Meaning

Primary

May

Word Type

noun

Explanation

The moon kanji also represents a month, so when you have five of these months, what month of the year is it? That would be May, the greatest month of the year (because it has towel day in it!).

Reading

ごがつ
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

This is a jukugo word, which usually means on'yomi readings from the kanji. has two on'yomi readings, but it always uses the がつ reading in the names of the months, so here's a mnemonic to help you remember that:

May is when you and your buddies get together to eat Godzilla guts (ごがつ). You go hunting for Godzilla just for his delicious guts, and then eat them with your friends. Yummy.

Context

Patterns of Use

Common Word Combinations

  • 五月のゴールデンウィーク

    Golden week in May

    五月のこいのぼり

    carp-shaped streamers used in May

Context Sentences

五月一日にニューヨークへかえりました。

On May 1st, I returned to New York.

五月にふじ山でプロポーズするつもりなんです。

I'm planning to propose on Mt. Fuji in May.

日本で五月といえばゴールデンウィークです。

May in Japan is known for "Golden Week."

Kanji Composition