If you want to know how to say weekdays in Japanese, the days of the week are named after the sun, moon, and five traditional elements. The word for “day of the week” is 曜日 (yōbi). Monday is 月曜日 (getsuyōbi), Tuesday is 火曜日 (kayōbi), and so on.
“Weekdays” in Japanese is 曜日 (yōbi) for the days of the week. The seven days are 月曜日, 火曜日, 水曜日, 木曜日, 金曜日, 土曜日, and 日曜日.
- How Do You Say Weekdays in Japanese?
- The Seven Days of the Week in Japanese
- Weekdays in Japanese: Quick Comparison
- How to Pronounce Japanese Weekdays
- Short Forms for the Days of the Week
- Example Sentences Using Weekdays in Japanese
- Frequently Asked Questions About Weekdays in Japanese
- Summary: Weekdays in Japanese
How Do You Say Weekdays in Japanese?
The Japanese word 曜日 (yōbi) means “day of the week.” Each weekday combines a kanji with 曜日.
For example, 月曜日 (getsuyōbi) means Monday, and 日曜日 (nichiyōbi) means Sunday. For 日 as a general word for a day, see day in Japanese. In conversation, speakers often shorten the names to the first kanji plus 曜日 or even just the single kanji when context is clear.
Meaning: Day of the week
The Seven Days of the Week in Japanese
1. 月曜日 (Getsuyōbi) — Monday
月 (tsuki) means “moon,” so 月曜日 is the moon day.
2. 火曜日 (Kayōbi) — Tuesday
火 (hi) means “fire,” so 火曜日 is the fire day.
3. 水曜日 (Suiyōbi) — Wednesday
水 (mizu) means “water,” so 水曜日 is the water day.
4. 木曜日 (Mokuyōbi) — Thursday
木 (ki) means “wood” or “tree,” so 木曜日 is the wood day.
5. 金曜日 (Kinyōbi) — Friday
金 (kane) means “gold” or “metal,” so 金曜日 is the metal day.
6. 土曜日 (Doyōbi) — Saturday
土 (tsuchi) means “earth” or “soil,” so 土曜日 is the earth day.
7. 日曜日 (Nichiyōbi) — Sunday
日 (hi) means “sun” or “day,” so 日曜日 is the sun day.
Weekdays in Japanese: Quick Comparison
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| Japanese | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| 月曜日 | Getsuyōbi | Monday |
| 火曜日 | Kayōbi | Tuesday |
| 水曜日 | Suiyōbi | Wednesday |
| 木曜日 | Mokuyōbi | Thursday |
| 金曜日 | Kinyōbi | Friday |
| 土曜日 | Doyōbi | Saturday |
| 日曜日 | Nichiyōbi | Sunday |
How to Pronounce Japanese Weekdays
Every full day name ends in ようび (yōbi). The first part identifies the traditional element: getsu, ka, sui, moku, kin, do, or nichi.
The long vowel in yōbi is often written yō, you, or yo in romanization. Hold the “o” sound slightly longer.
Short Forms for the Days of the Week
In calendars and schedules, the first kanji is often enough: 月 for Monday, 火 for Tuesday, 水 for Wednesday, 木 for Thursday, 金 for Friday, 土 for Saturday, and 日 for Sunday.
In casual speech, speakers may also omit 曜日 when the context is obvious. For example, 金に会いましょう can mean “Let’s meet on Friday,” depending on the surrounding conversation.
Example Sentences Using Weekdays in Japanese
Meaning: Today is Monday.
Meaning: Let’s meet on Friday.
Meaning: Sunday is a day off.
Frequently Asked Questions About Weekdays in Japanese
Tap a question below to see the answer.
How do you say weekdays in Japanese?
The seven days of the week are called 曜日 (yōbi). Each name ends with 曜日.
What are the seven days in Japanese?
月曜日 Monday, 火曜日 Tuesday, 水曜日 Wednesday, 木曜日 Thursday, 金曜日 Friday, 土曜日 Saturday, and 日曜日 Sunday.
How do you say Monday in Japanese?
Monday is 月曜日 (getsuyōbi).
How do you say weekdays in Japanese calendars?
Calendars often use the single kanji 月, 火, 水, 木, 金, 土, and 日 for the days of the week.
What does yōbi mean?
曜日 (yōbi) means “day of the week.”
How do you ask what day it is in Japanese?
Say 今日は何曜日ですか？ (Kyō wa nan yōbi desu ka?), meaning “What day of the week is it today?”
Summary: Weekdays in Japanese
The days of the week in Japanese end with 曜日 (yōbi). Learn the sequence: 月曜日, 火曜日, 水曜日, 木曜日, 金曜日, 土曜日, and 日曜日.
The first kanji represents the moon, fire, water, wood, metal, earth, or sun. In calendars, the single kanji is often used as a short form.
