(こよみ)

こよみ
noun
calendar; almanac
1. calendar; almanac
A system for organizing days and months, or a physical calendar or almanac. Often refers to the traditional Japanese calendar system and its seasonal divisions.
(こよみ)(うえ)ではもう(はる)だ。
According to the calendar, it's already spring.
旧暦(きゅうれき)(こよみ)では正月(しょうがつ)二月(にがつ)ごろになる。
In the old calendar, New Year falls around February.
祖母(そぼ)毎年(まいとし)(こよみ)()て、農作業(のうさぎょう)時期(じき)()めていた。
My grandmother would check the almanac every year to decide when to do the farm work.

Refers to both the concept of a calendar system and a physical calendar or almanac. While カレンダー is the everyday word for a wall/desk calendar, (こよみ) carries a more traditional, cultural nuance and is often associated with the old lunar calendar and seasonal markers.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • (こよみ)(うえ)では — according to the calendar
  • 旧暦(きゅうれき)(こよみ) — the old (lunar) calendar
  • (こよみ)()る — to check the almanac
  • (こよみ)(うえ)(はる) — spring by the calendar (but not yet in reality)

RELATED TERMS:

  • カレンダー — calendar (modern wall/desk calendar)
  • 旧暦(きゅうれき) — old/lunar calendar
  • 新暦(しんれき) — new/Gregorian calendar
  • 二十四節気(にじゅうしせっき) — the 24 solar terms (traditional seasonal divisions)

CULTURAL NOTE:
Japan adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1873, but the old lunar calendar (旧暦(きゅうれき)) still influences festivals and seasonal customs. The phrase (こよみ)(うえ)では is commonly used when the calendar date says one season but the weather feels like another.