Days of the Week in Japanese: Hiragana, Kanji, and Pronunciation for Beginners

Are you eager to dive into the world of the Japanese language? One of the first essential steps is mastering the days of the week. This article provides a comprehensive guide specifically designed for beginners and children who are interested in acquiring fundamental Japanese language skills..

The Japanese calendar, while seemingly modern, holds deep historical roots, particularly in the naming of its days of the week. Unlike the simple numerical or sequential English system, the Japanese days are intrinsically linked to celestial bodies and the five classical elements, offering a fascinating glimpse into ancient East Asian Just like in English, there are seven days in the Japanese week, and their order mirrors our own: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Each day of the week in Japanese is represented by a specific kanji character that corresponds to a planet or a natural element. This system originates from the ancient Chinese Wuxing (Five Elements) theory, which posits that everything in the universe is composed of five basic elements: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. These elements are also linked to the five classical planets known in ancient times.

• Sunday (Nichiyōbi 日曜日): The kanji 日 (nichi) means "sun." Hence, Sunday is the "Sun day."
• Monday (Getsuyōbi 月曜日): The kanji 月 (getsu) signifies "moon." Therefore, Monday is the "Moon day."
• Tuesday (Kayōbi 火曜日): The kanji 火 (ka) translates to "fire." Thus, Tuesday is the "Fire day."
• Wednesday (Suiyōbi 水曜日): The kanji 水 (sui) means "water." Consequently, Wednesday is the "Water day."
• Thursday (Mokuyōbi 木曜日): The kanji 木 (moku) denotes "wood." Hence, Thursday is the "Wood day."
• Friday (Kin'yōbi 金曜日): The kanji 金 (kin) stands for "metal" or "gold." Therefore, Friday is the "Metal/Gold day."
• Saturday (Doyōbi 土曜日): The kanji 土 (do) signifies "earth." Thus, Saturday is the "Earth day."

This naming convention reflects the profound influence of traditional Chinese philosophy and astrology on Japanese culture. It serves as a constant reminder of the ancient worldview that interconnected natural phenomena with the passage of time. The Japanese days of the week are not merely functional labels but carry symbolic meanings that resonate with the historical and cultural context from which they emerged, offering a richer understanding of the Japanese perception of time.

Japanese Days of week in Kanji

What is Kanji in Japanese?

"Kanji" (漢字) are logographic Chinese characters that have been adopted and integrated into the Japanese writing system. They are used alongside two syllabic scripts, hiragana and katakana, to write the Japanese language.

When we talk about "Kanji days of the week," we are referring to the specific Chinese characters (Kanji) that are used to represent each day of the week in Japanese.

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Days of the Week in Hiragana

"Hiragana" (ひらがな) is one of the three main writing systems in Japanese, alongside Kanji and Katakana. Unlike Kanji, which represent whole words or concepts, Hiragana is a phonetic syllabary. This means that each Hiragana character represents a syllable (a sound unit, usually a consonant followed by a vowel, or a single vowel).

While the days of the week are most commonly written using Kanji in everyday Japanese (e.g., 日曜日 for Sunday), they can also be written entirely in Hiragana.

Tips and Tricks to learn Japanese Days of the Week

1. "Yōbi" is Your Anchor: The most crucial trick! Every single day of the week in Japanese ends with 曜日 (yōbi). This is pronounced "yoh-bee" and means "day of the week" or "luminary." By remembering this common ending, you're already halfway there for all seven days. You just need to focus on learning the unique first part of each day.
   
   
• Trick: Write "______yōbi" for each day and then fill in the blank.

1. English Echoes for Sun & Moon: These two are super easy because they directly translate to the English names and are common Kanji you'll learn early on.
   
   
• 日曜日 (Nichiyōbi) = Sunday: 日 (nichi) means "sun" or "day." It's literally "Sun Day."
• 月曜日 (Getsuyōbi) = Monday: 月 (getsu) means "moon" or "month." It's literally "Moon Day."
• Trick: Think: "The Japanese are just as literal as English for the start of the week!"
2. The "Elemental Story" Mnemonic: This is the most powerful trick for Tuesday through Saturday. These days are named after the five classical elements (and their associated planets). Create a short, memorable story or sequence for them.
   
   
• 火 (Ka) - Fire: Tuesday - Imagine a fiery asteroid hitting the Earth on Tuesday.
• 水 (Sui) - Water: Wednesday - The water from the asteroid causes a flood on Wednesday.
• 木 (Moku) - Wood/Tree: Thursday - After the flood, a tree (wood) sprouts up on Thursday.
• 金 (Kin) - Gold/Metal: Friday - The tree grows golden leaves (or bears golden fruit) on Friday. (Bonus: Friday is often payday, so think "gold!")
• 土 (Do) - Earth/Soil: Saturday - The golden leaves fall to the earth on Saturday.
• Trick: Repeat the story: "Fire, Water, Wood, Gold, Earth."
3. Visual Kanji Association: The Kanji characters themselves often offer visual cues that can help you remember their meaning and thus the day.
   
   
• 日 (Nichi): Looks like a sun or a window looking out to the sun.
• 月 (Getsu): Looks like a crescent moon.
• 火 (Ka): Resembles flickering flames.
• 水 (Sui): Looks like flowing water.
• 木 (Moku): Clearly looks like a tree.
• 金 (Kin): Can look like two ingots of gold or a treasure chest.
• 土 (Do): Looks like a cross embedded in the ground, representing earth/soil.
• Trick: Draw the Kanji while saying the day and its meaning.
4. Sing Them Out Loud (and Often!): Repetition through song or rhythmic chanting is incredibly effective for memorization.
   
   
• Trick: Search YouTube for "Japanese days of the week song" – there are many catchy tunes designed for learners! Or just chant them rapidly: "Nichiyōbi, Getsuyōbi, Kayōbi, Suiyōbi, Mokuyōbi, Kinyōbi, Doyōbi!" This helps with pronunciation and flow.

By combining these tricks, you'll find that learning the Japanese days of the week becomes much less about rote memorization and more about understanding and associating meaning. Good luck!

 Note-

• The Kanji for the numbers (一, 二, 三, 四, 五, 六, 七, 八, 九, 十, 十一, 十二) are standard.
• The Kanji for "month" is always 月 (gatsu).