When it comes to learning a new language, understanding how to say the days of the week is fundamental. In this guide, we will focus on teaching you how to say Monday to Friday in Japanese. Additionally, we will cover both formal and informal ways to express these days, ensuring you have a well-rounded understanding of the language. Let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
Days of the Week in Japanese
Before we explore how to say Monday to Friday specifically, let’s take a moment to familiarize ourselves with the Japanese names for the days of the week. Here they are in their standard form:
- Monday – 月曜日 (げつようび, getsuyoubi)
- Tuesday – 火曜日 (かようび, kayoubi)
- Wednesday – 水曜日 (すいようび, suiyoubi)
- Thursday – 木曜日 (もくようび, mokuyoubi)
- Friday – 金曜日 (きんようび, kinyoubi)
- Saturday – 土曜日 (どようび, doyoubi)
- Sunday – 日曜日 (にちようび, nichiyouibi)
Now that we know the basic terminology, let’s explore various ways to say Monday to Friday in Japanese.
Formal Expressions
In formal situations, such as business or official settings, it’s important to use the appropriate vocabulary and honorifics in the Japanese language. Here is how you can say Monday to Friday formally:
- 月曜日から金曜日まで (げつようびからきんようびまで, getsuyoubi kara kinyoubi made)
This expression literally translates to “from Monday to Friday” and can be used both in spoken and written Japanese. - 平日 (へいじつ, heijitsu)
Although this term refers to weekdays in general, it is commonly used to indicate Monday to Friday. It can be seen in various contexts, such as work schedules or store opening hours.
In formal situations, it is generally better to use the first expression as it explicitly mentions each day, leaving no room for ambiguity. However, understanding the term “平日” is also useful for comprehension purposes.
Informal Expressions
Conversational Japanese often differs from formal language. When it comes to expressing the days of the week in a casual setting, there are several informal options. Here are a couple of examples:
- 月曜から金曜 (げつようからきんよう, getsuyou kara kinyou)
By omitting the word “day,” this expression suggests “from Monday to Friday” in a more casual tone. It is commonly used in everyday conversations among friends or in informal writing. - 平日 (へいじつ, heijitsu)
Just like in formal language, “平日” can also be utilized in casual conversations. It is a versatile term that is easily understood by everyone, regardless of the situation.
These informal expressions provide convenience and simplicity in day-to-day conversations without sounding too rigid or overly polite.
Examples and Situational Tips
Now that you have learned the various ways to say Monday to Friday in Japanese, let’s explore a few examples and practical tips to help you use them effectively:
Example 1:
A: 今週の予定は？ (こんしゅうのよていは？ – Konshuu no yotei wa?)
B: 月曜日から金曜日まで働いています。 (げつようびからきんようびまではたらいています – Getsuyoubi kara kinyoubi made hataraitteimasu.)
A: そうですか、お疲れさまです！ (そうですか、おつかれさまです！ – Sou desu ka, otsukaresama desu!)
B: はい、ありがとうございます！ (はい、ありがとうございます！ – Hai, arigatou gozaimasu!)
In this example, person A asks about B’s weekly schedule, to which B responds using the formal expression “月曜日から金曜日まで.” Person A then acknowledges B’s hard work using the phrase “お疲れさまです” (otsukaresama desu), which means “thank you for your hard work” or “you must be tired.” B replies with “はい、ありがとうございます” (Hai, arigatou gozaimasu), expressing gratitude for the kind words.
Example 2:
A: 今週の打ち合わせは何曜日に入りますか？ (こんしゅうのうちあわせはなんようびにはいりますか？ – Konshuu no uchiawase wa nanyoubi ni hairimasu ka?)
B: 平日なら、基本的に月曜から金曜までですよ。 (へいじつなら、きほんてきにげつようからきんようまでですよ。 – Heijitsu nara, kihontekini getsuyou kara kinyou made desu yo.)
A: わかりました、木曜日に予定を入れますね。 (わかりました、もくようびによていをいれますね。 – Wakarimashita, mokuyoubi ni yotei o iremasu ne.)
In this dialogue, person A asks about scheduling a meeting during the week, to which B responds using the term “平日” and confirming the days as “月曜から金曜まで.” Person A acknowledges the information and suggests scheduling the meeting on Thursday, saying “木曜日に予定を入れますね” (I will put the meeting on Thursday).
Conclusion
Congratulations! You have successfully learned how to say Monday to Friday in Japanese using both formal and informal expressions. Remember to practice these phrases in various contexts to strengthen your language skills. Whether you find yourself in a formal or casual setting in Japan or speaking with native Japanese speakers, you now have the knowledge to confidently express weekdays. Keep learning and exploring the rich world of the Japanese language!
