昨日
kinō[kʲino̞ː]
The English word "yesterday" is translated into Japanese as 昨日 (kinō).
The word refers to the day before today. It can be used as a noun to identify the specific day or as an adverb to describe when an action occurred.
Meaning: day before today (noun)
Which one should you use?
While 昨日 is the standard term, さくじつ is a formal version used in specific contexts.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
昨日 is the standard, everyday way to say yesterday. In contrast, さくじつ is a more formal and polite version typically used in business settings or news reports.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The word 昨日 is versatile and can function as both a noun and an adverb without changing its form.
How do you pronounce it?
kinō
Did you know?
- Some linguists suggest the ki in 昨日 might come from the verb kuru (to come), though this is debated because the coming day usually refers to tomorrow.
- While 昨日 is common, using the formal reading さくじつ in a casual setting can make a speaker sound like a news anchor or a textbook.
Examples in context
- 昨日、泳いだ？Did you swim yesterday?This sentence shows how to use 昨日 to ask about a past action.Tatoeba #12484478 by small_snow, translation #6356454 by CK
- 彼は昨日死んだ。He died yesterday.This sentence demonstrates 昨日 used with a past tense verb.Tatoeba #106784 by bunbuku, translation #296902 by CK
- 昨日買いました。I bought it yesterday.This sentence illustrates 昨日 acting as an adverb in a simple past tense statement.Tatoeba #169840 by bunbuku, translation #244646 by CK
- きのう、友達と映画を観に行ったよ。Yesterday, I went to see a movie with a friend.
- パーティーはきのうどうだった？How was the party yesterday?
- きのうの天気は良かったね。The weather was good yesterday, right?
- 昨日、大切な会議がありました。Yesterday, there was an important meeting.
- 昨日はどちらに行かれましたか？Where did you go yesterday?
- 935 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hiyori and Ren are talking at school.
- 陽葵 Himari昨日、何をしましたか？Kinō, nani o shimashita ka?What did you do yesterday?
- 蓮 Ren家で本を読みました。Ie de hon o yomimashita.I read a book at home.
- 陽葵 Himariいいですね。私は疲れました。Ii desu ne. Watashi wa tsukaremashita.That's nice. I was tired.
- 蓮 Ren昨日、忙しかったんですか？Kinō, isogashikatta n desu ka?Were you busy yesterday?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “yesterday” translations and entries 昨日, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 昨日, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
