The Meaning of gejun [下旬] In Japanese

下旬
げじゅん
Romaji: gejun N4

What does 下旬 mean?

Translation and Meaning

late part of the month, last ten days

Definition

The term denotes the final portion of a calendar month, typically the days from around the 21st to the end of the month, used to describe a time window approaching month-end.

Type

Noun (名詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Late-month time window, a calendar subperiod used in planning and reporting
  • A temporal label for tasks or events clustered toward the month’s end
  • Often used in formal writing to situate actions within the closing days of a month

Etymology

etymology The compound is formed from 下 meaning lower or beneath and 旬 meaning a ten-day period; the common reading in compounds is gejun, using on’yomi.

Composition

  • 下: lower, beneath; indicates position within the month
  • 旬: a ten-day period

Usage

Used in formal and semi-formal contexts such as business calendars, project schedules, and news reporting; in casual speech 下旬 may appear when talking about near-term plans or deadlines, often with 下旬にかけて or 下旬まで.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: imagine the calendar page being flipped downward after day 20; 下 means down, 旬 means a block of ten days, so you slide into the last ten days.

Variations

  • 上旬 — jōjun — first ten days
  • 中旬 — chūjun — middle ten days
  • 下旬 — gejun — late-month period

Example Phrases

  • 今月下旬には夫婦で温泉へ行く予定です。
    Kongetsu gejun ni wa fuufu de onsen e iku yotei desu.
    My wife and I plan to go to a hot spring at the end of this month.
    Lista:
    • 今月下旬には (kongetsu gejun ni wa) – at the end of this month
    • 夫婦で (fuufu de) – as a couple
    • 温泉へ (onsen e) – to a hot spring
    • 行く (iku) – go
    • 予定です (yotei desu) – plan
    The word 「下旬」 indicates the latter part of a month; here it marks timing, so 今月下旬には means ‘toward the end of this month.’
下旬