Japanese · Numbers & Time
月
tsuki / gatsu
Month / Moon
Beginnernoun
Definition
Means both "month" and "moon" in Japanese. When counting months, がつ (gatsu) is used (e.g., 一月 ichigatsu = January).
Example
今月は忙しいです。
This month is busy.
Etymology
'月' (tsuki / gatsu), meaning both 'moon' and 'month,' reflects the cultural ties between lunar cycles and measurements of time historically in Japan.
How & Where It’s Used
'月' (tsuki) is used in everyday language both informally and formally, while 'gatsu' often refers to months in contexts such as time/date expressions.