上个月

• Pinyin: shàng ge yuè
• Hanzi breakdown: 上 = indicates what is above or previous; 个 = general measure word; 月 = pictograph of the moon — month

Meaning

Last month. Refers to the month immediately before the current one.

A basic time expression combining 上 (previous) + 个 (measure word) + 月 (month). Follows the pattern of 上个星期 (last week). Contrasts with 下个月 (next month) and 这个月 (this month). Essential for narrating recent events.

Examples

1. 上个月我去了一趟北京出差。 I went to Beijing on a business trip last month.
2. 这家店是上个月才开的。 This shop only opened last month.
3. 上个月的天气比这个月冷得多。 Last month's weather was much colder than this month.

Usage Guide

Context: time reference, everyday, narrative

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 上个月你去哪里旅游了？(Where did you travel last month?)
• 上个月的工资已经发了吗？(Has last month's salary been paid?)

Don't Say

• 上月个 with reversed word order (The correct order is 上个月 — reversing the components is grammatically wrong)

Origin & History

A phrase of 上 (upper/previous), 个 (measure word), and 月 (month) — literally 'the previous month'.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal