八月

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The spelling is 八月, read はちがつ, and it combines 八, meaning eight, with 月, meaning month.
• Basic usage: 八月 is August, the eighth month of the year.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• A one-time plan and an annually recurring month
  • Both examples use the form 八月. With に it locates a family trip in one year; with 毎年 it identifies the month when a festival recurs.
• A family seaside trip and a yearly town festival
  • 八月に家族と海へ行きます。 — I am going to the ocean with my family in August.
  • この町の祭りは毎年八月に開かれる。 — This town's festival is held every August.