The Japanese kanji for moon is 月, read tsuki on its own and getsu or gatsu in compounds. Four strokes, and the shape descends from a pictograph of a crescent rather than a full disc, which is why it stands upright and narrow. The same character does double duty as the word for month, an inheritance from the lunar calendar.
The Kanji at a Glance
- Character: 月
- On’yomi: ゲツ (getsu), ガツ (gatsu)
- Kun’yomi: つき (tsuki)
- Stroke count: 4
- General meaning: moon, month, Monday in date contexts
- Radical: 月 is itself a radical. Be aware that a visually identical shape called nikuzuki appears in body-part characters such as 肝 (liver) and 腕 (arm), where it derives from 肉 (flesh), not from the moon
Meaning and Nuance
The moon sits deeper in Japanese aesthetics than in most Western ones. Moon viewing is a named seasonal practice, tsukimi, observed in autumn with pampas grass and rice dumplings, and it is treated as the quiet counterpart to spring hanami. Classical poetry returns to the moon constantly as an image of beauty that is present, cold, and passing, the same sensibility captured by mono no aware.
The practical thing to know is the second meaning. In dates, 月 is a month: 一月 (ichigatsu) is January, 今月 (kongetsu) is this month, and 月曜日 (getsuyoubi) is Monday. A lone 月 on a form or a calendar means Monday or month, never the moon in the sky.
Real compounds:
- 満月 (mangetsu): full moon.
- 三日月 (mikazuki): crescent moon, literally “third-day moon,” counting from the new moon.
- 月光 (gekkou): moonlight.
As a Tattoo
月 is one of the most elegant four-stroke characters available. Its vertical proportions suit a forearm, a spine, or the inside of a bicep, and the two interior horizontal strokes give it enough structure that it stays readable as ink spreads. Among single-character kanji tattoos it is a genuinely good choice.
Know the double meaning. To a Japanese reader, an isolated 月 is as likely to read “month” or “Monday” as “moon.” This is not a mistranslation risk so much as a tone risk: the character is plainer than the image in your head. If you want the moon unmistakably, 満月 (mangetsu, full moon) or 三日月 (mikazuki, crescent) removes all doubt and gives you a two or three character column.
For moonlight specifically, 月光 (gekkou) is a real and common word, and it reads more lyrical than 月 alone.
Beware the flesh radical. Because nikuzuki looks the same, adding a second character can push 月 toward anatomical vocabulary rather than lunar imagery. Look up any pairing before committing to it.
The character is written identically in Japanese and Chinese. A brushed rendering lets the left downstroke curve and the hook flick; a printed form keeps it rectangular and modern. Confirm with a native speaker before you ink.
Lay out 月 or 三日月 in the Japanese Tattoo Generator, and see how celestial motifs sit in the tradition in our guide to japanese tattoo meanings.
Related Kanji
FAQ
What is the kanji for moon?
The kanji for moon is 月, read tsuki alone and getsu or gatsu in compounds. It has four strokes and appears in 満月 (mangetsu, full moon), 三日月 (mikazuki, crescent moon), and 月光 (gekkou, moonlight).
Does 月 also mean month?
Yes. 月 means month in date contexts, so 一月 is January and 今月 is this month. 月曜日 (getsuyoubi) is Monday, and calendars abbreviate that to a single 月.
What is the kanji for crescent moon?
三日月 (mikazuki), literally “third-day moon,” counting from the new moon. It is three characters and reads unambiguously as a crescent.
Is the moon important in Japanese culture?
Very. Moon viewing has its own autumn practice, tsukimi, with pampas grass and rice dumplings, and the moon is a standing image in classical poetry for beauty that is present and passing.