How to Say Dates and Times in Japanese
Learning how to say dates and times in Japanese is a must-have skill for any language learner. Whether you're booking appointments, checking the calendar, reading train schedules, or simply planning your travel itinerary in Japan, this knowledge will make daily conversations and real-life interactions smoother and more accurate.
In this guide, we’ll break down everything from how to write the date in Japanese, how to express days, months, years, and how to convert or translate dates and times in Japanese to English. We’ll also include hiragana, romaji, and even a tip on how to use a Japanese date converter.
First 10 Days of the Month in Japanese
There are special readings for the first 10 days of the month in Japanese, which differ from the usual number-based readings. You’ll need to memorize these separately:
| Day | Kanji | Hiragana | Romanization |
| 1st | 一日 | ついたち | tsuitachi |
| 2nd | 二日 | ふつか | futsuka |
| 3rd | 三日 | みっか | mikka |
| 4th | 四日 | よっか | yokka |
| 5th | 五日 | いつか | itsuka |
| 6th | 六日 | むいか | muika |
| 7th | 七日 | なのか | nanoka |
| 8th | 八日 | ようか | youka |
| 9th | 九日 | ここのか | kokonoka |
| 10th | 十日 | とおか | tooka |
Note: Pay special attention to the 4th (よっか) and 8th (ようか). Their pronunciations are close but distinct.
After the 10th, things get simpler: just combine Japanese numbers with 日（にち）.
Examples:
- 18th = 十八日 (じゅうはちにち / jūhachi-nichi)
- 25th = 二十五日 (にじゅうごにち / nijūgo-nichi)
Special case: 20th is はつか (二十日) — not にじゅうにち.
14th and 24th are じゅうよっか and にじゅうよっか、 respectively.
Read More-:https://youtube.com/shorts/0wAV6dMk8-0?si=EQD78pJeqPfDLVyq
Days of the Week in Japanese
Each day of the week in Japanese ends with 曜日 (ようび / youbi), which means "day of the week". Here's a breakdown:
| Kanji | Hiragana | Romanization | Meaning |
| 月曜日 | げつようび | getsuyoubi | Monday (Moon) |
| 火曜日 | かようび | kayoubi | Tuesday (Fire) |
| 水曜日 | すいようび | suiyoubi | Wednesday (Water) |
| 木曜日 | もくようび | mokuyoubi | Thursday (Wood) |
| 金曜日 | きんようび | kinyoubi | Friday (Gold) |
| 土曜日 | どようび | doyoubi | Saturday (Earth) |
| 日曜日 | にちようび | nichiyoubi | Sunday (Sun) |
In shops, newspapers, or schedules, only the first kanji (月, 火, 水, etc.) is often used.
To boost your grammar skills, explore this detailed explanation of passive and causative-passive verbs in Japanese, especially helpful for JLPT N2 and N1 preparation.
How to Pronounce Months in Japanese
Months are easy: just add the number (1–12) to the kanji 月 (がつ / gatsu).
| Kanji | Hiragana | Romaji | Month |
| 一月 | いちがつ | ichigatsu | January |
| 二月 | にがつ | nigatsu | February |
| 三月 | さんがつ | sangatsu | March |
| 四月 | しがつ | shigatsu | April |
| 五月 | ごがつ | gogatsu | May |
| 六月 | ろくがつ | rokugatsu | June |
| 七月 | しちがつ | shichigatsu | July |
| 八月 | はちがつ | hachigatsu | August |
| 九月 | くがつ | kugatsu | September |
| 十月 | じゅうがつ | jūgatsu | October |
| 十一月 | じゅういちがつ | jūichigatsu | November |
| 十二月 | じゅうにがつ | jūnigatsu | December |
Caution:
- April = しがつ (shi, not yon)
- July = しちがつ (shichi, not nana)
- September = くがつ (ku, not kyuu)
To improve your understanding of nuanced expressions, check out this helpful guide on how to give and receive in Japanese, covering essential phrases like あげる, くれる, and もらう.
How to Write Date in Japanese
The Japanese date format follows this order:
Year 年 + Month 月 + Day 日
Example:
April 6, 2024 = 2024年4月6日
In hiragana: にせんにじゅうよねん しがつ むいか
You can also use tools like a Japanese date converter to switch formats or convert to the imperial calendar (e.g., Reiwa 6 for 2024).
