Japanese word

初旬

Pronunciation

Romajishojun

Meaning

  • nounfirst ten days of the month

Example

試験は九月の初旬にあります。shi ken wa kyū gatsu no sho jun ni a ri ma su

The exam is in early September.

Illustration for 初旬 (first ten days of the month)

More examples

新学期は四月の初旬に始まります。shin gak ki wa yon gatsu no sho jun ni haji ma ri ma su

The new school term begins in the first ten days of April.

Core concept

Marks the opening ten-day span of a month rather than one exact date.

Common phrases

  • 月の初旬tsuki no sho jun

    the first ten days of the month

  • 初旬にsho jun ni

    in the first ten days of the month

  • 来月の初旬rai getsu no sho jun

    the first ten days of next month

Similar words

上旬jōjun: The standard term used in calendars for a month's opening ten-day period.
月初tsukihajime: The beginning of a month, including its first day or its early days.

Definition in Japanese

月の最初の十日間。tsuki no sai sho no tō ka kan

Word origin

初旬 (shojun, "first ten days") combines 初 (sho, "beginning") and 旬 (jun, "a ten-day period").

Usage tips

  • In business schedules, this term often appears with a month name, describing a period such as the beginning of April rather than a day such as April 3.

Other meanings

  • early in the monthnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word