Japanese Kanji for Moon: 月 — Writing, Readings, Words
The Japanese kanji for moon is 月, 4 strokes, N5 level. It is read "tsuki" (kun'yomi つき) and "getsu/gatsu" (on'yomi ゲツ、ガツ). The same character also means "month": 一月 (ichigatsu) — January, 月曜日 (getsuyōbi) — Monday. "Moonlight" is 月光 (gekkō), moon viewing is 月見 (tsukimi).
月 is a crescent, not a circle: the Japanese character depicts the moon in its phase, because a full moon in writing would be indistinguishable from the sun 日. Hence the autumn festival 月見 — sitting and looking at the moon, officially doing nothing else.
How to Write the Japanese Kanji for Moon
- Meaning
- moon, month
- Onyomi
- ゲツ、ガツ
- Kunyomi
- つき
- strokes
- 4
N5 level, 4 strokes. Click "Show order" — first the frame, then two strokes inside.
Moon and Month — One Character
As in English, "moon" in the sky and "month" on the calendar are the same word. 月 in the meaning of calendar month is read ガツ in names (三月 sangatsu — March) and ゲツ in counting months (三か月 sankagetsu — three months). The moon in the sky is つき (tsuki).
Words with the Moon Kanji
| Japanese | Reading | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 月つき | tsuki | Moon |
| 月光げっこう | gekkō | Moonlight |
| 満月まんげつ | mangetsu | Full moon |
| 三日月みかづき | mikazuki | Crescent moonliterally "moon of the third day" |
| 月見つきみ | tsukimi | Moon viewing |
| 月曜日げつようび | getsuyōbi | Monday"day of the moon" |
| 一月いちがつ | ichigatsu | January |
Caution: 月 inside a character is often not about the moon
In 胸 (chest), 腹 (belly), 服 (clothes), the element resembling 月 derives not from the moon but from "meat" 肉 or "boat" 舟. So seeing the moon in every 月 is a common beginner's trap: the meaning must be checked, not guessed.
Write 月 Yourself
FAQ
Is 月 the moon or the month?
月 — 4 strokes, N5 level. Kun'yomi つき (tsuki) — moon; on'yomi ゲツ/ガツ — in words about months: 月曜日 getsuyōbi, 一月 ichigatsu.
How do you say "moon" in Japanese?
月 (tsuki). Full moon — 満月 (mangetsu), crescent — 三日月 (mikazuki), moonlight — 月光 (gekkō).
What is tsukimi?
月見 — the tradition of viewing the full moon in mid-autumn: treats, round rice dumplings, and mindful contemplation. The autumn counterpart to spring hanami with cherry blossoms.
How are months written with this character?
Number + 月 with reading ガツ: 一月 (January), 七月 (July). And "how many months" — via ゲツ: 三か月 (sankagetsu) "three months".
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