四月

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. 四月から新学期です。▶ —
   The new school year starts in April.
2. 四月一日は嘘の日。▶ —
   April 1 is April Fools.

Collocations

Mnemonic

Shigatsu (四月) is April — Japans academic and business shin-nendo (new fiscal year) starts. Core cluster: (1) nyuugaku-shiki (school-entrance ceremony for elementary, middle, high, and university, held nationwide April 1-10, parents in suits, sakura in bloom, the iconic group photo at the school gate); (2) shin-nendo and shin-gakki (April 1 to March 31 fiscal year and school terms; companies hold nyuusha-shiki "new-hire ceremonies"); (3) o-hanami (cherry-blossom viewing parties at peak bloom — blue tarps, bento, beer with colleagues and family, the falling-petal aesthetic mono no aware); (4) randoseru (the elementary entrance leather backpack used for six years, costing 50,000-80,000 yen, traditionally a gift from grandparents). Trap: kanji 四 reads "shi," a homophone of 死 (death) and culturally avoided; for ordinary ordinals "yon" replaces it, though month names stay "shigatsu." JLPT N5 plus Japans April academic and business cultural cluster.

Quick check

1. Cultural code of randoseru?

   • Elementary entrance leather backpack for six years, 50,000-80,000 yen, grandparents gift
   • High-school bag
   • Office worker bag
   • Travel bag