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Rico","singapore":"Singapore","spain":"Spain","sweden":"Sweden","switzerland":"Switzerland","taiwan":"Taiwan","thailand":"Thailand","united_kingdom":"United Kingdom","usa":"USA","publish_details":{"locale":"en-us"}}}]}},"pageContext":{"blocks":[{"feature_card":{"subtitle":"A writer, improviser, mental health and inclusion advocate — Mayumi wears many hats. Or one huge colourful hat. She studied Intercultural Studies and how to teach Japanese as a second language in Japan. She also took a Mental Health course in Australia, worked as a marketing text optimiser, and travelled/lived in several countries including New Zealand, England, and Switzerland.
After years of digital nomad life, Mayumi settled in Vienna, Austria, where she speaks English and Baby Deutsch.
","flipped":false,"join_block_below":true,"image":{"url":"https://images.contentstack.io/v3/assets/bltacc1a01c4d280f24/bltfc0871c3e27b3eae/64ed5c6a540753df757b5064/pexels-vlada-karpovich-4050304.jpg","title":"pexels-vlada-karpovich-4050304.jpg"},"hidden":false}},{"cards":{"large_cards":false,"row":false,"flat":false,"title":"Articles by Mayumi","join_block_below":true,"cta_as_link":true,"cards":[{"call_to_action_text":"Days of the week in Japanese","basic_card":false,"align_center":false,"page_reference":[{"title":"How to say the days of the week in Japanese: A fun & free guide","url":"/blog/days-of-the-week-japanese","image":{"url":"https://images.contentstack.io/v3/assets/bltacc1a01c4d280f24/blt97bc148377ecf94a/6524cf330b91cc6223c18637/pexels-photo-1765631.jpeg"},"post_content":"This means it's not as complicated to remember the days of the week in Japanese as you may think!
\nLearning them is particularly helpful when communicating in a foreign language; usually, days of the week are easier to pick up than numbers in conversations. Let's say I'm making an appointment at a clinic in Vienna, Austria. The fast-speaker receptionist asks me, \"Montag, den dreiundzwanzigsten Oktober?\" I could at least understand it's one of the Mondays in October, which would give me a better chance of guessing right. I'd look at my calendar and squeeze out my Baby Deutsch, \"Montag... Dreiundzwanzigsten?\" (Monday… 23rd?)
\nHave I succeeded in motivating you to read on?
\n\nThe seven-day-per-week concept was introduced to Japan in the early 9th century. A Buddhist monk brought it back from China, and it was mainly applied to the area of fortunetelling in Japan. It became part of everyday life after Japan officially adopted the Gregorian Calendar in the 19th century.
\n
Let me first introduce the word '曜日' (ようび - yōbi); it means 'day of the week'. Each day has one unique kanji before '曜日'. Pretty simple, right? The kanji '曜' doesn't look super simple though — can you believe most Japanese kids today learn this complicated letter at the budding age of 7 or 8?
\nThe first kanjis are much less complicated, and this blog post helps you remember the seven 曜日 more easily. I've got your back, friends.
\nYes. I counted. There are seven.
\n| English | \nHiragana | \nKanji | \nRomaji | \n
| Monday | \nげつようび | \n月曜日 | \nGetsuyōbi | \n
| Tuesday | \nかようび | \n火曜日 | \nKayōbi | \n
| Wednesday | \nすいようび | \n水曜日 | \nSuiyōbi | \n
| Thursday | \nもくようび | \n木曜日 | \nMokuyōbi | \n
| Friday | \nきんようび | \n金曜日 | \nKin’yōbi | \n
| Saturday | \nどようび | \n土曜日 | \nDoyōbi | \n
| Sunday | \nにちようび | \n日曜日 | \nNichiyōbi | \n
In everyday conversation, we often say '月曜' (getsuyō) instead of '月曜日' (getsuyōbi). Yes, the last '日' (bi) is omitted. One letter shorter. Yay!
\nIn the written format, it can be just a single letter like '月'. If a shop is open from Monday to Friday, the sign on its door or window may say, '月 - 金'.
\nIn the States, the date format goes like this:
\nIn British English:
\nThe Japanese format? Generally, it's in this order: year, month, day, and day of the week. The above date looks like these;
\nSometimes a year is written with a Japanese era name such as '令和5年'. I may write about it some other time if requested, as it'd require an extra 1K words to explain the era name and its history!
\n\nI must've learned how to say the days of the week before starting school. I was utterly fascinated later when I was taught about their association with planets (and a star and a satellite). If you're familiar with the association, this definitely helps you remember how to say and write the seven days. Bonus point: you'll learn the names of some planets (and a star and a satellite) in Japanese, too!
\nEach kanji preceding '曜日' corresponds to a planet, a star, or a satellite as shown below. (Excuse me for the repetition and my peculiar precision.)
\n| Day of the week | \nPlanet / Star / Satellite (Japanese) | \nPlanet / Star / Satellite (English) | \nNote | \n
| 月曜日 | \n月 (つき - tsuki) | \nMoon | \n月 also means ‘month’. (Confusing, I know.) | \n
| 火曜日 | \n火星 (かせい - kasei) | \nMars | \n火 means ‘fire’. | \n
| 水曜日 | \n水星 (すいせい - suisei) | \nMercury | \n水 means ‘water’. | \n
| 木曜日 | \n木星 (もくせい - mokusei) | \nJupiter | \n木 means ‘wood’. | \n
| 金曜日 | \n金星 (きんせい - kinsei) | \nVenus | \n金 means ‘gold’. | \n
| 土曜日 | \n土星 (どせい - dosei) | \nSaturn | \n土 means ‘earth’ (soil). | \n
| 日曜日 | \n太陽 (たいよう - taiyō) | \nSun | \nThe first 日 means ‘sun’, and the second 日 means ‘day’. | \n
![\"Each](\"https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/s3YGOzw3G54bcFjgDWGK7ZssRF3aqow3l3MkbTmsWNSAQyx5-gTnZgVYcBmIKzLwkaj6yYvcZb6AcZJc_UU2l6VoDN-2zBGABPi2dK4HuNRV6oRy9wdRVRpqe-D4rDX2XjCtFy5FiGTRaCDtWgoqAjI?auto=webp&format=pjpg&quality=80&\")
\n\n\nHere's a list of Japanese words associated with 'week'.
\n| English | \nHiragana | \nKanji | \nRomaji | \n
|---|---|---|---|
| Week | \nしゅう | \n週 | \nShū | \n
| A week | \nいっしゅうかん | \n一週間 | \nIsshūkan | \n
| Weekday(s) | \nへいじつ | \n平日 | \nHeijitsu | \n
| Weekend | \nしゅうまつ | \n週末 | \nShūmatsu | \n
| National holiday | \nしゅくじつ | \n祝日 | \nShukujitsu | \n
| Holiday | \nきゅうじつ | \n休日 | \nKyūjitsu | \n
| Today | \nきょう | \n今日 | \nKyō | \n
| Tomorrow | \nあした / あす | \n明日 | \nAshita / Asu | \n
| Day after tomorrow | \nあさって | \n明後日 | \nAsatte | \n
| Yesterday | \nきのう | \n昨日 | \nKinō | \n
| Day before yesterday | \nおととい | \n一昨日 | \nOtotoi | \n
| This week | \nこんしゅう | \n今週 | \nKonshū | \n
| Next week | \nらいしゅう | \n来週 | \nRaishū | \n
| Last week | \nせんしゅう | \n先週 | \nSenshū | \n
| Beginning of the week | \nしゅうあけ | \n週明け | \nShūake | \n
A few words need explanation; let me start with '祝日' (shukujitsu). It's a national holiday, and there are more than a dozen annually. '休日' (kyūjitsu) is a broader term that includes public and personal holidays. If a '祝日' falls on Sunday, the following Monday becomes a public holiday (振替休日 - furikaekyūjitsu), too. You can also call your day off '休日'.
\n'明日' is commonly pronounced as 'ashita'. 'Asu' is used in more formal contexts, such as news broadcasts.
