Want to learn Japanese days of the week, but feel intimidated by all the different Kanji? Donβt worry! With this article (and a catchy little song), youβll learn Japanese days of the week in no time at all. Letβs begin!Β
A Quick Guide to Japanese Days of the WeekΒ
In Japanese, ζζ₯ (γγγ³, youbi) means βday of the weekβ. Thatβs actually the hardest part, because the characters combined with ζζ₯ (γγγ³, youbi) are very, very simple:
1.Β ζ₯ζζ₯ (γ«γ‘γγγ³, nichiyoubi, Sunday)Β
ζ₯ = π
ζ₯ (nichi) literally means βsunβ or βdayβ. ζ₯ζζ₯ (nichiyoubi) is associated with the sun.Β Β
2. ζζζ₯ (γγ€γγγ³, getsuyoubi, Monday)
ζ = π
ζ (getsu) means βmoonβ or βmonthβ. ζζζ₯ (getsuyoubi) is associated with the moon.Β
3. η«ζζ₯ (γγγγ³, kayoubi, Tuesday)Β
η« = π₯
η« (ka) means βfireβ. η«ζζ₯ (kayoubi) is associated with Mars.Β
4. ζ°΄ζζ₯ (γγγγγ³, suiyoubi, Wednesday)
ζ°΄= π§
ζ°΄ (sui) means βwaterβ. ζ°΄ζζ₯ (suiyoubi) is associated with the planet Mercury.
5. ζ¨ζζ₯ (γγγγγ³, mokuyoubi, Thursday)Β
ζ¨= π²
ζ¨ (moku) means βwoodβ or βtreeβ. εζζ₯ (mokuyoubi) is associated with the planet Jupiter.
6. ιζζ₯ (γγγγγ³, kinyoubi, Friday)
ι= π
ι (kin) means βgoldβ or βmoneyβ. ιζζ₯ (kinyoubi) is associated with the planet Venus.
7. εζζ₯ (γγγγγ³, doyoubi, Saturday)
ε= π«
ε (do) means βsoilβ or βearthβ. εζζ₯ (doyoubi) is associated with the planet Saturn.
Learn Japanese Days of the Week through Song π΅
If you canβt (or just donβt want to) memorize days of the week by reading or writing them down over and over again, try learning them through fun songs! Weeeek by NEWS is perfect for that.
Here are the key lyrics from the song:
ζζ₯γγγΎγζ₯ζη«
(From tomorrow, itβs back to Sunday, Monday, Tuesday)
γ»γζ°΄ζ¨γΎγγ£γ¦ιεζ₯ζ
(Look, after Wednesday and Thursday come around, Friday, Saturday, Sunday)
The lyrics cycle through the days of the week in a fun and rhythmic way. Letβs break it down:
- ζζ₯γγ (γγγγγ, ashitakara) β βstarting from tomorrowβ
- ζζ₯ (γγγ, ashita) means βtomorrow.β
- γγ (kara) is a casual way to say βstarting fromβ or βfrom.β
- γΎγ (mata) β βagainβ
- ζ₯ζη« (γ«γ‘γγ€γ, nichigetsuka) β βSunday, Monday, Tuesdayβ
- ζ₯ (γ«γ‘, nichi) is short for ζ₯ζζ₯ (γ«γ‘γγγ³, nichiyoubi). ζ₯ζζ₯ (γ«γ‘γγγ³, nichiyoubi) can also be shortened to ζ₯ζ (γ«γ‘γγ, nichiyou).Β
- ζ (γγ€, getsu) is short for ζζζ₯ (γγ€γγγ³, getsuyoubi). ζζζ₯ (γγ€γγγ³, getsuyoubi) can also be shortened to ζζ (γγ€γγ, getsuyou).
- η« (γ, ka) is short for η«ζζ₯ (γγγγ³, kayoubi). η«ζζ₯ (γγγγ³, kayoubi) can also be shortened to η«ζ (γγγ, kayou).Β
- γ»γ (hora) β βlookβ or βseeβ
- An exclamation to draw attention, often playful.
- ζ°΄ζ¨ (γγγγ, suimoku) β βWednesday, Thursdayβ
- ζ°΄ (γγ, sui) is short for ζ°΄ζζ₯ (γγγγγ³, suiyoubi). ζ°΄ζζ₯ (γγγγγ³, suiyoubi) can also be shortened to ζ°΄ζ (γγγγ, suiyou,).Β
- ζ¨ (γγ, moku) is short for ζ¨ζζ₯ (γγγγγ³, mokuyoubi). ζ¨ζζ₯ (γγγγγ³, mokuyoubi) can also be shortened to ζ¨ζ (γγγγ, mokuyou).Β
- γΎγγ£γ¦ (γΎγγ£γ¦, mawatte) β βgoes aroundβ or βcircles back toβ
- ιεζ₯ζ (γγγ©γ«γ‘γγ, kindonichiyou) β βFriday, Saturday, Sundayβ
- ι (γγ, kin) is short for ιζζ₯ (γγγγγ³, kinyoubi). ιζζ₯ (γγγγγ³, kinyoubi) can also be shortened to ιζ (γγγγ, kinyou).
- ε (γ©, do) is short for εζζ₯ (γ©γγγ³, doyoubi). εζζ₯ (γ©γγγ³, doyoubi) can also be shortened to εζ (γ©γγ, doyou).Β Β
Hereβs the Full Japanese Music Video for You to Enjoy!Β
Japanese Days of the Week: Comprehensive Table
| English | Kanji | Hiragana | Romaji |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday | ζ₯ζζ₯ | γ«γ‘γγγ³ | nichiyoubi |
| Monday | ζζζ₯ | γγ€γγγ³ | getsuyoubi |
| Tuesday | η«ζζ₯ | γγγγ³ | kayoubi |
| Wednesday | ζ°΄ζζ₯ | γγγγγ³ | suiyoubi |
| Thursday | ζ¨ζζ₯ | γγγγγ³ | mokuyoubi |
| Friday | ιζζ₯ | γγγγγ³ | kinyoubi |
| Saturday | εζζ₯ | γ©γγγ³ | doyoubi |
Japanese Days of the Week: Abbreviated Forms TableΒ
| English | Kanji | Hiragana | Romaji |
| Sun. | ζ₯/ζ₯ζ | γ«γ‘/γ«γ‘γγ | nichi/nichiyou |
| Mon. | ζ/ζζ | γγ€/γγ€γγ | getsu/getsuyou |
| Tues.Β | η«/η«ζ | γ/γγγ | ka/kayou |
| Wed. | ζ°΄/ζ°΄ζ | γγ/γγγγ | sui/suiyou |
| Thurs.Β | ζ¨/ζ¨ζ | γγ/γγγγ | moku/mokuyou |
| Fri. | ι/ιζ | γγ/γγγγ | kin/kinyou |
| Sat. | ε/εζ | γ©/γ©γγ | do/doyou |
More Fun Ways to Learn Japanese Days of The WeekΒ
Looking for another creative way to learn Japanese? Check out the anime Sailor Moon, where each Sailor Scout represents a planet corresponding to a day of the week!Β
Ready for a more interactive way to learn Japanese? Try LingoDeer! LingoDeer offers engaging and authentic Japanese courses! With fun games, detailed explanations, and cultural insights, itβs designed to make your Japanese learning journey more exciting. Download LingoDeer from the App Store or Google Play now and start learning Japanese!Β