Japanese word

歳月

Pronunciation

Romajisaigetsu

Meaning

  • nounthe passing of time

Example

歳月とともに町は変わりました。sai getsu to to mo ni machi wa ka wa ri ma shi ta

The town changed with the passing of time.

Illustration for 歳月 (the passing of time)

More examples

写真を見返すと、歳月の流れを感じます。sha shin o mi kae su to sai getsu no naga re o kan ji ma su

When I look back at the photos, I feel the passage of time.

Core concept

It presents time as the years and months that steadily pass and bring change.

Common phrases

  • 歳月が流れるsai getsu ga naga re ru

    the years pass

  • 歳月が経つsai getsu ga ta tsu

    years go by

  • 歳月を経てsai getsu o he te

    after years have passed

  • 歳月を重ねるsai getsu o kasa ne ru

    spend many years

  • 歳月を費やすsai getsu o tsui ya su

    spend years

Similar words

年月toshitsuki: The years and months that make up a period of time, especially in relation to history or change.
月日tsukihi: The passage of days and months, often referring to the time that has elapsed.
光陰kōin: Time as it passes, expressed in formal or literary language.

Definition in Japanese

年や月が過ぎていく時間。nen ya tsuki ga su gi te i ku ji kan

Word origin

歳月 (saigetsu) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 歳 (sai, "year") and 月 (getsu, "month"), literally meaning "years and months" and referring to passing time.

Usage tips

  • Unlike everyday 時間 (jikan), 歳月 (saigetsu) often presents time as a long stretch measured in years, giving the word a formal or literary tone.

Other meanings

  • yearsnoun

Word lists with this word