晦日

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晦日

Misoka.

the last day of a month

晦日 means the last day of a month. It can be read みそか (misoka) or つごもり (tsugomori).

Why today: October 31 is literally October's 晦日.

Language note: 晦日 (みそか / misoka) means the last day of any month. 大晦日 (おおみそか / Ōmisoka) is specifically New Year's Eve, so the two should not be treated as synonyms in every context.

An old calendar word can make an ordinary month-end feel newly visible.

Practice:

今日は十月の晦日です。

Kyō wa jūgatsu no misoka desu.

Today is the last day of October.

Sources:

Kanjipedia — 晦日: https://www.kanjipedia.jp/kotoba/0000800000

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