Read More-: https://youtu.be/6VzMLCBlxSQ?si=AlppYKt6zRxe94kZ
For those learning business Japanese or formal writing, this article on how to write emails and letters in Japanese will help you communicate respectfully and professionally.
How to Say Time in Japanese
Use the structure: [Hour] 時 (じ / ji) + [Minute] 分 (ふん / pun)
Examples:
- 5:00 = 五時 (ごじ / goji)
- 7:30 PM = 午後七時三十分 (ごごしちじさんじゅっぷん)
AM = 午前 (gozen)
PM = 午後 (gogo)
For practice, use Japanese audio resources like NHK Easy News, podcasts, or language apps.
If you're already at an intermediate or advanced level, be sure to read about the common mistakes advanced Japanese learners make and how to avoid them.
Relative Time Periods in Japanese
In addition, there are some terms like yesterday, today, tomorrow, last year, this year, next year, etc, that you can use to address different relative time periods.
| Kanji | Hiragana | Romaji | Meaning |
| 一昨日 | おととい | ototoi | The day before yesterday |
| 昨日 | きのう | kinou | Yesterday |
| 今日 | きょう | kyou | Today |
| 明日 | あした | ashita | Tomorrow |
| 明後日 | あさって | asatte | The day after tomorrow |
| 先週 | せんしゅう | senshuu | Last week |
| 今週 | こんしゅう | konshuu | This week |
| 来週 | らいしゅう | raishuu | Next week |
| 先月 | せんげつ | sengetsu | Last month |
| 今月 | こんげつ | kongetsu | This month |
| 来月 | らいげつ | raigetsu | Next month |
| 去年 | きょねん | kyonen | Last year |
| 今年 | ことし | kotoshi | This year |
| 来年 | らいねん | rainen | Next year |
Learn Japanese Dates and Time the Right Way with TLS – The Japanese Language School
Understanding dates and times in Japanese is just one of the many building blocks on your language learning journey. If you're serious about mastering these concepts – from pronunciation and writing to conversation practice – enrolling in a structured course can make a huge difference.
At TLS – The Japanese Language School, learners receive expert guidance on every aspect of Japanese, including how to:
- Say and write dates in Japanese hiragana, kanji, and romaji
- Master pronunciation with real-time Japanese audio support
- Understand cultural context, including calendars, holidays, and etiquette
- Practice listening and speaking skills in immersive settings
Whether you're a beginner or preparing for JLPT, TLS offers both online and offline classes that will help you grasp grammar, vocabulary, and communication skills with clarity and confidence.
For anyone looking to go beyond self-study and truly immerse themselves in the Japanese language, TLS is the right place to start.
Visit Us
2/81-82, 2nd Floor, Lalita Park, Gali No - 2, Laxmi Nagar, New Delhi - 110092
Call Us
Want to understand what's happening in Japan right now? Learn the basics of reading Japanese news headlines and how context and kanji impact interpretation.
FAQs
Q1. What do we say 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 in Japanese?
1: いち (ichi)
2: に (ni)
3: さん (san)
4: し / よん (shi / yon)
5: ご (go)
6: ろく (roku)
7: しち / なな (shichi / nana)
8: はち (hachi)
9: きゅう / く (kyuu / ku)
10: じゅう (juu)
Q2. What are the 7 days of the week 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), 日曜日 (Sunday)
Q3. What is the Japanese 3 date rule?
The "3 date rule" is a cultural relationship concept in Japan where people often go on three dates before entering a romantic relationship. It's not related to calendar dates.
Q4. What is the date format in Japan?
The format is: Year + 月 (month) + 日 (day)
Example: 2025年1月15日 (January 15, 2025)
Q5. What is 2025 in Japanese?
二千二十五 (にせんにじゅうご / nisen-nijū-go)
So, 2025年 = the year 2025
Q6. Are dates different in Japan?
Yes. Japan uses both the Gregorian calendar and the imperial calendar system (e.g., 2025 = Reiwa 7). The format also differs: Year/Month/Day instead of Month/Day/Year.
Final Thoughts
Mastering dates and times in Japanese is not just about memorization. It’s about integrating this vocabulary into your daily conversations. Use visual cues, listen to real-life Japanese audio, and start noting dates in Japanese on your own calendar. That way, you’ll build fluency naturally and confidently.