\nThe word '週明け' might make you wonder, \"So, what day is the beginning of the week in Japan?\" Excellent question. Read on, the answer is a few scrolls away.
\n\nNow, let's dive deeper into Japanese culture that even the locals might not be aware of.
\n![\"Two](\"https://images.contentstack.io/v3/assets/bltacc1a01c4d280f24/blt8e81ce21c3a2610b/6524d6177df8a1c7a2fe24f2/pexels-photo-7845079.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&quality=80&\")
According to the Time and Date website, Sunday is the first day of the week in the States and Japan. If you check Japanese monthly calendars, Sundays are often on the left end. (I googled and browsed a few hundred Japanese calendars for 2023.) So, a week starts with Sunday in Japan...
\n...not always.
\nFirst of all, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) defines Monday as the first day of the week. Secondly, '週末' (shūmatsu - weekend) typically refers to Saturday and Sunday. If Sunday is the end of the week, the beginning should be Monday. '週明け' (shūake) usually means Monday unless Monday is a public holiday and the business or school week starts on Tuesday. On the other hand, some Japanese dictionaries define Sunday as the first day of the week.
\nIf someone says 'next week on Sunday', for instance, it's safe to clarify which Sunday they're talking about.
\nAs far as I remember, basic Japanese calendars display Saturdays in blue font and Sundays and public holidays in red.
\nSaturdays were not days off in Japan until the mid-1970s. Even after that, it was still common for workplaces and schools to operate on a half-day schedule. For several years, I attended school on Saturdays, though the classes would end before lunchtime.
\nDuring the transition, some smart people suggested highlighting Saturdays with a different color on the calendar to avoid confusion. The primary colors used in industrial printing are black, red, blue, and yellow. Black (weekday) and red (holiday) were already assigned, and yellow doesn't provide a good contrast on a white background. That's how blue became the color for Saturdays.
\n\nSome of my English teachers insisted, \"Say that in a full sentence.\" They were good teachers. We shall follow their instructions.
\n| English | \nHiragana | \nKanji + Hiragana | \nRomaji | \nNote | \n
| Today is Monday. | \nきょうはげつよう。 | \n今日は月曜。 | \nKyō wa getsuyō. | \nCasual | \n
| \n | きょうはげつようびです。 | \n今日は月曜日です。 | \nKyō wa getsuyōbi desu. | \nPolite | \n
| What day is tomorrow? | \nあした、なんようだっけ？ | \n明日、何曜だっけ？ | \nAshita, nan’yō dakke? | \nCasual | \n
| \n | あしたはなんようびですか？ | \n明日は何曜日ですか？ | \nAshita wa nan’yōbi desuka? | \nPolite | \n
| The day after tomorrow is Tuesday. | \nあさってはかよう。 | \n明後日は火曜。 | \nAsatte wa kayō. | \nCasual | \n
| \n | あさってはかようびです。 | \n明後日は火曜日です。 | \nAsatte wa kayōbi desu. | \nPolite | \n
| Last Wednesday was a national holiday. | \nせんしゅうのすいようはしゅくじつだった。 | \n先週の水曜は祝日だった。 | \nSenshū no suiyō wa shukujitsu datta. | \nCasual | \n
| \n | せんしゅうのすいようびはしゅくじつでした。 | \n先週の水曜日は祝日でした。 | \nSenshū no suiyōbi wa shukujitsu deshita. | \nPolite | \n
| This Thursday will be rainy. | \nこんしゅうのもくようはあめ。 | \n今週の木曜は雨。 | \nKonshū no mokuyō wa ame. | \nCasual | \n
| \n | こんしゅうのもくようびはあめです。 | \n今週の木曜日は雨です。 | \nKonshū no mokuyōbi wa ame desu. | \nPolite | \n
| The class is from yesterday until Friday. | \nじゅぎょうはきのうからきんようまで。 | \n授業は昨日から金曜まで。 | \nJugyō wa kinō kara kin'yō made. | \nCasual | \n
| \n | じゅぎょうはきのうからきんようびまでです。 | \n授業は昨日から金曜日までです。 | \nJugyō wa kinō kara kin’yōbi made desu. | \nPolite | \n
| The concert is on Saturday next week. | \nこんさーとはらいしゅうどよう。 | \nコンサートは来週土曜。 | \nKonsāto wa raishū doyō. | \nCasual | \n
| \n | こんさーとはらいしゅうのどようびです。 | \nコンサートは来週の土曜日です。 | \nKonsāto wa raishū no doyōbi desu. | \nPolite | \n
| I want to take it slow on Sunday. | \nにちようはゆっくりしたい。 | \n日曜はゆっくりしたい。 | \nNichiyō wa yukkuri shitai. | \nCasual | \n
| \n | にちようびはゆっくりしたいです。 | \n日曜日はゆっくりしたいです。 | \nNichiyōbi wa yukkuri shitai desu. | \nPolite | \n
| The day before yesterday was a holiday. | \nおとといはきゅうじつだった。 | \n一昨日は休日だった。 | \nOtotoi wa kyūjitsu datta. | \nCasual | \n
| \n | おとといはきゅうじつでした。 | \n一昨日は休日でした。 | \nOtotoi wa kyūjitsu deshita. | \nPolite | \n
| I’m going to Tokyo for a week. | \nいっしゅうかんとうきょうにいってくる。 | \n一週間東京に行ってくる。 | \nIsshūkan Tokyo ni itte kuru. | \nCasual | \n
| \n | いっしゅうかんとうきょうにいってきます。 | \n一週間東京に行ってきます。 | \nIsshūkan Tokyo ni itte kimasu. | \nPolite | \n
| I have work on weekdays. | \nへいじつはしごとがある。 | \n平日は仕事がある。 | \nHeijitsu wa shigoto ga aru. | \nCasual | \n
| \n | へいじつはしごとがあります。 | \n平日は仕事があります。 | \nHeijitsu wa shigoto ga arimasu. | \nPolite | \n
| What’s your plan for the weekend? | \nしゅうまつのよていは？ | \n週末の予定は？ | \nShūmatsu no yotei wa? | \nCasual | \n
| Do you have a plan for the weekend? | \nしゅうまつのごよていはありますか？ | \n週末のご予定はありますか？ | \nShūmatsu no goyotei wa arimasu ka? | \nPolite | \n
| I’m very busy at the beginning of the week. | \nしゅうあけはすごくいそがしい。 | \n週明けはすごく忙しい。 | \nShūake wa sugoku isogashii. | \nCasual | \n
| \n | しゅうあけはとてもいそがしいです。 | \n週明けはとても忙しいです。 | \nShūake wa totemo isogashii desu. | \nPolite | \n
Another way to effectively remember the days of the week: music!
\nHint: to find the song lyrics, type in the original song title, artist name, and '歌詞' (kashi - lyrics) in the search box.
\nI recommend getting yourself a Japanese calendar if possible. Maybe one that features your favorite manga, anime, actor, musician, or place. Hang it on the wall. Place it on your desk. Keep it nearby so you see it every day. It would help you familiarize yourself with the Japanese days of the week. You'd find public holidays —there are quite a few— on the calendar, which may want to explore Japanese culture further.
\nOr, even better, how about creating your own Japanese calendar now that you know how to write the days of the week in Japanese? You can add your local holidays and events as well. Sounds like a fun project.
\nThis article may be published on a different day, but at the time of typing this sentence, it's 金曜日 here in Austria. What day is it where you are now? Whatever day it is, I wish you a lovely one!
\nHungry for more fun and free Japanese language blog lessons? Keep checking back to our Japanese language blog, where we publish expert lessons in easy and fresh blog articles each month.
