The Meaning of getsumatsu [月末] In Japanese
月末
げつまつ
Romaji: getsumatsu
N5
What does 月末 mean?
Translation and Meaning
end of the month, month-end
Definition
月末 means the end of the month. It denotes the final days of a calendar month and is used to refer to deadlines, monthly reporting periods, and payroll or billing cycles in Japanese.
Type
Noun (名詞, 複合名詞)
Stroke Order
Meanings
- end-of-month deadline and reporting cycle in business and administration. Romaji: getsumatsu
- calendar reference indicating the close of the monthly period. Romaji: getsumatsu
- appears in fixed phrases to mark timing like 月末に and 月末までに. Romaji: getsumatsu
Etymology
月 (on’yomi getsu, meaning moon or month) and 末 (on’yomi matsu, meaning end) combine to form a Sino-Japanese compound to express the boundary at the month’s end; the reading is getsumatsu.
Composition
- 月: moon, month; 末: end; together they indicate the final part of a month, a Sino-Japanese compound read with on’yomi as getsu + matsu
Usage
月末 is used in formal and semi-formal contexts, notably in business, finance, HR, and project planning; common constructions include 月末までに and 月末時点; in casual speech 月末 is used as a time reference for deadlines or monthly cycles. 例: 月末に提出してください。
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: picture the moon waning to its last phase, signaling the month’s end; associate getsu with moon and matsu with end to recall getsumatsu for the end of the month.
Variations
- 月末（げつまつ） — end of the month
- 月末時点（げつまつじてん） — as of the end of the month
- 月末日までに（げつまつにちまでに） — by the end of the month
Example Phrases
-
月末までに 請求書を 確認して 必ず お支払いを 済ませます。getsumatsu made ni seikyusho o kakunin shite kanarazu oshiharai o sumasemasu.By the end of the month, I will check the invoice and make sure to pay.Lista:
- 月末までに (getsumatsu made ni) – by the end of the month
- 請求書を (seikyusho o) – invoice
- 確認して (kakunin shite) – confirm
- 必ず (kanarazu) – certainly
- お支払いを (oshiharai o) – payment
- 済ませます (sumasemasu) – complete
The word 「月末」 means end of the month and is used with までに to express a deadline.
