歳 月(さいげつ)

さいげつ

noun

time, years, months and years

formalwrittenliterarytime-general

1. time, years, the passage of time

A literary word for a long stretch of time that has passed. Carries a reflective, sometimes wistful tone about the flow of months and years.

長(なが)い歳月(さいげつ)が流(なが)れた。

Many years have passed.

歳月(さいげつ)とともに記憶(きおく)は薄(うす)れていく。

Memories fade with the passage of time.

完成(かんせい)までに長(なが)い歳月(さいげつ)と多大(ただい)な費用(ひよう)がかかった。

It took many years and great expense to complete.

Usage

A somewhat literary word. More evocative and reflective than 時間(じかん) or 年月(ねんげつ). Often used when looking back on a significant span of time or when emphasizing the weight of time passed. Common in written language, speeches, and narrative.

Common collocations

歳月(さいげつ)が流(なが)れる: time passes (poetic)
歳月(さいげつ)が経(た)つ: years go by
長(なが)い歳月(さいげつ): many years, a long time
歳月(さいげつ)をかける: to spend years on something

Similar words

年月(ねんげつ): years and months (more neutral, less literary)
月日(つきひ): days and months, time (everyday, warm tone)
時(とき): time (general, abstract)

Related Words

Synonym: 年月(ねんげつ) (years and months (neutral))

Synonym: 月日(つきひ) (days and months (everyday))

Compare: 時(とき) (time)

Compare: 年月(としつき) (years, time (passage))

general

Added 2026.2.24 15:11 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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