"}],"exclude_internal_ref_image":false,"contain_image":false},{"call_to_action_text":"Japanese culture","basic_card":false,"align_center":false,"page_reference":[{"title":"Japanese culture: A guide to traditions, history, customs & more","url":"/blog/japanese-culture-traditions-facts","image":{"url":"https://images.contentstack.io/v3/assets/bltacc1a01c4d280f24/blt09ac8fe4c5bbf53d/66bac989f641a64184ab960e/japan_tokyo_mt_fuji_istock-904453184.jpg"},"post_content":"\"I'm writing a blog post, not a book. What do I cover about Japanese culture? What would our dear readers want to know?\" After brainstorming for hours, I've settled on some topics and I'm determined to wow you with interesting facts — at least a few times!
Before you read on, I recommend bookmarking this page. Because there'll be more specific and in-depth articles linked to this post later on.
Done?
Cool. With this article, you'll pick up some Japanese words as a bonus. I'm super curious to know what you'll find fascinating!
Japan has a couple of thousand years of history as a civilized country. Let's have a look at these hand-picked key periods and topics here.
Japanese people seem pretty homogenous, but the majority have a mix of multiple origins. One of the indigenous Japanese ethnic groups is called the Ainu, native to northern Japan, including Hokkaido. They faced oppression for centuries and had to fight hard for their rights. It wasn't until 2008 that they were officially and legally recognized as a Japanese Indigenous tribe.
![\"One](\"https://images.contentstack.io/v3/assets/bltacc1a01c4d280f24/blt477434a2046272ef/66bac407f641a69274ab95ae/AinuGroup.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&quality=80&\")
A group of Ainu people, 1904. (Source: \"Ainu: Spirit of a Northern People \" ISBN: 0967342902)
Even though the Ainu and Japanese languages don't share the same roots, they've influenced each other through interaction. These Japanese words originally came from the Ainu.
| Japanese (the most common way to write) | Hiragana | Romaji | English |
| トナカイ | となかい | Tonakai | Reindeer |
| 昆布 | こんぶ | Kombu | A type of sea kelp |
| 札幌 | さっぽろ | Sapporo | Capital city of Hokkaido |
Yes, kombu means sea kelp! Imagine my confusion when I first saw 'kombucha' in the States. ('Kombucha' in Japan is a salty drink made with this sea kelp.)
In the Heian Period (794-1185), warriors, mainly men, served for noble houses and started to establish their power. They're known as 侍 (さむらい - samurai). You might think of their traditional outfits, epic sword fights, and maybe the unique ways of moving and speaking.
![\"Tomoe](\"https://images.contentstack.io/v3/assets/bltacc1a01c4d280f24/blt62ebd224678dcf8b/66bac588473507d7db091345/Yōshū_Chikanobu_Tomoe_Gozen.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&quality=80&\")
\"Tomoe Gozen in the Battle of Awazu\" by Utagawa Yoshikazu. (Image in the public domain.)
Japanese has a lot of sociolects, forms of language used by particular social groups, age groups, or genders. 'Samurai kotoba' is one of them, spoken by samurai, and reflects the strict social hierarchy. It's not useful today —just amusing to hear someone use it—, but delving into it can give you a deeper understanding of the societal aspects of Japanese culture.
Japan's Tokugawa Shogunate had the 'sakoku policy' for over 200 years until 1853, monopolizing international trade and banning Christianity. They saw foreign influences as a threat to their power centralization and tried to shut them out.
After opening up its doors, Japan started soaking up American and European culture and systems at many levels. (Adopting the Gregorian calendar is part of it.) This phenomenon is called '文明開化' (ぶんめいかいか - bunmei kaika) which means 'civilization'.
![\"Tokyo](\"https://images.contentstack.io/v3/assets/bltacc1a01c4d280f24/blt3a0aede9ce8f94ba/66bac6dcd99ec8278aff8a6d/Tokyo_Koamicho_Yoroibashidori_Azumatei.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&quality=80&\")
\"Tokyo Koamichō Yoroibashidōri Azumatei\" by Inoue Tankei. (Image in the public domain.)
Newly imported things and concepts needed Japanese names, and a bunch of intellectuals coined many of them. These '和製漢語' (わせいかんご - wasei kango, Japanese-made Chinese word') are still widely used today. Here are some surprising examples.
| Japanese (the most common way to write) | Hiragana | Romaji | English |
| 地球 | ちきゅう | Chikyū | Earth |
| 社会 | しゃかい | Shakai | Society |
| 自由 | じゆう | Jiyū | Freedom |
The world wars have changed everything. Economic miracle. Fridge at home. Western-style clothing. Voting rights for women. Bread and milk on the table.
Japan's rapid post-war development was driven by the concept of '追いつけ、追い越せ' (おいつけ、おいこせ - oitsuke, oikose), which translates to 'Catch up and surpass (the West)'. How then is Japanese style still a far cry away from the West?
![\"Japanese](\"https://images.contentstack.io/v3/assets/bltacc1a01c4d280f24/blt00eda613649e951a/66bac79ef641a6aac6ab95f0/Women_voting_Japan.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&quality=80&\")
Japanese women voting for the general election for the first time. (Source: Old Magazine Articles)
Japan's adaptability can be summed up in these words: 和洋折衷 (わようせっちゅう - wayōsecchū) and 和魂洋才 (わこんようさい - wakon'yōsai). The first means 'Japanese and Western styles blended together', and the second refers to 'Japanese spirit with Western learning'. The new systems, technologies, and culture were tweaked to fit the existing Japanese culture and mentality. Think of things like Western-style buildings with traditional Japanese roof tiles, kimono (traditional Japanese garments) paired with leather boots, or matcha ice cream.
The fascinating stuff you might or might not have seen or heard about. Check out what they are and some unique facts about them.
\"Isn't everything interesting?\" Pretty much. Let me share a few hand-picked cultural facts you may or may not have heard of.
漢字 (かんじ - kanji) is one of the three Japanese scripts and is normally translated as 'Chinese characters'. But there are a bunch of kanji that were invented in Japan by combining existing Chinese characters in a non-Chinese way. They're called '国字' (こくじ - kokuji, national characters) or '和製漢字' (わせいかんじ - waseikanji, Japan-made Chinese characters). Here are some examples:
| Kanji | Hiragana | Romaji | English |
| 畑 | はたけ | Hatake | Field for fruits or vegetables |
| 峠 | とうげ | Tōge | Mountain peak, climax |
| 枠 | わく | Waku | Frame |
The types of the script can impact the reader's impression; text dense with 漢字 appears formal and maybe academic. If it's full of 平仮名 (ひらがな - hiragana), it'd look soft, possibly a bit childish. With lots of 片仮名 (かたかな - カタカナ - katakana), people would assume it's about a foreign country or culture, or something techy.
折り紙 (おりがみ - origami) is a traditional Japanese art/play of paper-folding. Oh yes, I've played it a million times. Flowers, boats, cranes... but no, never made something like a solar panel. 折り紙 techniques have been applied to space science, with its easy-to-fold-and-open mechanism enabling big solar panels to be compactly stowed into the satellites. Can't really picture what it's like? Check out this video.
There are indeed tons of do's and don'ts in Japan. Even Japanese people get nervous about them, worrying if they're doing it right.
Let's say, you're invited to someone's home.
First thing first, arrive on time. Don't risk being perceived as disrespectful and unreliable by turning up late. Take off your coat outside the front door, and say \"お邪魔します\" (おじゃまします - ojamashimasu), which means \"Excuse me for intruding\", when entering the house. Oh, and of course, remove your shoes like in this video. And... there's a lot more.
Why so many rules? It's how they demonstrate their respect. You appreciate the host's time and effort made for you, and you don't bring anything dirty into their territory because cleanliness and hygiene are serious business.
\"Isn't everything different?\" Basically, yeah. Even McDonald's serves different menus, and their burgers aren't exactly the same. Here are some facts and concepts that can be helpful when you interact with Japanese folks.
This expression sums up the expectations in the Japanese communication: '空気を読む' (くうきをよむ - kūki o yomu). It literally translates as 'read the air'. Japanese people expect you to not only read 'between the lines' but also the situation, context, and how others may be feeling or thinking, AND optimize your words and behaviors accordingly.
