良い一週間を
yoi isshūkan o
The English phrase "have a nice week" is translated into Japanese as 良い一週間を (yoi isshūkan o).
This phrase is a friendly wish used to tell someone to enjoy the coming week.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of yoi (good), isshūkan (one week) and the object marker o.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The version 良い一週間を is a shortened form common in casual or semi-formal settings. For professional contexts or when you want to be more polite, use the more formal version 良い一週間をお過ごしください。
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase ends with the particle o, which implies an omitted verb such as sugoshite kudasai (please spend/pass).
How do you pronounce it?
yoi isshūkan o
Did you know?
- While 良い一週間を is a direct translation, Japanese speakers traditionally avoid wishing someone a 'good' anything if that person is their superior, as it can sound like you are granting them permission or evaluating their status.
- The word 一週間 (one week) uses the character 間, which literally means 'interval' or 'space'. In Japanese, time is often conceptualized as a physical space between two points rather than a flowing river.
- If you are leaving an office on a Friday, saying 良い一週間を might sound odd to Japanese colleagues. Instead, it is much more common to use phrases specifically wishing someone a 'good weekend' or 'good holidays'.
Examples in context
- 仕事が順調に進むように、良い一週間をお過ごしください。I hope your work goes smoothly. Please have a good week.
- がんばってね！良い一週間を！Good luck! Have a good week!
- 良い一週間を。Yoi isshūkan o.Have a nice week.
- それでは、良い一週間を！Sore dewa, yoi isshūkan o!Well then, have a nice week!
- 結衣さん、良い一週間を。Yui-san, yoi isshūkan o.Yui, have a nice week.
Example conversation
Two colleagues are leaving the office on a Friday afternoon.
- 大翔 Hirotoお疲れ様でした。良い一週間を！Otsukaresama deshita. Yoi isshūkan o!Good work today. Have a nice week!
- 結衣 Yuiありがとうございます。大翔さんもね。Arigatō gozaimasu. Daito-san mo ne.Thank you. You too, Daito.
- 大翔 Hiroto来週また会いましょう。Raishū mata aimashō.Let's meet again next week.
- 結衣 Yuiはい、また来週！Hai, mata raishū!Yes, see you next week!
