Japanese dictionary
How to say "May" in Japanese
五月ごがつ · gogatsu
"May" the month is 五月 (gogatsu). "May I...?" is 〜てもいいですか (te mo ii desu ka), and "may" meaning possibly is かもしれません (kamo shiremasen).
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Ways to say "May" in Japanese
| Japanese | When to use it |
|---|---|
| 五月ごがつ · gogatsu | May (month). |
| 5月ごがつ · gogatsu | May, with Arabic numerals. |
| 〜てもいいですか〜てもいいですか · te mo ii desu ka | May I...? (asking permission) |
| 〜かもしれない〜かもしれない · kamo shirenai | May; might (possibility). |
How to use it
Early May includes ゴールデンウィーク (Golden Week), a string of national holidays.
"May I sit here?" is ここに座ってもいいですか.
Example sentences
- 五月の連休に旅行します。Gogatsu no renkyū ni ryokō shimasu.I'm traveling during the May holidays.
- ここに座ってもいいですか。Koko ni suwatte mo ii desu ka.May I sit here?
- 明日は雨かもしれません。Ashita wa ame kamo shiremasen.It may rain tomorrow.
- 五月五日は子どもの日です。Gogatsu itsuka wa Kodomo no Hi desu.May 5 is Children's Day.
- 写真を撮ってもいいですか。Shashin o totte mo ii desu ka.May I take a photo?
- 少し遅れるかもしれません。Sukoshi okureru kamo shiremasen.I may be a little late.
Kanji in this word
Questions
How do you ask "May I...?" in Japanese?
Use the te-form plus もいいですか: 入ってもいいですか (May I come in?).
What is Golden Week?
Golden Week is a cluster of national holidays from late April to early May, one of the busiest travel times in Japan.
Using Japanese at work?
See Executive JapaneseExecutive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.