In the States, communication style is often more about clearly delivering your opinions. If someone gets annoyed or offended, there'll be a discussion (or an argument).
When communicating with a Japanese person, you might need Sherlock Holmes-level observation skills and cultural psychology expertise to understand their true intentions. There's a chance they're not 'saying' what they really mean to avoid potential conflict. (To be fair, even Japanese folks fail to get it right!)
Why do the Japanese avoid conflicts? The key concept here is '和' (わ - wa, harmony). In Japanese culture, the benefits of social groups are often prioritized over those of individuals.
Part of it derives from Japan's high population density and historical need to share limited resources. It's more effective and comfortable if everyone thinks and behaves the same way. Contribution to this 'harmony' may come from a place of kindness, consideration, or obligation, and it also leads to peer pressure.
While being 'average' or doing things like 'everyone else' might not sound cool in the States, it can mean PERFECT in Japan. (Don't be afraid to be yourself and be a champ, just ensure you make others shine, too!)
What comes to your mind when you think of the Japanese work culture? Demand for high-quality results, long-hour labor, strict hierarchy... By and large, yes. Japanese customers aren't particularly easy to please. 9-5 workday exists only in the dream. Languages used for peers, senior coworkers, higher-ups, and clients — are most likely different.
In the States, you probably call your bosses by their first name like, \"Hey Aretha!\" Let's say Aretha Murphy is a marketing manager. In Japan, her junior coworkers may greet her, \"（マーフィー）課長、おはようございます！\" (Manager (Murphy), good morning!) Sounds kind of like the military, but it can be said in a friendly way, too.
It signifies Japan's 肩書社会 (かたがきしゃかい - katagaki shakai) which literally translates to 'title society'. Titles matter unless you're in a flat organization.
I didn't want only to highlight how wonderful Japanese culture is or illustrate how it sucks. You might've picked up on a hint of my personal feelings towards various aspects of it.
The other blogs on this theme might give you a totally different impression. So go experience Japanese culture yourself, for real, off the phone/computer screen.
Or if you’re looking to start by dipping your toe in, discover all the wonderful articles about Japanese language and culture on our Japanese blog here.
"}],"exclude_internal_ref_image":false,"contain_image":false},{"call_to_action_text":"Thank you in Japanese","basic_card":false,"align_center":false,"page_reference":[{"title":"How to say thank you & you’re welcome in Japanese in 59 ways","url":"/blog/thank-you-you-are-welcome-japanese","image":{"url":"https://images.contentstack.io/v3/assets/bltacc1a01c4d280f24/blt2054e7c3af1c3ac2/6552ca1525f4797638d43ac3/istock-847227234.jpg"},"post_content":"I'm here to write a 1K+ word article on this topic. So yes, there's A LOT you can learn about Japanese expressions of appreciation! You'll discover context-appropriate phrases and the mentality and culture behind them. Interested? (I choose to assume you are.) Cool!
The word ありがとう (arigatō) is derived from the old adjective '有り難し' (arigatashi). It means 'rare', therefore 'valuable'. Its adverb form '有り難く' (arigataku) became '有り難う' (arigatō), which is used to this day.
If you've heard the theory that 'ありがとう' came from 'obligado', the Portuguese word for 'thank you', it's nothing but a myth.100%.
In this article, you'll see a couple of ways 'ありがとう' is written in English alphabets. Before it confuses you, I'll clarify the difference.
Arigatō: The bar on the 'o' means an elongated sound. I spell this way in this blog as it represents the natural pronunciation.
Arigato: It's probably the most commonly seen spelling. If you don't elongate the last 'o', it might sound casual, blunt, or cute, depending on how you say it.
Arigatou: A lot of people also spell like this as it corresponds with each hiragana (あ-a, り-ri, が-ga, と-to, う-u). The 'ou' at the end doesn't really represent the correct pronunciation, but there's no problem writing this way as long as you know the right way to pronounce it.
Just as 'Thank you' is not the only expression of appreciation in English, there are many ways to convey gratitude in Japanese. Ranging from casual phrases to formal ones, situation-specific ones, and even 'thank you in disguise'.
![\"Family](\"https://images.contentstack.io/v3/assets/bltacc1a01c4d280f24/bltbfbbf4fe97f794b6/6552cc08f1467657af15989e/istock-846693166.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&quality=80&\")
Let's start with arigatō and its variations.
| English | Hiragana | Kanji + Hiragana or Katakana | Romaji | Note |
| Thank you. | ありがとう。 | Commonly written only in hiragana | Arigatō. | Casual |
| ありがとうございます。 | Commonly written only in hiragana | Arigatō gozaimasu. | Polite | |
| ありがとうございました。 | Commonly written only in hiragana | Arigatō gozaimashita. | Polite Use only when you are thankful for what has already happened. | |
| あざす。/ あざーす。 | Only written in hiragana | Azasu. / Azāsu. | Slang Overly shortened ‘arigatō gozaimasu’. Mostly used by young folks. | |
| Thanks. | Commonly written only in katakana | サンキュー。 | Sankyū. | Very casual English ‘thank you’ with Japanese pronunciation |
| どうも。 | Only written in hiragana | Dōmo. | Polite and informal | |
| Thank you very much. | ほんとうありがとう。 | 本当ありがとう。 | Hontō arigatō. | Casual ‘Hontō’ may sound more like ‘honto’ without the last ‘o’ elongated. |
| ほんとうにありがとうございます。 | 本当にありがとうございます。 | Hontō ni arigatō gozaimasu. | Polite | |
| どうもありがとうございます。 | Commonly written only in hiragana | Dōmo arigatō gozaimasu. | Polite | |
| Thank you for everything. | いろいろありがとう。 | 色々ありがとう。 | Iroiro arigatō. | Casual |
| いろいろありがとうございます。 | 色々ありがとうございます。 | Iroiro arigatō gozaimasu. | Polite | |
| Thank you for going out of your way. | わざわざありがとう。 | Commonly written only in hiragana | Wazawaza arigatō. | Casual |
| わざわざありがとうございます。 | Commonly written only in hiragana | Wazawaza arigatō gozaimasu. | Polite | |
| I’m grateful to you. | かんしゃするよ。 | 感謝するよ。 | Kansha suru yo. | Casual The verb ‘感謝する’ means ‘appreciate’, and 'the noun '感謝’ means ‘gratitude’. |
| かんしゃします。 | 感謝します。 | Kansha shimasu. | Polite | |
| I couldn’t thank you more. | かんしゃしてもしきれないよ。 | 感謝してもしきれないよ。 | Kansha shite mo shikirenai yo. | Casual |
| かんしゃしてもしきれません。 | 感謝してもしきれません。 | Kansha shite mo shikiremasen. | Polite |
It's time for Business Japanese — in case you read above as 'Informal'. Use these phrases only towards people with higher status than you. (Not a fan of hierarchy? Me neither. *fist bump of solidarity*)
| English | Hiragana | Kanji + Hiragana | Romaji | Note |
| I am grateful. | ありがたくぞんじます。 | ありがたく存じます。 | Arigataku zonji masu. | |
| I appreciate it. | かんしゃいたします。 | 感謝いたします。 | Kansha itashimasu. | |
| かんしゃもうしあげます。 | 感謝申し上げます。 | Kansha moushiage masu. | ||
| Thank you very much. | まことにありがとうございます。 | 誠にありがとうございます。 | Makoto ni arigatō gozaimasu. | |
| I can’t find a word to thank you. | かんしゃのことばもありません。 | 感謝の言葉もありません。 | Kansha no kotoba mo arimasen. | |
| I’m awed [by what you said/did for me]. | おそれいります。 | 恐れ入ります。 | Osoreirimasu. | |
| きょうしゅくです。 | 恐縮です。 | Kyōshuku desu. | ||
| I would like to express my deepest gratitude. | あつくおれいをもうしあげます。 | 厚くお礼を申し上げます。 | Atsuku orei o mōshiage masu. | ‘お礼’ is gratitude expressed in the form of words, objects, or actions. |
| I would like to express my cordial gratitude. | こころよりおれいをもうしあげます。 | 心よりお礼を申し上げます。 | Kokoro yori orei o mōshiage masu. |
Note: these phrases are often paired with a thank-you expression.
