Greetings! Learning how to ask about the date in different languages can be quite useful, especially if you’re planning a trip or living abroad. In this guide, we’ll explore the various ways to ask “What is the date today?” in Japanese, including both formal and informal expressions. Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
Formal Ways to Ask the Date in Japanese
If you’d like to ask for the date in a polite and formal manner, you have a couple of options. Here are two common phrases:
1. 今日の日付は何ですか？ (Kyō no hizuke wa nan desu ka?)
This translates to “What is today’s date?” The word “kyō” means “today,” “hizuke” represents “date,” and “nan desu ka?” is the polite form of “what.”
2. 何日ですか？ (Nan-nichi desu ka?)
This is a slightly more concise option, which directly translates to “What day is it?” It’s still formal and appropriate to use in most situations.
Informal Ways to Ask the Date in Japanese
When you’re in a casual setting or conversing with close friends, you can use the following informal expressions:
1. 今日の日付は何？ (Kyō no hi wa nan?)
In this form, we drop the polite ending “desu ka?” and instead use a question particle – “nan.” It can be translated as “What is today’s date?”
2. 今日は何日？ (Kyō wa nan-nichi?)
Similar to the previous phrase, this informal version translates to “What day is it today?” It’s commonly used among friends and acquaintances.
Tips and Examples
1. Remembering the Days of the Week
Before we dive into more examples, let’s quickly brush up on the Japanese days of the week:
- Monday: 月曜日 (Getsuyōbi)
- Tuesday: 火曜日 (Kayōbi)
- Wednesday: 水曜日 (Suiyōbi)
- Thursday: 木曜日 (Mokuyōbi)
- Friday: 金曜日 (Kin’yōbi)
- Saturday: 土曜日 (Doyōbi)
- Sunday: 日曜日 (Nichiyōbi)
Knowing the days of the week will be helpful when discussing specific dates or asking for the day. Now, let’s explore a few more examples:
2. Asking for Specific Dates:
“What was the date yesterday?”
Informal: 昨日は何日だった？ (Kinō wa nan-nichi datta?)
Formal: 昨日の日付は何でしたか？ (Kinō no hizuke wa nan deshita ka?)These expressions will help you inquire about a specific date from either the previous day or any other day known from the context.
“What will be the date tomorrow?”
Informal: 明日は何日だろう？ (Ashita wa nan-nichi darō?)
Formal: 明日の日付は何でしょうか？ (Ashita no hizuke wa nan deshō ka?)You can use these phrases when you want to know the date for the following day.
3. Answering the Date:
When someone asks you for the date, you might need to reply. Here are a few ways to do so:
“Today is the 10th.”
Informal: 今日は10日だよ。 (Kyō wa tōka da yo.)
Formal: 今日は10日です。 (Kyō wa tōka desu.)These phrases state the date, with “tōka” representing the number “10” and “desu/da yo” as the formal and informal ways to end the sentence respectively.
“It’s Sunday.”
Informal: 日曜日だよ。 (Nichiyōbi da yo.)
Formal: 日曜日です。 (Nichiyōbi desu.)These expressions are useful when specifically referring to the day of the week.
Wrap-up
Now that you have a good grasp of different ways to ask the date in Japanese, you can confidently inquire and respond to such questions. Remember to adjust your speech based on the formality of the situation. Whether you’re exploring Japan or conversing with Japanese speakers, these phrases will prove invaluable. Enjoy your language learning journey!
