六日間
muika kan
The Japanese phrase for 'six days' is 六日間 (muika kan).
六日間 is used to refer to a period of time lasting for six days. While you can also say roku-nichi kan to express the duration of an event or a trip, 六日間 is a standard way to denote this period.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of 六 (six), 日 (day) and 間 (interval/duration).
Which one should you use?
The form 六日 (muika) can mean both 'the sixth day of the month' and 'six days'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The suffix 間 (kan) is used to specify that the number refers to a duration of time rather than a specific date.
How do you pronounce it?
muika kan
Did you know?
- The character 間 in 六日間 literally means 'space' or 'gap'. In Japanese, durations of time are conceptualized as a physical space between two points.
- Japanese has a specific word for 'six days and six nights', 六日六夜, often used in storytelling to emphasize a long or grueling ordeal.
- The number 'six' in 'muika' comes from an ancient counting system where 'mu' represents the number six, which is distinct from the modern 'roku' used in most other contexts.
Example conversation
Kenta and Himari are talking about a trip.
- 陽葵 Himariどこに行きますか？doko ni ikimasu ka?Where are you going?
- 健太 Kenta北海道に六日間行きます。hokkaido ni rokukan kan ikimasu.I'm going to Hokkaido for six days.
- 陽葵 Himariいいですね！ii desu ne!That sounds great!
- 健太 Kenta楽しみです。tanoshimi desu.I'm looking forward to it.