| English | Hiragana | Kanji + Hiragana | Romaji | Note |
| No, it’s OK. | ううん、だいじょうぶ。 | ううん、大丈夫。 | Ūn, daijōbu. | Casual |
| いえ、だいじょうぶです。 | いえ、大丈夫です。 | Ie, daijōbu desu. | Polite | |
| No, thank you. | いや、いい。 | Commonly written only in hiragana | Iya, ī. | Casual |
| いえ、いいです。 | Commonly written only in hiragana | Ie, ī desu. | Polite | |
| いえ、けっこうです。 | いえ、結構です。 | Ie, kekkō desu. | Polite | |
| No, please don’t mind me. / No, I don’t want to put you out. | いえ、おきづかいなく。 | いえ、お気遣いなく。 | Ie, okizukai naku. | Polite |
| I’ll pass. | えんりょしとく。 | 遠慮しとく。 | Enryo shitoku. | Casual |
| えんりょしておきます。 | 遠慮しておきます。 | Enryo shite okimasu. | Polite |
Japanese has a wide range of ways to express appreciation. Some are specific to certain situations, and some may not sound grateful. Welcome to the rich and bewildering world of the Japanese style of gratitude.
| English | Hiragana | Kanji + Hiragana | Romaji | Note |
| I’m sorry. | すまん。 | Only written in hiragana | Suman. | Very casual |
| すいません。 | Only written in hiragana | Suimasen. | Polite and informal | |
| すみません。 | Only written in hiragana | Sumimasen. | Polite | |
| I owe you. | おんにきるよ。 | 恩に着るよ。 | On ni kiru yo. | Casual |
| おんにきます。 | 恩に着ます。 | On ni kimasu. | Polite | |
| You helped me. | たすかったよ。 | 助かったよ。 | Tasukatta yo. | Casual |
| たすかりました。 | 助かりました。 | Tasukarimashita. | Polite | |
| I appreciate your support. | おせわになりました。 | お世話になりました。 | Osewa ni narimashita. | Polite Only for the support you’ve already received. |
| I appreciate your hard work. | ごくろうさん。 | ご苦労さん。 | Gokurō san. | Casual Can be used as either present or past tense. |
| ごくろうさまです。 | ご苦労様です。 | Gokurō sama desu. | Polite Present tense Can be used only towards someone with lower status than you. | |
| ごくろうさまでした。 | ご苦労様でした。 | Gokurō sama deshita. | Polite Past tense Can be used only towards someone with lower status than you. | |
| Thank you for the meal. | ごちそうさま。 | Commonly written only in hiragana | Gochisō sama. | Casual ‘Gochisō’ means ‘feast’. Say this when you’ve finished the meal. |
| ごちそうさまでした。 | ご馳走様でした。 | Gochisō sama deshita. | Polite |
\"Hey, I thought this blog post was about how to say thank you in Japanese. Why are there phrases for ‘I'm sorry’?\"
I love you for spotting that.
We're now looking into the unique mentality behind it and then the body language.
![\"Woman](\"https://images.contentstack.io/v3/assets/bltacc1a01c4d280f24/blt31879afa6f0e8503/6552ce98c2479ddc59781ba1/istock-915255484.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&quality=80&\")
Let's take 'すみません' (sumimasen). Essentially, it's a word for an apology. But outside the private setting, you may hear it more often than 'ありがとう' when you expect appreciation. As you saw above, there are more thank-you expressions in the form of apology. In fact, some Japanese native speakers may say \"I'm sorry\" in English when they actually mean \"Thank you\". What do they apologize for?
There's a sense of obligation or guilt behind it. \"I was supposed to do it myself.\" \"You had to make an effort for me.\" \"Your kind offer is too good for me.\" We were taught to be self-sufficient and not to bother others. The majority of the Japanese people have a particularly strong sense of it. (Ever wondered why they're famous for being polite?) That's the reason the Japanese use expressions of apology to show gratitude.
Personally, I prefer using straightforward expressions of gratitude in any language. Suppose words hold temperature, 'thank you' or 'ありがとう' would be warmer than 'I'm sorry' or 'すみません' — don't you think?
I've seen many times my non-Japanese pals say, \"ありがとうございます！\" while bowing. It's okay as long as it's not directed towards me or their other friends.
Bowing is a polite gesture —check my 'How to say farewell & goodbye in Japanese in 35 authentic ways' article for more explanation— and an appropriate way to show your gratitude with courtesy and respect.
Another thing I've seen is people saying \"ありがとうございます！\" while bowing with their palms put together in front of their chest. (They might’ve got it from some martial arts ritual.) I had to give it a good think on this.
This gesture called 合掌 (がっしょう - gasshō) comes from Buddhism and is used for greeting in other countries — but not commonly so in Japan. There are occasions the Japanese still do 合掌 today, such as when we request (\"Pretty please!\"), apologize, or before and after meals.
For 'no, thank you', people often quickly or subtly wave their hand(s) in front of their chest. And/Or they may shake their head, too.
I highly recommend smiling when you say thank you. It helps convey your gratitude more effectively. It possibly brightens someone's day.
![\"Saying](\"https://images.contentstack.io/v3/assets/bltacc1a01c4d280f24/bltbe4dbdb14bcc2aba/6552d17b647c2898ac4e7db4/istock-539460542.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&quality=80&\")
I would say the Japanese are generally not well-trained when it comes to receiving compliments, praise, or appreciation. (I was trained outside the country. Send some my way!) So, how do they respond to gratitude? Here are some examples.
| English | Hiragana | Kanji + Hiragana | Romaji | Note |
| You are welcome. | どういたしまして。 | Only written in hiragana | Dō itashimashite. | Polite Best not to use it toward someone with a higher status than you. |
| No (it’s nothing). | いいえ / いえいえ。 | Only written in hiragana | Īe / Ieie. | Polite and informal |
| Thank YOU. | こちらこそ。 | Only written in hiragana | Kochira koso. | Polite and informal |
| こちらこそありがとうございます。 | Commonly written only in hiragana | Kochira koso arigatō gozaimasu. | Polite | |
| Never mind. | きにしないで。 | 気にしないで。 | Ki ni shinaide. | Casual |
| おきになさらず。 | お気になさらず。 | Oki ni nasarazu. | Polite | |
| Not at all. | とんでもないです。 | Only written in hiragana | Tondemonai desu. | Polite |
| I’m glad you like it. | きにいってもらえてよかった。 | 気に入ってもらえてよかった。 | Ki ni itte moraete yokatta. | Casual |
| きにいってもらえてよかったです。 | 気に入ってもらえてよかったです。 | Ki ni itte moraete yokatta desu. | Polite | |
| I am glad I could help. | おやくにたててうれしいです。 | お役に立てて嬉しいです。 | Oyaku ni tatete ureshī desu. | Polite |
| I am honored I could help. | おやくにたててこうえいです。 | お役に立てて光栄です。 | Oyaku ni tatete kōei desu. | Formal |
'どういたしまして' (dō itashimashite) is one of the textbook answers that native speakers don't use much. Basically, it means 'I've done nothing, please never mind.' While this phrase is still appropriate to use in response to \"Thank you\", it should NOT be used when addressing someone with a higher status than you.
Other than that, Japanese people might just smile, nod, or shake their heads at the words of gratitude. Or they may use a variation of 'yes' or 'no' for 'you're welcome'. Some Japanese guy friends of mine say ‘おう’ (ou) which means 'yes'. My late maternal grandparents would scrunch their faces, shake their heads, and make sounds that most likely represented 'no'. (I miss them all dearly.)
