月
Mnemonic
This character began as a pictograph of the crescent MOON. Through centuries of evolution, the shape has become abstract, but the basic curve and "enclosed feeling" remain.
Here's a rough sketch that may help! Try to think of the two middle lines as two thin clouds drifting over the moon.
The extended meaning, MONTH, comes from the moon’s cycle—one orbit takes about 29.5 days, which is roughly a MONTH.
Many calendars, even today, mark months by moon cycles—this connection is found in cultures around the world, including Japan.
Example Vocabulary
- 満月（まんげつ） – full moon
- 三日月（みかづき） – crescent moon
- 来月（らいげつ） – next month
- 月日（がっぴ） – date (calendar day) Click to recall: 日 =
- 毎月（まいつき） – every month
Tip: You might recognize 日 in “月日 (date)”ー and here’s a trick: kanji almost always contribute just one of their main meanings to a word at a time. In “月日,” we take MONTH (月) and DAY (日), and that together means “date.”
Example Sentences