Meaning and Usage
"先月" means "last month" and is used to refer to the month immediately before the current one. It is a common time expression in everyday conversation and writing.
Common Contexts
You will often hear or see "先月" when talking about events, work, or experiences that happened recently but not in the current month. For example, discussing last month's salary, activities, or changes.
Collocations and Patterns
- 先月 + verb (e.g., 先月行きました) — to describe actions that took place last month.
- 先月の + noun (e.g., 先月の売上) — to specify something related to last month.
- 先月から + verb (e.g., 先月から始めた) — to indicate something started from last month.
Register and Nuance
"先月" is neutral and appropriate in both casual and formal contexts. It is straightforward and does not carry any special nuance beyond indicating the previous month.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "先月" with "今月" (this month) or "来月" (next month). Remember, "先月" always refers to the month before the current one.