One thing I noticed while checking out some thank you songs; there are countless of them with lyrics like “I couldn’t say [thank you] for a long time” or “I feel a bit embarrassed to say [thank you]”. Those songs are addressed to people close to the protagonists, and yes, the Japanese people seem to feel awkward to say serious thank you in private relationships. (I don't remember if/when my dad properly said thank you to me... *gasp*)
Hint: to find the song lyrics, type in the original song title, artist name, and '歌詞' (kashi - lyrics) in the search box.
I truly hope you'll have countless opportunities to say thank you (very much) in Japanese. Because it'd mean you're supported, cared for, and blessed. At this point, I have no clue what you're thinking or feeling about this article. Still, I'm grateful that you took the time to read all the way down to the bottom. この記事を読んでくれて、ありがとう！(Kono kiji o yonde kurete arigatō! - Thank you for reading this article!)
"}],"exclude_internal_ref_image":false,"contain_image":false},{"call_to_action_text":"Numbers in Japanese","basic_card":false,"align_center":false,"page_reference":[{"title":"An easy beginner's guide on how to count in Japanese numbers","url":"/blog/japanese-numbers","image":{"url":"https://images.contentstack.io/v3/assets/bltacc1a01c4d280f24/blt88a3277371af5bb4/6268dd544c266266f5730391/hong_kong_1125619287.jpeg"},"post_content":"This article covers the basics of counting in Japanese, explaining the different systems used for numbers and providing practical examples for learners.
\n\nGood news; the Japanese numerals have rather simple rules. Once you master how to count up to ten and large number units (e.g. hundred, thousand), it’s easy to count larger numbers.
\nIn this article, you’ll learn the pronunciation, spelling, and basic rules to count Japanese numbers. We’ll cover some irregular ones that even native Japanese speakers may not be aware of, so you could impress your friends with the knowledge you learn here!
\nWe’ll also look into the cultural aspect of Japanese numbers. What are lucky or unlucky numbers in Japanese culture? How do the Japanese make use of number puns in everyday life?
\nLet’s begin our exploration into the intriguing world of numbers in Japanese.
\nThree, two, one…
\nOh wait.
\nSan, ni, ichi…!
\n\n
It’s essential to understand numbers in everyday life no matter where you go. Our fingers are not always helpful when communicating about numbers. But there is so much more you can benefit from learning Japanese numbers. Because, in Japan, numbers are more than just numerals.
\n![\"Couple](\"https://images.contentstack.io/v3/assets/bltacc1a01c4d280f24/blt99bebd0164952ab5/6268ddfb6b305b6753933d22/china_492401205.jpeg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&quality=80&\")
Japanese numbers are used in names of people, places, institutions, or things as well. The former baseball player Ichiro Suzuki has ‘one’ in his given name. There’s a city called Hachiōji in Tokyo, and it has ‘eight’ in the name. The mountain in central Japan called Sugoroku-dake has ‘six’. (Which word means which number? You’ll soon figure it out!)
\nKnowing how to read or write numbers in Japanese helps you read or remember those proper nouns as well!
\nWhat are the lucky numbers in your culture? How about unlucky numbers? The cultural meaning of numbers is reflected on various things like words or customs. With the knowledge of numbers in Japanese, you could see the association more easily.
\nWhen written in kanji (characters adapted from Chinese characters), numbers can be read in multiple ways. The Japanese use it to make it easier to remember a set of numbers like a phone number. You’d be amused to see how widely ‘number puns’ are used in Japan. By learning how to read the numbers in Japanese, you’ll know why meat is on sale at some shops on the 29th of the month!
\n“Do I have to remember all the Japanese numbers in hiragana (phonetic alphabet), katakana (another type of phonetic alphabet) and kanji? Ugh!”
\nI hear you.
\nLet’s start with how to read them. Luckily, Arabic numerals (e.g. 1, 2, 3…) are widely used in Japan, too! Chances are, there would rarely be an occasion where you have to write 5,870,624 in hiragana, katakana, or kanji. Though sometimes large numbers are written in Arabic numeral(s) and unit(s) (e.g. thousand) in kanji, there are not many of those units used in everyday life. Worry not!
\nNow, how to write Japanese numerals. Breathe in, my friend. Then breathe out slowly. You know how complicated the Japanese writing system is…
\nGood. I’m here to bring you good news; you’ll only have to remember how to write zero to ten plus some units of bigger numbers. Besides, they’re short words, and the corresponding kanjis are relatively simple. With the combination of less than 20 characters, we can write most Japanese numbers. How does it sound?
\nAlright, let’s start counting!
\nThe basics — here we go!
\n| Number | \nHiragana | \nKatakana | \nKanji | \nRomaji | \n
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | \nれい、ぜろ | \nレイ、ゼロ | \n零 | \nrei, zero | \n
| 1 | \nいち | \nイチ | \n一 | \nichi | \n
| 2 | \nに | \nニ | \n二 | \nni | \n
| 3 | \nさん | \nサン | \n三 | \nsan | \n
| 4 | \nし、よん | \nシ、ヨン | \n四 | \nshi, yon | \n
| 5 | \nご | \nゴ | \n五 | \ngo | \n
| 6 | \nろく | \nロク | \n六 | \nroku | \n
| 7 | \nしち、なな | \nシチ、ナナ | \n七 | \nshichi, nana | \n
| 8 | \nはち | \nハチ | \n八 | \nhachi | \n
| 9 | \nきゅう、く | \nキュウ、ク | \n九 | \nkyuu, ku | \n
| 10 | \nじゅう | \nジュウ | \n十 | \njuu | \n
\n
* Romaji: Character that represents written Japanese using English alphabets
\nSpotted something that’s not Japanese? Yes, the Japanese use English ‘zero’, too! The numbers on the list with two ways to read may seem tricky. For now, I’m going to share a couple of basic rules.
\nNumbers are pronounced in a certain way when you count up from zero* to ten in Japanese. I want you to check how four and seven are read, in particular.
\n0 - ぜろ (zero)
\n1 - いち (ichi)
\n2 - に (ni)
\n3 - さん (san)
\n4 - し (shi)
\n5 - ご (go)
\n6 - ろく (roku)
\n7 - しち (shichi)
\n8 - はち (hachi)
\n9 - きゅう (kyuu)
\n10 - じゅう (juu)
\n*When counting up, it normally starts with one.
\nLet’s look at how to count down in Japanese. Isn’t it interesting that only four and seven are read differently? (Not many Japanese speakers are even aware of this!)
\n10 - じゅう (juu)
\n9 - きゅう (kyuu)
\n8 - はち (hachi)
\n7 - なな (nana)
\n6 - ろく (roku)
\n5 - ご (go)
\n4 - よん (yon)
\n3 - さん (san)
\n2 - に (ni)
\n1 - いち (ichi)
\n0 - ぜろ (zero)
\nApart from when we count up, four is often read as よん (yon) and seven as なな (nana). It helps differentiate numbers that sound similar such as し (shi), しち (shichi), いち (ichi).
\nMoving onto larger numbers. With the basics we’ve already looked at, it’s not *that* challenging!
