How to say "April" in Japanese
"April" in Japanese is 四月 (shigatsu), literally "fourth month." In schedules it is usually written 4月.
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Ways to say "April" in Japanese
| Japanese | When to use it |
|---|---|
| 四月しがつ · shigatsu | April. |
| 4月しがつ · shigatsu | April, with Arabic numerals. Common in schedules. |
How to use it
Japanese months are numbers plus 月 (gatsu). Note that April is shigatsu, not yongatsu.
April is the start of the school year and the fiscal year in Japan. New employees usually join companies on April 1.
Example sentences
- 四月に新しい社員が入ります。Shigatsu ni atarashii shain ga hairimasu.New employees join in April.
- 日本の学校は四月に始まります。Nihon no gakkō wa shigatsu ni hajimarimasu.Schools in Japan start in April.
- 四月一日から新しい部署で働きます。Shigatsu tsuitachi kara atarashii busho de hatarakimasu.I'll work in a new department from April 1.
- 東京の桜は四月の初めまできれいです。Tōkyō no sakura wa shigatsu no hajime made kirei desu.Tokyo's cherry blossoms stay beautiful until early April.
- 四月の終わりにゴールデンウィークがあります。Shigatsu no owari ni gōruden uīku ga arimasu.Golden Week starts at the end of April.
- 引っ越しは四月の予定です。Hikkoshi wa shigatsu no yotei desu.I plan to move in April.
Kanji in this word
Questions
Why is April shigatsu and not yongatsu?
The number 4 has two readings, shi and yon. The month names use shi for April, shichi for July and ku for September.
Why is April important in Japan?
The school year and most companies' fiscal year start in April, so it is a season of new beginnings.
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