The Japanese week follows the same idea as many European languages: each day is named after a heavenly body, which in East Asia are linked to the sun, the moon and five elements.
The days
| Day | Japanese | Kanji means |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 月曜日 getsuyōbi | moon |
| Tuesday | 火曜日 kayōbi | fire |
| Wednesday | 水曜日 suiyōbi | water |
| Thursday | 木曜日 mokuyōbi | tree, wood |
| Friday | 金曜日 kin'yōbi | gold, metal |
| Saturday | 土曜日 doyōbi | earth |
| Sunday | 日曜日 nichiyōbi | sun |
Every day ends in 曜日 (yōbi), “day of the week.” Only the first kanji changes.
Two readings
Most kanji have more than one reading. Alone, 水 is mizu (water); in 水曜日 it's sui. Generally the native Japanese reading is used when a kanji stands alone, and the reading borrowed from Chinese is used in compounds. Learn the word and the reading comes with it.
Pictures in the kanji
- 木 looks like a tree with roots and branches.
- 火 looks like a fire with sparks.
- 日 started as a picture of the sun; 月 as a crescent moon.
Today, tomorrow, yesterday
今日 (kyō), 明日 (ashita), 昨日 (kinō) have special readings, so learn them as whole words.