How To Say Days Of The Week In Japanese

みなさんこんにちは 

きょうはなんようびですか？ (Kyō wa nan-yōbi desu ka?)

Oh! wait… 

Are you wondering what that means?

If you’re here, I bet you’re looking for How to say the days of the week in Japanese.

Right? 

Well, you’ve come to the perfect place! 

In Japan, they don’t say “Sunday,” “Monday,” like we do in English. Instead, they have their own unique words for each day of the week. 

At first, you might think it’s a bit hard to remember all these new words, but don’t worry—learning them is easier than you might think, and we’re here to make it fun!

So, let’s dive in and start learning the Japanese days of the week together! 

Ready? 

Let’s go!

Japanese Days of the Week

Below is a table that shows the Japanese days of the week alongside their corresponding English days.

In Japanese, the days of the week are like little stories! Each day has a special word before “ようび” (yōbi), which means “day of the week.” The first part of the word is connected to something in nature or the universe. It’s pretty interesting!

So, let’s dive into each day and see what makes it special in Japanese!

Monday (月曜日 – げつようび – Getsuyōbi)

In Japanese “Monday” is called 月曜日 (げつようび – Getsuyōbi). The Kanji 月 (げつ – Getsu) means “Moon.” So, when you hear “Getsuyōbi,” think of it as the Moon’s special day.

Tuesday (火曜日 – かようび – Kayōbi)

Here, the Kanji 火 (か – Ka) translates to “Fire.” Imagine Tuesday as the day dedicated to fiery energy and warmth!

Wednesday (水曜日 – すいようび – Suiyōbi)

Now for Wednesday, which is 水曜日 (すいようび – Suiyōbi). The Kanji 水 (すい – Sui) means “Water.” Think of Wednesday as a refreshing day, like a splash of water in the middle of the week.

Thursday (木曜日 – もくようび – Mokuyōbi)

Thursday, or 木曜日 (もくようび – Mokuyōbi). The Kanji 木 (もく – Moku) stands for “Wood.” Picture Thursday as a day connected to the strength and growth of trees and forests.

Friday (金曜日 – きんようび – Kinyōbi)

Friday is known as 金曜日 (きんようび – Kinyōbi) in Japanese. The Kanji 金 (きん – Kin) means “Gold.” So, Friday is like the golden finish to your workweek, shining brightly with the promise of the weekend.

Saturday (土曜日 – どようび – Doyōbi)

Then comes Saturday, called 土曜日 (どようび – Doyōbi). The Kanji 土 (ど – Do) means “Earth.” Saturday feels grounded and earthy, perfect for relaxing and enjoying some time outdoors.

Sunday (日曜日 – にちようび – Nichiyōbi)

Finally, we have Sunday, or 日曜日 (にちようび – Nichiyōbi). The Kanji 日 (にち – Nichi) means “Sun.” Sunday is all about sunshine and relaxation, the day to recharge and enjoy the bright side of life.

This way, each day of the week is painted with a bit of story and imagination, making it easier and more enjoyable to remember their Japanese names.

Using Days of the Week in Daily life conversation

To help you see how the days of the week are used in conversation, here are some example sentences.

English: Today is Monday.

Japanese: 今日は月曜日です。[きょうはげつようびです]

Romaji: Kyō wa Getsuyōbi desu.

English: I’m going to watch a movie on Wednesday.

Japanese: 水曜日に映画を見に行きます。[すいようびにえいがをみにいきます。]

Romaji: Suiyōbi ni eiga o mi ni ikimasu.

How to Ask About the Day of the Week in Japanese

To ask about a specific day of the week in Japanese, you can use the phrase 何曜日 (なんようび / nan-yōbi), which means “what day of the week.” This phrase can be used to inquire about any day, whether it’s today or any other day.

For example, if you need to ask about which day a meeting is scheduled, you can say: 会議は何曜日ですか？[かいぎはなんようびですか？], which translates, What day of the week is the meeting?

Counting Weeks in Japanese

In Japanese, counting weeks is pretty straightforward. You simply use the number of weeks and add 週間 (しゅうかん / shūkan), which means “weeks.”

For example, explore the table below representing different periods of weeks:

How to say ‘Weekdays’ and ‘Weekend’ in Japanese

Japan also has weekdays and the weekend, just like in other countries. Here’s how you can talk about these in Japanese:

• Weekdays: In Japanese, weekdays are called 平日 (へいじつ / heijitsu). This term includes Monday through Friday.
  
• Weekend: The weekend is referred to as 週末 (しゅうまつ / shūmatsu). This covers Saturday and Sunday.

How to Say This Week, Next Week, and Last Week in Japanese

Here is how you can express these time frames:

How to Say This Week in Japanese

To refer to the current week, use 今週 (こんしゅう / konshū). 

For example, if you want to say “This week is very busy,” you would say: 今週はとても忙しいです [こんしゅうはとてもいそがしいです / Konshū wa totemo isogashii desu]

How to Say Next Week in Japanese

To talk about the week that follows, use 来週 (らいしゅう / raishū).

For example, if you want to say “Next week I will be on vacation,” you would say: 来週は休暇を取ります [らいしゅうはきゅうかをとります / Raishū wa kyūka o torimasu]

How to Say Last Week in Japanese

To discuss the week that just passed, use 先週 (せんしゅう / senshū).

For example, if you want to say “Last week was very productive,” you would say: 先週はとても生産的でした [せんしゅうはとてもせいさんてきでした / Senshū wa totemo seisan-teki deshita]

So, this was your guide to saying the days of the week in Japanese! If you want to learn more Japanese time expressions, check out another article on months in Japanese. 

Happy learning, and see you next time! さようなら (Sayōnara)!