moon · month

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 月 has 4 strokes and refers to the moon or a month as a unit of time.
• Basic usage: The standalone word 月 is read つき, and 四月, April, is read しがつ.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• The moon and monthly frequency
  • 丸い月 means a round moon, while 月に一度 expresses the frequency “once a month.”
  • In 四月, 四 is read し, and 月 is read がつ.