月 — Kanji Meaning, Readings & Example Words (JLPT N5)
What it means
月 carries two closely linked ideas: the moon in the sky and the month on the calendar — which makes perfect sense, since a month was originally one cycle of the moon. As a standalone word it's つき, "the moon." Inside compounds it powers all the calendar vocabulary you need at N5: the days of the week (月曜日 "Monday"), the names of the months (一月, 二月…), and handy time words like 今月 "this month" and 来月 "next month." Spot 月 in a new word and you can bet it's about either the moon or a stretch of time.
Readings
| Type | Reading | Used in |
|---|---|---|
| kun'yomi | つき | 月 (the moon), 三日月 (みかづき, crescent moon) |
| on'yomi | ゲツ | 月曜日 (Monday), 今月 (this month), 来月 (next month) |
| on'yomi | ガツ | 一月 (January), 二月 (February), 何月 (なんがつ, what month) |
The reading that trips up most beginners is the ゲツ vs ガツ split, because both are on'yomi. Here's the trick: use ガツ for the names of the months (一月 = いちがつ "January," 二月 = にがつ "February"), and ゲツ for almost everything else built on 月 (月曜日 = げつようび "Monday," 今月 = こんげつ "this month," 来月 = らいげつ "next month"). Meanwhile the kun'yomi つき appears when 月 stands alone as "the moon." Nail those three buckets and 月 holds no more surprises.
Stroke order & radical
- Strokes: 4, written left to right then top to bottom — the curving left stroke first, then the hooked right stroke that frames the box, then the two short horizontal lines inside.
- Radical: 月 is its own radical, the "moon" radical (つき). It shows up on the side of many other kanji, often hinting at the moon, time, or — confusingly — the body, because the unrelated "flesh" radical (にくづき) looks identical. For now, just recognize the shape: a tall, narrow crescent box with two lines inside.
Learning this shape early pays off, because 月 hides inside a surprising number of kanji you'll meet later.
Common words using 月
Notice the reading split in action: the month-name 一月 takes ガツ, while 月曜日, 今月, and 来月 all use ゲツ — and the lone moon 月 is つき. That's the three-bucket rule from above, working exactly as advertised. (One to file away: 三か月 "three months" reads さんかげつ, using ゲツ for a count of months, not ガツ.)
Example sentences
ヤッタンは月がとても好きです。
ヤッタンは つきが とても すきです。
Yattan really loves the moon.
月 — the kun'yomi つき reading, standing alone as 'the moon.'
モチは月曜日に来月のテストの勉強をします。
モチは げつようびに らいげつの テストの べんきょうを します。
Mochi studies for next month's test on Monday.
Two ゲツ words in one sentence: 月曜日 (げつ) and 来月 (らいげつ).
先生は「一月は今月の四か月後ですよ」と言いました。
せんせいは「いちがつは こんげつの よんかげつごですよ」と いいました。
Sensei said, January is four months after this month.
All three patterns: 一月 (ガツ, month name), 今月 (ゲツ), and 四か月 (げつ, counting months).
Quick recap
- 月 = month / moon; 4 strokes; it's the "moon" radical itself.
- つき when it stands alone as "the moon" (月, 三日月).
- ガツ for month names (一月, 二月); ゲツ for most other compounds (月曜日, 今月, 来月) and for counting months (三か月).
Your turn
Choose the correct reading of 月 in each word.
Start the 5-question drill →Frequently asked questions
When is 月 read ゲツ and when is it ガツ?
Use ガツ for the names of the months — 一月 (いちがつ, January), 二月 (にがつ, February). Use ゲツ for most other compounds, such as 月曜日 (げつようび, Monday), 今月 (こんげつ, this month), and 来月 (らいげつ, next month).
How do you read 月 when it means 'the moon'?
On its own, 月 uses the kun'yomi つき, as in 月がきれいです ('the moon is beautiful'). The crescent moon is 三日月 (みかづき).
How many strokes does 月 have?
月 has 4 strokes and is also the 'moon' radical (つき). Note that an identical-looking radical called にくづき ('flesh') appears in body-related kanji, so the same shape does not always mean 'moon.'
Why does 三か月 read げつ and not がつ?
ガツ is reserved for the month names (一月, 二月…). When you count a span of months, 月 reads ゲツ — so 三か月 is さんかげつ ('three months') and 四か月 is よんかげつ ('four months').