Gaining knowledge about how to say week days in Japanese is not only helpful for those planning to travel to Japan but also for anyone interested in the Japanese language and culture. In this guide, we will explore how to say the week days in both formal and informal ways, with some essential tips and examples to assist you in understanding and using these expressions effectively. Let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
Formal Expressions
When it comes to formal expressions in Japanese, you will mostly encounter the names of the week days as derived from Western languages. Here are the formal Japanese words for the week days:
Monday: Getsuyōbi
Tuesday: Kayōbi
Wednesday: Suiyōbi
Thursday: Mokuyōbi
Friday: Kinyōbi
Saturday: Doyōbi
Sunday: Nichiyōbi
These formal expressions are commonly used in business settings, official schedules, and written documents.
Informal Expressions
For informal conversations, Japanese people often use alternative words to refer to the week days. Let’s take a look at the informal expressions for the days of the week:
Monday: Getsu-yō
Tuesday: Ka-yō
Wednesday: Sui-yō
Thursday: Moku-yō
Friday: Ki-yō
Saturday: Do-yō
Sunday: Ni-chi-yō
These informal expressions are more commonly used in casual conversations, among friends, or in daily life.
Tips and Examples
Now that you know both the formal and informal expressions for the week days, here are some tips and examples to help you further:
1. Hiragana vs. Kanji
In both formal and informal expressions, you can use either hiragana or kanji to write the days of the week. Hiragana is the phonetic script of Japanese, while kanji represents the Chinese characters used in the Japanese writing system. For example:
- Monday (Informal Hiragana): げつようび (Getsu-yōbi)
- Monday (Formal Kanji): 月曜日
Using hiragana is the simplest way to write the week days, especially for beginners. However, learning the kanji for the week days will allow you to read and understand written schedules, signs, and documents in Japanese.
2. Adding the Word “Day”
When referring to a specific day of the week, you can add the word “day” (曜日 – yōbi) after the name. This clarifies that you are talking about a day as opposed to other time-related expressions. For instance:
- What day is it today? きょうはなんようびですか？(Kyō wa nan-yōbi desu ka?)
- I am busy on Tuesday. かようびはいそがしいです。(Ka-yōbi wa isogashii desu.)
3. Counting Days
If you wish to talk about a specific day as a count, you can add a counter word after the day. The counter word for day is “nichi” (日). Here’s an example:
- I will visit Japan in three days. さんにちごにほんをおとずれます。(San-nichi go-Nihon o otozuremasu.)
4. Sunday as Different from Other Days
It is interesting to note that the Japanese expression for Sunday is different from the rest of the week days. While other days use “yōbi” (曜日) to indicate the day, Sunday is expressed as “nichiyōbi” (にちようび). For example:
- Let’s meet on Sunday. にちようびにあいましょう。(Nichiyōbi ni aimashō.)
This distinction highlights the significance of Sunday as a special day of the week in Japanese culture.
Conclusion
By learning how to say the week days in Japanese, you have taken a step closer to understanding the language and culture of Japan. Remember, the formal expressions are commonly used in official settings, while the informal expressions are more suitable for casual conversations. Don’t be afraid to practice using these expressions in your daily life or when conversing with Japanese-speaking friends. Your efforts will surely be appreciated and will contribute to deepening your connection with the Japanese language and people.