\n| Number | \nHiragana | \nKatakana | \nKanji | \nRomaji | \n
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | \nじゅういち | \nジュウイチ | \n十一 | \njuuichi | \n
| 12 | \nじゅうに | \nジュウニ | \n十二 | \njuuni | \n
| 13 | \nじゅうさん | \nジュウサン | \n十三 | \njuusan | \n
| 14 | \nじゅうし、じゅうよん | \nジュウシ、ジュウヨン | \n十四 | \njuushi, juuyon | \n
| 15 | \nじゅうご | \nジュウゴ | \n十五 | \njuugo | \n
| 16 | \nじゅうろく | \nジュウロク | \n十六 | \njuuroku | \n
| 17 | \nじゅうしち、じゅうなな | \nジュウシチ、ジュウナナ | \n十七 | \njuushichi, juunana | \n
| 18 | \nじゅうはち | \nジュウハチ | \n十八 | \njuuhachi | \n
| 19 | \nじゅうきゅう、じゅうく | \nジュウキュウ、ジュウク | \n十九 | \njuukyuu, juuku | \n
| 20 | \nにじゅう | \nニジュウ | \n二十 | \nnijuu | \n
| 21 | \nにじゅういち | \nニジュウイチ | \n二十一 | \nnijuuichi | \n
| 22 | \nにじゅうに | \nニジュウニ | \n二十二 | \nnijuuni | \n
| 23 | \nにじゅうさん | \nニジュウサン | \n二十三 | \nnijuusan | \n
| 24 | \nにじゅうし、にじゅうよん | \nニジュウシ、ニジュウヨン | \n二十四 | \nnijuushi, nijuuyon | \n
| 25 | \nにじゅうご | \nニジュウゴ | \n二十五 | \nnijuugo | \n
| 26 | \nにじゅうろく | \nニジュウロク | \n二十六 | \nnijuuroku | \n
| 27 | \nにじゅうしち、にじゅうなな | \nニジュウシチ、ニジュウナナ | \n二十七 | \nnijuushichi, nijuunana | \n
| 28 | \nにじゅうはち | \nニジュウハチ | \n二十八 | \nnijuuhachi | \n
| 29 | \nにじゅうきゅう、にじゅうく | \nニジュウキュウ、ニジュウク | \n二十九 | \nnijuukyuu, nijuuku | \n
\n
At this point, you might’ve noticed the pattern. The structure is like this;
\nに (2, ni) + じゅう (10, juu) + いち (1, ichi)
\nDigit + Unit + Digit
\nThis rule applies to most numbers in Japanese. When the first digit is one (e.g. 15) though, the number starts with the unit (e.g. じゅうご, juugo). With this in mind, you can easily count up to 99!
\n| Number | \nHiragana | \nKatakana | \nKanji | \nRomaji | \n
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | \nさんじゅう | \nサンジュウ | \n三十 | \nsanjuu | \n
| 40 | \nよんじゅう | \nヨンジュウ | \n四十 | \nyonjuu | \n
| 50 | \nごじゅう | \nゴジュウ | \n五十 | \ngojuu | \n
| 60 | \nろくじゅう | \nロクジュウ | \n六十 | \nrokujuu | \n
| 70 | \nななじゅう | \nナナジュウ | \n七十 | \nnanajuu | \n
| 80 | \nはちじゅう | \nハチジュウ | \n八十 | \nhachijuu | \n
| 90 | \nきゅうじゅう | \nキュウジュウ | \n九十 | \nkyuujuu | \n
\n
You’ve got it. 99 is read…
\nきゅうじゅうきゅう (kyuujuukyuu)!
\nLet’s look at even larger numbers. 300, 600, and 800 are read slightly differently.
\n| Number | \nHiragana | \nKatakana | \nKanji | \nRomaji | \n
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | \nひゃく | \nヒャク | \n百 | \nhyaku | \n
| 200 | \nにひゃく | \nニヒャク | \n二百 | \nnihyaku | \n
| 300 | \nさんびゃく | \nサンビャク | \n三百 | \nsanbyaku | \n
| 400 | \nよんひゃく | \nヨンヒャク | \n四百 | \nyonhyaku | \n
| 500 | \nごひゃく | \nゴヒャク | \n五百 | \ngohyaku | \n
| 600 | \nろっぴゃく | \nロッピャク | \n六百 | \nroppyaku | \n
| 700 | \nななひゃく | \nナナヒャク | \n七百 | \nnanahyaku | \n
| 800 | \nはっぴゃく | \nハッピャク | \n八百 | \nhappyaku | \n
| 900 | \nきゅうひゃく | \nキュウヒャク | \n九百 | \nkyuuhyaku | \n
\n
The same ‘digit + unit + digit’ / ‘no one before the unit’ rules apply here, too. Try reading out 195 and 418.
\nTake your time.
\nYou can go back to the chart.
\nAlright? Yes, the answer is 195 - ひゃくきゅうじゅうご (hyakukyuujuugo) and 418 - よんひゃくじゅうはち (yonhyakujuuhachi)!
\nI’m listing some of the other bigger number units below.
\n| Number | \nHiragana | \nKatakana | \nKanji | \nRomaji | \n
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 (thousand) | \nせん | \nセン | \n千 | \nsen | \n
| 10,000 (ten thousand) | \nまん | \nマン | \n万 | \nman | \n
| 100,000,000 (hundred million) | \nおく | \nオク | \n億 | \noku | \n
| 1,000,000,000,000 (trillion) | \nちょう | \nチョウ | \n兆 | \nchou | \n
\n
In the English number system, the major unit is one thousand (1,000). One thousand thousands is one million. One thousand million is one billion. The Japanese number system plays differently; the major unit is ten thousand (10,000). Ten thousands 万 (まん - man - ten thousand) makes the next unit 億 (おく- oku - hundred million). It means there are no units between those listed above. It still has commas every three digits when written with Arabic numerals. So, yeah, translating large numbers between English and Japanese gives language learners a big headache!
\nLarger numbers are often represented with the kanji unit and kanji or Arabic numbers. 1,000 JPY note is often written as 千円札 (せんえんさつ - sen’en satsu - thousand yen note). 20,500 km can be written as 2万500キロメートル (にまんごひゃく きろめーとる - nimangohyaku kiromeetoru).
\n\n
\"Can we learn numbers with music, like the alphabet song?\"
\nPossibly, yes. As I was browsing YouTube for the best counting song for you, I noticed two things.
\nFirst, some songs come with lyrics to make a story. Or this famous number song associates the shape of Arabic numerals with objects (e.g. \"What is the number one? A chimney of a factory!\") You may find it interesting especially if you're keen to figure out the meaning of the entire lyrics. The second thing is that the pronunciation of the numbers is often elongated (e.g. \"iiiichi, niiii, saaaan...\") in many songs. It's something you might rather avoid when you want to learn precise pronunciation.
\nSo where's the perfect counting song? It looks like someone's got to make one! (Seriously, if you make or find one, let me know!) For now, let's watch this video and learn how to count from one to 100 in Japanese!
\n\n
These ‘loaf’, ‘head’, ‘drop’ are called counters, counter words, or measure words. When counting people or things in Japanese, they’re crucial. They’re called 助数詞 (じょすうし - josuushi), and different counters are used depending on what you count. You might or might not want to know how many Japanese counters there are — it’s more than a couple of hundreds. Worry not, much less of them are used in everyday life!
\nThese below are a few of the most commonly used Japanese counter words.
\n| Number | \n-つ Hiragana / Kanji | \n -tsu Romaji | \n -こ / 個 Hiragana / Kanji | \n -ko Romaji | \n -り / にん / 人 Hiragana / Kanji | \n -ri / nin Romaji | \n
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | \nひとつ 一つ | \n hitotsu | \nいっこ 一個 | \n ikko | \nひとり 一人 | \n hitori | \n
| 2 | \nふたつ 二つ | \n futatsu | \nにこ 二個 | \n niko | \nふたり 二人 | \n futari | \n
| 3 | \nみっつ 三つ | \n mittsu | \nさんこ 三個 | \n sanko | \nさんにん 三人 | \n sannin | \n
| 4 | \nよっつ 四つ | \n yottsu | \nよんこ 四個 | \n yonko | \nよにん 四人 | \n yonin | \n
| 5 | \nいつつ 五つ | \n itsutsu | \nごこ 五個 | \n goko | \nごにん 五人 | \n gonin | \n
| 6 | \nむっつ 六つ | \n muttsu | \nろっこ 六個 | \n rokko | \nろくにん 六人 | \n rokunin | \n
| 7 | \nななつ 七つ | \n nanatsu | \nななこ 七個 | \n nanako | \nしちにん ななにん 七人 | \n shichinin nananin | \n
| 8 | \nやっつ 八つ | \n yattsu | \nはちこ はっこ 八個 | \n hachiko hakko | \n はちにん 八人 | \n hachinin | \n
| 9 | \nここのつ 九つ | \n kokonotsu | \nきゅうこ 九個 | \n kyuuko | \nきゅうにん くにん 九人 | \n kyuunin kunin | \n
| 10 | \nn/a | \nn/a | \nじゅっこ 十個 | \n jukko | \nじゅうにん 十人 | \n juunin | \n
| 11 | \nn/a | \nn/a | \nじゅういっこ 十一個 | \n juuikko | \nじゅういちにん 十一人 | \n juuichinin | \n
\n
“Why are these numbers read so differently with the -つ counter?!”
