日月

Chinese

Pronunciation

Noun

日月

1. (literally) sun and moon

   • 故上悖日月之明，下爍山川之精，中墮四時之施，惴耎之蟲，肖翹之物，莫不失其性。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     故上悖日月之明，下烁山川之精，中堕四时之施，惴耎之虫，肖翘之物，莫不失其性。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Zhuangzi, circa 3^rd – 2^nd centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Gù shàng bèi rìyuè zhī míng, xià shuò shānchuān zhī jīng, zhōng duò sìshí zhī shī, zhuìnuò zhī chóng, xiàoqiào zhī wù, mòbù shī qí xìng.

     It is just as if, above, the brightness of the sun and moon were darkened; as if, beneath, the productive vigour of the hills and streams were dried up; and as if, between, the operation of the four seasons were brought to an end: in which case there would not be a single weak and wriggling insect, nor any plant that grows up, which would not lose its proper nature.

   • 日月之行，若出其中。 [Classical Chinese, trad. and simp.]

     From: Han dynasty, Cao Cao, 《觀滄海》(Watching the Blue Sea)

     Rìyuè zhī xíng, ruò chū qízhōng.

     The sun and the moon seemed to rise
     From the inside of it (the sea).

2. (figurative) life; livelihood
3. (figurative) time; times

Derived terms

Descendants

Japanese

Etymology

From 日(じつ) (jitsu, “sun”) + 月(げつ) (getsu, “moon”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key):

Noun

日(じつ)月(げつ) • (jitsugetsu) 

1. sun and moon
2. life, livelihood

Korean

Noun

日月 • (irwol) (hangeul 일월)

1. Hanja form^? of 일월 (“sun and moon”).

Vietnamese

Noun

日月

1. chữ Hán form of nhật nguyệt (“sun and moon”).