日本に引っ越す予定だよ」と書かれています。
文章中に「来年の3月には日本に引っ越す予定だよ」と書かれています。
筆者が去年花火大会を見に行ったのは何月ですか？
Read this passage:
日本の夏はとても暑いですが、お祭りや花火大会がたくさんあります。特に8月は、多くの地域で大規模な花火大会が開催され、たくさんの人が訪れます。私も去年8月に、友人と一緒に隅田川の花火大会を見に行きました。とてもきれいでした。
筆者が去年花火大会を見に行ったのは何月ですか？
文章中に「私も去年8月に、友人と一緒に隅田川の花火大会を見に行きました」と書かれています。
文章中に「私も去年8月に、友人と一緒に隅田川の花火大会を見に行きました」と書かれています。
筆者の誕生日は何月ですか？
Read this passage:
私の誕生日が近づいています。私の誕生日は11月です。今年は友達がサプライズパーティーを計画してくれていると聞きました。どんなパーティーになるのか、今からとても楽しみです。11月は紅葉もきれいな季節なので、旅行にも行きたいと思っています。
筆者の誕生日は何月ですか？
文章中に「私の誕生日は11月です」と書かれています。
文章中に「私の誕生日は11月です」と書かれています。
This sentence means 'The party was held last month.' The correct order is subject (パーティーは), time (先月), and then the verb phrase (開催されました).
This sentence means 'I will go on a business trip to Japan next month.' The order is time (来月), destination (日本へ), and then the action (出張します).
This sentence means 'He was born in May.' The structure 'Xが Yのは Zです' is used to emphasize Z, in this case, the month.
The speaker mentions a business trip to Japan. Listen for when it's happening.
The speaker is talking about the completion of a project. Pay attention to the timeline.
The speaker describes how busy they were. What was the cause and when did it happen?
Read this aloud:
あなたの誕生日は何月ですか？
Focus: なんがつ
तुमने कहा:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
来月の予定について教えてください。
Focus: らいげつ
तुमने कहा:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
あなたが日本に来たのは何月でしたか？
Focus: なんがつ
तुमने कहा:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
This sentence means 'I hear that he resigned last month.' The particles and verb conjugations create a cohesive and grammatically correct Japanese sentence.
This sentence translates to 'I plan to attend the international conference held next month.' The structure clearly indicates the time and event.
This sentence means 'This project is expected to be completed in the month after next.' The particles and verb form create a natural-sounding Japanese sentence.
来月、日本へ旅行に行く予定です。特に桜が咲く___を楽しみにしています。
The context implies a period within the year, specifically a month, to enjoy cherry blossoms. '月' is the counter for months.
このプロジェクトは来年の3___に完了する見込みです。計画通りに進めば、締め切りに間に合います。
The sentence refers to a specific month in the next year, making '月' the appropriate counter.
彼は2___前からこの会社で働いています。もうすっかり仕事に慣れたようです。
The context indicates a duration of employment in months. '月' is the correct counter.
引っ越しは来月の___日に予定されています。準備は進んでいますか？
The question asks about the specific day of the next month when the move is scheduled. '初' (first) would fit naturally to ask about the beginning of the month, or a specific day number would be expected, but given the options, '初' is the most logical fit, implying early in the month. (Note: A specific day number like 1日, 2日, etc. would be more common, but among the choices, '初' is best to convey 'early in the month').
通常、新しい学期は4___に始まりますが、今年は少し早まりました。
School terms typically start in a specific month, making '月' the correct choice.
この地域は年間を通して雨が多いですが、特に梅雨の___は外出が難しいです。
The rainy season (梅雨) is a period spanning certain months, so '月' (month) is the appropriate word here.
/ 96 correct
Perfect score!
Basic use of ～月
To say a specific month in Japanese, you typically attach ～月 (つき or がつ) to the end of the number representing the month. For example, 一月 (いちがつ) is January. Remember to always use the kanji for numbers.
Pronunciation matters
The pronunciation of ～月 changes based on whether it's part of a specific month name (e.g., 一月, いちがつ) or used as a counter for months (e.g., 一ヶ月, いっかげつ). Pay attention to these nuances.
Months as part of dates
When stating a date, the month comes first, followed by the day. For example, 3月15日 (さんがつじゅうごにち) means March 15th. This is the standard Japanese order.
Irregular month pronunciations
Be aware that some months have irregular pronunciations. For instance, 四月 (しがつ) is April, and 七月 (しちがつ) is July. These are common pitfalls for learners.
संबंधित सामग्री
यह शब्द अन्य भाषाओं में
general के और शब्द
いくつか
B1An unspecified small number of things; some, a few.
ちょっと
A2A little; a moment; a bit. Small amount or short time.
すこし
A2A little; a few.
さっき
A2A little while ago; a short time past.
能力
A1Nouryoku refers to the mental or physical power, skill, or capacity required to perform a specific task or function. It can describe both innate talent and skills acquired through learning and practice.
異常
A1A word used to describe something that deviates from the normal state, standard, or expected pattern. It often implies a problem, malfunction, or an extraordinary occurrence that requires attention or investigation.
～について
A2About, concerning; indicates topic.
〜について
B1About, concerning; on the subject of.
～ぐらい
A2about, approximately
ぐらい
A2About; approximately; to the extent of.
