明日暇？
ashita hima?
In Japanese, "are you free tomorrow?" is translated as 明日暇？ (ashita hima?)
This phrase is a casual way to ask if someone has no plans and is available to meet or do something. It is used primarily among friends or peers to initiate a casual hangout or meeting. The component 明日 means "tomorrow".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 明日暇？ is composed of 明日 (ashita), meaning 'tomorrow' and 暇 (hima), meaning 'free time' or 'leisure'.
Which one should you use?
While 明日暇？ focuses on having leisure, the alternative 明日、空いてる？ is a common casual way to ask if one's schedule is 'open'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
明日暇？ is a casual form used with friends. For a polite way to speak to someone you are not close with, use 明日、お暇ですか？ If you need to be formal, use 明日、お時間はありますか？
How does it change in a sentence?
In the casual form 明日暇？, the particle は (wa) is omitted, which is standard in conversational Japanese.
How do you pronounce it?
ashita hima?
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be aware that 暇 (hima) can sometimes imply being 'idle' or having 'nothing to do', so use it carefully when speaking with superiors.
Did you know?
- While 暇 (hima) means 'free' in this phrase, it is also the root of the word 暇つぶし (hima tsubushi), which literally means 'killing time'.
- The word 空いてる (aiteru), used in the alternative phrase 明日、空いてる？, comes from the verb 'to be empty'. It treats your schedule like a physical space that is currently unoccupied by other plans.
- In many Japanese social settings, instead of asking if someone is 'free', it is more common to ask if they have 'plans' (yotei). Asking 明日予定ある？ (Do you have plans tomorrow?) is often seen as a more polite way to probe availability without implying the person is idle.
Examples in context
- 明日暇？ashita hima?Are you free tomorrow?
- 明日暇？買い物に付き合って。ashita hima? kaimono ni tsukiatte.Are you free tomorrow? Come shopping with me.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking on the phone about their plans.
- 陽葵 Himari蓮くん、明日暇？Ren-kun, ashita hima?Ren, are you free tomorrow?
- 蓮 Renうん、特に予定はないよ。un, toku ni yotei wa nai yo.Yeah, I don't have any particular plans.
- 陽葵 Himariじゃあ、映画に行かない？jaa, eiga ni ikanai?Then, do you want to go see a movie?
- 蓮 Renいいよ、行こう！ii yo, ikou!Sure, let's go!
