Learning how to say calendar days in Japanese can be a useful skill, whether you are planning a trip to Japan or simply interested in expanding your language knowledge. In this guide, we will explore the formal and informal ways of expressing calendar days in Japanese, along with some tips, examples, and even a look at regional variations if necessary. So, let’s embark on this linguistic journey and discover how to express calendar days in Japanese!
Table of Contents
Formal Ways to Express Calendar Days
In formal settings or when you want to be polite, you can use the following expressions to talk about calendar days in Japanese:
1. 曜日 (yōbi) – Days of the Week
The days of the week in Japanese are expressed using the word “曜日” (yōbi). Here is a list of the days of the week:
- 月曜日 (Getsuyōbi) – Monday
- 火曜日 (Kayōbi) – Tuesday
- 水曜日 (Suiyōbi) – Wednesday
- 木曜日 (Mokuyōbi) – Thursday
- 金曜日 (Kinyōbi) – Friday
- 土曜日 (Doyōbi) – Saturday
- 日曜日 (Nichiyōbi) – Sunday
When using these expressions in formal settings, it’s common to add the word “です” (desu) at the end to make your sentence more polite:
今日は月曜日です。
(Kyō wa getsuyōbi desu.)
Today is Monday.
2. 日付 (hizuke) – Specific Dates
If you want to express a specific calendar date in a formal way, you can use the word “日付” (hizuke). Combine it with the numerical date to form a complete expression:
今日は4月15日です。
(Kyō wa shigatsu jūgo-nichi desu.)
Today is April 15th.
Note that “shigatsu” means April in Japanese, and “jūgo-nichi” means 15th day. Feel free to replace the month and date with your desired ones.
Informal Ways to Express Calendar Days
In informal settings among friends or family, you can use the following simpler expressions to talk about calendar days:
1. 〜日 (-nichi) – Days of the Month
To express the days of the month, you can simply use the Japanese word for the respective number, followed by the suffix “-nichi” meaning “day”. Here are a few examples:
- 1日 (tsuitachi) – 1st day
- 5日 (itsuka) – 5th day
- 10日 (tōka) – 10th day
- 20日 (hatsuka) – 20th day
- 31日 (sanjūichinichi) – 31st day
These expressions are commonly used in casual conversations:
明日は10日だよ。
(Ashita wa tōka da yo.)
Tomorrow is the 10th.
2. 今日 (kyō) – Today
To refer to today, you can use the word “今日” (kyō) without any additional particles or suffixes:
今日はパーティーだよ。
(Kyō wa pātī da yo.)
Today is the party.
By using “kyō” alone, you can convey enough information about the current day in an informal conversation.
Regional Variations
Japanese isn’t limited to a single dialect, and there might be some regional variations in expressing calendar days. However, the standard expressions we covered earlier are widely understood throughout Japan. Nonetheless, let’s explore a common regional variation for the word “Wednesday” in the Kansai dialect:
木曜日 (Mokuyōbi) vs. 水曜日 (Suiyōbi)
In the Kansai region (which includes cities like Osaka and Kyoto), the word for Wednesday is often pronounced as “水曜日” (Suiyōbi) instead of the standard “木曜日” (Mokuyōbi). So, if you find yourself in the Kansai region, don’t be surprised if you hear people referring to Wednesday as “Suiyōbi”.
Wrapping Up
Congratulations! You’ve learned how to say calendar days in Japanese. Now, you can confidently express specific dates, the days of the week, and even navigate informal conversations about calendar days. Remember to adapt your expression based on the level of formality required, and feel free to explore regional variations to further enhance your Japanese language skills. Keep practicing and enjoy your journey towards fluency!
