一週間
isshūkan
The Japanese phrase for "one week" is 一週間 (isshūkan).
一週間 is used to describe a period of seven consecutive days.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of 一 (one), 週 (week) and 間 (interval/period).
Which one should you use?
While 一週 (isshū) can also mean one week, adding the suffix 間 (kan) to form 一週間 (isshūkan) is the standard way to express the duration of a seven-day period.
How does it change in a sentence?
In this phrase, the suffix 間 (kan) is used to indicate a duration of time rather than a specific point in time.
How do you pronounce it?
isshūkan
Did you know?
- While 一週間 refers to a seven day period, the Japanese word for 'week' 週 was not used until the Meiji era to adapt to the Western calendar. Before this, the Japanese traditionally tracked time using a lunar calendar with different cycle lengths.
- Japanese has a specific word 週明け (shūake) which literally means 'the week opens'. It is used to refer to the beginning of the next work week, usually Monday, regardless of whether it is exactly 一週間 later.
- The character 間 (kan) in 一週間 is also the same character used to describe 'space' or 'distance' between two physical points.
Examples in context
- 一週間は七日です。In one week there are seven days.This sentence is useful for stating that there are seven days in one week using 一週間.Tatoeba #190567 by bunbuku, translation #455987 by lukaszpp
- 予約は一週間前にお願いします。Please make your reservation one week in advance.This sentence is useful for requesting a reservation one week in advance using 一週間.Tatoeba #78976 by bunbuku, translation #324740 by CK
- 私がロシア語の勉強を始めて、まだ一週間くらいしか経っていないので、 私が言うのもおこがましいですが、私もロシア語母語話者相当のレベルを目指しています。This might sound presumptuous of me, as it has only been about one week since I started studying Russian, but I aim to speak Russian as well as a native.This sentence is useful for explaining that it has only been about one week since starting a task using 一週間.Tatoeba #3355379 by DiePain, translation #10121912 by deltadave
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a travel plan.
- 大翔 Hiroto旅行はどのくらい行きますか？Ryokō wa dono kurai ikimasu ka?How long will your trip be?
- 陽葵 Himari一週間くらい行くつもりです。Isshūkan kurai iku tsumori desu.I plan to go for about one week.
- 大翔 Hirotoいいですね！どこへ行きますか？Ii desu ne! Doko e ikimasu ka?That's great! Where are you going?
- 陽葵 Himari北海道に行く予定です。Hokkaidō ni iku yotei desu.I'm planning to go to Hokkaido.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
