五月病

Japanese
Kanji in this term
五 月 病
ご
Grade: 1		 がつ
Grade: 1		 びょう
Grade: 3
on’yomi

Etymology

Literally “May disease” – the Japanese school year and financial year (including new hires) starts in April, thus by May, after the initial period, new students or new hires may be feeling a let-down or depression.

This is also associated with the change of seasons (spring to summer) – compare spring fever – and with the main public holiday season at the end of April and the start of May of each year (Golden Week), specifically returning from holiday and re-adapting to work.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): [ɡo̞ɡa̠t͡sɨᵝbʲo̞ː]

Noun

五(ご)月(がつ)病(びょう) • (gogatsubyō) 

  1. Depression sometimes seen in new hires or new students; loosely, “(start of) summer fever”.
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