先々月

せんせんげつ

month before last

JLPT N2

Character Breakdown

Understanding

The term means "the month before last," referring to the month two months prior to the current month. It is commonly used in both spoken and written Japanese to specify a time frame without ambiguity.

Usage in Context

You can use when discussing events, sales data, or personal experiences that happened two months ago. It helps clarify timing especially when contrasting with last month () or this month ().

Common Collocations

  • (sales of the month before last): used in business contexts to compare performance.
  • った (trip taken the month before last): common in personal storytelling.

Notes

  • is a fixed compound and always refers to two months ago, never more or less.
  • It is more formal than simply saying "two months ago" and is often used in reports or formal conversations.
  • Avoid confusing with (last month) or (also means the month before last but less common).

Example Sentences

I went to Japan the month before last; that trip was very enjoyable.

The sales in the month before last increased by 10% compared to last month.

Do you remember what important thing happened the month before last?