月

On'yomi

ゲツ・ガツ

GETSU / GATSU

Kun'yomi

つき

tsuki

month · moon

beautifulmysteriouspeaceful

Details

Strokes4

Frequency#23

Radical月moon(4)

Description

Moon - celestial beauty, night, femininity, and the passage of time.

Stroke Order

Strokes4

Component Breakdown

月=

月

Moon (base form)

Cultural Context

Etymology

Pictograph depicting a crescent moon. Represents the waxing and waning of the moon.

Symbolism

Symbol of night, passage of time, and feminine beauty. Frequently used in waka and haiku poetry.

Spiritual Meaning

Symbolizes "Yin" in yin-yang, representing femininity, mystery, and cycles of death and rebirth. Tsukuyomi is worshipped as Shinto's moon deity.

Seasonal

Harvest moon in September especially important. Autumn tradition linked to moon viewing and dango. Autumn seasonal word in haiku.

Anime & Manga

美少女戦士セーラームーン

びしょうじょせんしせーらーむーん

Sailor Moon(2014)

manga/anime

Story of moon warrior Sailor Moon. Crystal version aired 2014

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DEATH NOTE

ですのーと

Death Note(2006)

manga/anime

Protagonist Yagami Light's name contains 'moon'

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鬼滅の刃

きめつのやいば

Demon Slayer(2019)

manga/anime

Upper Moon One Kokushibo uses 'Moon Breathing'

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Games

月姫

Tsukihime(2021)

PS4/Switch

Remake of TYPE-MOON's iconic visual novel

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ファイナルファンタジーXIV

Final Fantasy XIV(2021)

PS/PC

'Endwalker' expansion featuring moon theme

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Words & Expressions

Four-Character Compounds

花鳥風月

かちょうふうげつ

beauties of nature; the traditional themes of natural beauty in Japanese aesthetics; artistic pursuits involving nature themes; beauties of nature

月下氷人

げっかひょうじん

go-between; matchmaker; Cupid; go-between

日進月歩

にっしんげっぽ

steady progress; rapid advance; steady progress

祥月命日

しょうつきめいにち

anniversary of a person's death; anniversary of a person's death

日月星辰

じつげつせいしん

the Sun, the Moon and the stars; the heavenly bodies; the Sun, the Moon and the stars

海底撈月

かいていろうげつ

totally useless (fruitless) effort; wasting time on an impossible task (like trying to scoop up a reflected moon from the bottom of the sea); totally useless (fruitless) effort

鏡花水月

きょうかすいげつ

flowers reflected on a mirror and the moon reflected on the water's surface; something that is visible but having no substance; the subtle and profound beauty of poems that cannot be described in words; flowers reflected on a mirror and the moon reflected on the water's surface

月下推敲

げっかすいこう

polish; elaboration; repeatedly working over one's writing; polish

羞月閉花

しゅうげつへいか

the charms of a uniquely beautiful woman; (so beautiful that) the moon is abashed and flowers wilt; the charms of a uniquely beautiful woman

人物月旦

じんぶつげったん

character sketch; comments on personalities; character sketch

清風明月

せいふうめいげつ

refreshing breeze and the bright moon; a beautiful nocturnal scene with a full moon; refreshing breeze and the bright moon

閉月羞花

へいげつしゅうか

charms of a uniquely beautiful woman; great beauty; (so beautiful that) the moon hides and flowers are abashed; charms of a uniquely beautiful woman

月下老人

げっかろうじん

go-between; matchmaker; go-between

春花秋月

しゅんかしゅうげつ

spring flowers and the autumn moon; beauty of nature as it changes from season to season; spring flowers and the autumn moon

八月大名

はちがつだいみょう

the 8th month (of the lunar calendar) is the quietest for farmers; the 8th month (of the lunar calendar) is the quietest for farmers

月卿雲客

げっけいうんかく

court nobles and other courtiers allowed into the Imperial Palace; court nobles and other courtiers allowed into the Imperial Palace

嘉辰令月

かしんれいげつ

auspicious date; auspicious date

光風霽月

こうふうせいげつ

serenity; serenity

羞花閉月

しゅうかへいげつ

the charms of a uniquely beautiful woman; (so beautiful that) flowers are abashed and the moon hides; the charms of a uniquely beautiful woman

猿猴捉月

えんこうそくげつ

trying to reach above one's station and failing; trying to accomplish something beyond one's abilities and failing; monkey catching (a reflection of) the moon (in the water); trying to reach above one's station and failing

Proverbs & Idioms

月に叢雲、花に風

つきにむらくも、はなにかぜ

Clouds to the moon, wind to the flowers

Good things are often interrupted by obstacles

月とすっぽん

つきとすっぽん

Like the moon and a turtle

Two things that are incomparably different

月夜に釜を抜かれる

つきよにかまをぬかれる

Having one's pot stolen on a moonlit night

Losing something valuable due to carelessness