十二月
shí'èryuè
December
十二月 (shí'èryuè) is the standard way to say December in Mandarin Chinese. It literally means "twelfth month" and follows the simple pattern of using numbers with 月 (yuè) for all months of the year.
What does 十二月 (shí'èryuè) mean?
十二月 (shí'èryuè) means “december” in English. Word for word, it breaks down as “twelfth month.”
When to use it
Neutral and universally understood. All months in Chinese are formed using this straightforward "number + 月" pattern, making them easy to use in any conversation.
How to pronounce it
Sounds like "shir-ERR-yweh". 'Shí' is a rising tone, 'èr' is a falling tone, and 'yuè' is a falling tone.
Other ways to say it
- 一月yīyuèJanuary
- 十一月shíyīyuèNovember
- 每个月měi ge yuèevery month
Examples
十二月是今年的最后一个月。
shí'èryuè shì jīnnián de zuìhòu yí ge yuè.
December is the last month of this year.
我的生日在十二月二十五日。
wǒ de shēngrì zài shí'èryuè èrshíwǔ rì.
My birthday is on December 25th.
我们计划在十二月去南方旅行。
wǒmen jìhuà zài shí'èryuè qù nánfāng lǚxíng.
We plan to travel to the south in December.
Pro tip: Chinese months are formed by simply placing the corresponding number before 月 (yuè). For example, 'January' is 一月 (yīyuè), 'February' is 二月 (èryuè), and so on.
Related phrases
十月 · October十一月 · November年 · Year
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