Greetings! If you’re looking to expand your Japanese language skills and want to know how to ask about the day, you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, we’ll walk you through both formal and informal ways to ask “What day is it?” in Japanese. We’ll provide ample tips, examples, and even touch upon regional variations, keeping a warm and engaging tone throughout. Let’s dive right in!
Table of Contents
Formal Expressions
1. The most common way to ask about the day formally is:
“今日は何曜日ですか？”
Pronunciation: “Kyō wa nan-yōbi desu ka?”
This translates to “What day is it today?” The word “kyō” means “today,” and “nan-yōbi” is the question word for “which day.” Remember to add “desu ka?” at the end to make it a polite question.
2. Alternatively, you can also use this more indirect formal expression:
“今日の曜日は何ですか？”
Pronunciation: “Kyō no yōbi wa nan desu ka?”
This phrasing translates as “What is the day of the week today?” Here, “kyō” still means “today,” while “no” connects it to “yōbi” meaning “day of the week.” Again, conclude with “nan desu ka?” for politeness.
Informal Expressions
Now, let’s move on to informal ways of asking about the day:
- “今日は何曜日？”
Pronunciation: “Kyō wa nan-yōbi?”
This is the informal equivalent of our first formal expression, simply omitting the polite ending “desu ka?” It directly translates to “What day is it today?”
“今日って何曜日”
Pronunciation: “Kyō tte nan-yōbi?”
This is another informal way to ask the same question. Again, “kyō” means “today,” while “tte” is a contraction of “to iu,” meaning “called” or “known as.” Thus, this phrasing is similar to “What day is today called?”
Tips and Regional Variations
Here are a few tips to enhance your understanding and usage of these expressions:
- Using honorifics: When speaking to someone older or of higher social status, it’s respectful to add an honorific after the question, such as “san” or “sama.”
- Days of the week: The days in Japanese are inspired by Western languages and written in kanji characters. Monday is “getsuyōbi,” Tuesday is “kayōbi,” Wednesday is “suiyōbi,” and so on.
- Understanding the reply: Be prepared to comprehend responses such as “kyō wa,” meaning “today is,” followed by the actual day of the week, for example, “mokuyōbi” for Thursday.
- Regional variations: While the expressions mentioned above are commonly used throughout Japan, there may be slight variations in local dialects or regions. However, these variations are minor, and the standard expressions will be understood nationwide.
Now that you have a solid grasp of both formal and informal ways to ask about the day in Japanese, paired with helpful tips and examples, you’re ready to strike up conversations and navigate discussions on this topic. With practice, you’ll become even more fluent in Japanese and develop a deeper appreciation for its rich culture. Good luck!