\nBecause it uses the Native Japanese reading (hi, fu, mi, yo… - 1, 2, 3, 4…) instead of the Sino Japanese reading (ichi, ni, san, shi… - 1, 2, 3, 4…, adopted from the Chinese pronunciation).
\n\n
Superstition ain’t the way. But some of them are rooted deeply in the culture. Lucky and unlucky numbers are one of them, and here are some examples.
\nFour and nine are seen as ominous numbers in Japanese culture for a similar reason. Guess which one is correct?
\nThe answer is… C!
\nFour (し - shi) sounds like the word 死 (し - shi) which means death, and nine (く - ku) sounds like 苦 (く - ku) which means suffering.
\nTraditionally, odd numbers have been preferred in Japan. Haiku, a type of Japanese poetry, consists of 17 syllables in three lines of five, seven, and five syllables. January 1st, March 3rd, May 5th, and July 7th are all days to celebrate: New Year’s Day, Girl’s Day, Children’s/Boy’s Day, and Tanabata/Star Festival.
\nIsn’t nine an odd number? Yes! It has two faces…
\nEight is also regarded as an auspicious number because of the shape of its kanji. 八 consists of two lines, and the both lines are drawn from top to bottom. They spread out as you stroke them, which gives an idea of prosperity.
\nJapan also adopted the concept of ‘lucky seven’ from the US!
\n![\"The](\"https://images.contentstack.io/v3/assets/bltacc1a01c4d280f24/blt9898095d91565b5a/6268df7d47f423681896b7b5/pexels-miguel-á-padriñán-932261.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&quality=80&\")
\n
The Japanese love wordplay that associates a set of numbers with word(s). Some shops have discounts on the meat on the 29th of the month because they read 29 as ni ku (肉 - にく - niku - meat!) and calls it a Day of Meat. The Japanese Society of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery designated August 7th as Nose Day, reading eight as ha and seven as na. (鼻 - はな - hana - nose!) This veggie shop has 831 in its phone number so that people can easily remember it. In this case, 831 is read as ya sa i (野菜 - やさい - yasai - vegetable!)
\nThese kind of number puns are everywhere in Japan, and it’s a fun way to remember how to read Japanese numbers.
\nGiven your birthday is November 5th, what day could it be? Can your name be represented with numbers? You see a set of numbers and think how it can be read as a word. You’re most welcome to use a dictionary/translation app for this game!
\nWhen studying a foreign language, it can be challenging to stay motivated. Remembering numbers in Japanese doesn’t have to be boring. You can bring some fun and creativity into your learning journey!
\n"}],"exclude_internal_ref_image":false,"contain_image":false},{"call_to_action_text":"Goodbye in Japanese","basic_card":false,"align_center":false,"page_reference":[{"title":"How to say farewell & goodbye in Japanese in 35 authentic ways","url":"/blog/how-to-say-goodbye-japanese","image":{"url":"https://images.contentstack.io/v3/assets/bltacc1a01c4d280f24/blt10bb4bd44bbceac1/65094f54d251aaf81a18b17f/dsc09617.jpeg"},"post_content":"
Just like 'こんにちは' (konnichiwa), 'さよなら' (sayonara) is one of the widely-known Japanese greetings that native speakers rarely use. If this fact surprises you, I'm glad you're here! If it doesn't, I'm also glad you've got here! We're going to explore the common phrases plus the in-depth Japanese goodbye culture in this post.
\nTable of contents
\n'さよなら' (sayonara), and its original form 'さようなら' (sayōnara, with an elongated 'o' sound), have the connotation that it's probably going to be a long or potentially forever farewell. For this reason, songs with 'さよなら' in the lyrics are often about breakups. Or some songs go like, \"I'm not going to say sayonara because we'll see each other again!\"
\nThe word 'さようなら' (sayōnara) is derived from '左様ならば' (sayōnaraba). It's an old way to say 'then' — as in, \"Well then, I'm heading off.\" Both 'さよなら' and 'さようなら' have gained formality and weight over time and dropped out of the everyday vocabulary.
\nHaving said that, at my kindergarten, we mini people would say this together at the end of the day; \"Sensei, sayōnara. Minasan, sayōnara.\" (Teacher, goodbye. Everyone, goodbye.) But we never said \"Sayōnara!\" or \"Sayonara!\" to our pals. We knew this word was only for rituals or songs.
\nWhen was the last time I greeted someone with 'sayonara'? Or heard someone say that to me? I tried to recall for longer than a few minutes, then gave up and had a slice of banana bread.
\nWhat do the Japanese say instead, then?
\n![\"Japanese](\"https://images.contentstack.io/v3/assets/bltacc1a01c4d280f24/blt7adf3182bd556d24/65095102f4a6a8f6fa5b4949/japan_istock-544735254.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&quality=80&\")
The expressions listed below are 'fail-safe' — on condition that they're said in appropriate contexts. Some of them don't have English equivalents and require explanation, either. Read the notes carefully, and you'll be good!
\nRightio. Let’s see how to say bye in Japanese other than 'sayonara'.
\n| English | \nHiragana | \nKanji + Hiragana OR Katakana | \nRomaji | \nNote | \n
| Bye. | \nじゃあね。 | \n(Only written in hiragana) | \nJāne. | \nCasual\n \n | \n
| じゃあ。 | \n(Only written in hiragana) | \nJā. | \nCasual | \n|
| Bye-bye. | \nばいばい。 | \nバイバイ。 | \nBaibai. | \nCasual Often written in katakana. | \n
| Stay well. | \nげんきでね。 | \n元気でね。 | \nGenki de ne. (Casual) | \nCommonly used when you don’t expect to see the person for a long while. | \n
| おげんきで。 | \nお元気で。 | \nOgenki de. (Polite) | \nAs above | \n|
| I am going to excuse myself. | \nでは、しつれいします。 | \nでは、失礼します。 | \nDewa, shitsurei shimasu. | \nPolite | \n
| Thank you for having me. | \nおじゃましました。 | \nお邪魔しました。 | \nOjama shimashita. | \nPolite The literal meaning is 'Sorry for bothering you.' Use it when you leave someone’s place. | \n
| Farewell. | \nごきげんよう。 | \n(Only written in hiragana) | \nGokigen’yō. | \nVery formal | \n
| Have a good [day, trip, etc.] | \nいってらっしゃい。 | \n行ってらっしゃい。 | \nItterasshai. (Casual) | \nWhen you see someone off leaving for school, work, or a trip. | \n
| いってらっしゃいませ。 | \n行ってらっしゃいませ。 | \nItterasshaimase. (Polite) | \nAs above | \n|
| Take care. | \nおきをつけて。 | \nお気をつけて。 | \nOki o tsukete. | \nPolite | \n
| Take care of yourself. | \nおからだにきをつけて。 | \nお体に気をつけて。 | \nOkarada ni ki o tsukete. | \nPolite ‘Okarada’ means ‘your body’. | \n
| Good night. | \nおやすみなさい。 | \n(Normally written only in hiragana) | \nOyasuminasai. | \nCasual and polite | \n
'じゃあ' (jā) and 'では' (dewa) are both conjunctions meaning something like 'well then'. They alone can be used as 'bye' and often come before other phrases as well.
\nじゃあ: for friends, peers, or people on a first-name basis.
\nでは: for people older than you or with higher status.
\nAlso,
\nそれでは (soredewa): for highly formal occasions. (This is the original form of 'では'.)
\n\nNot everyone is a big fan of goodbyes. Instead, they say...
\n![\"Goodbye](\"https://images.contentstack.io/v3/assets/bltacc1a01c4d280f24/blt4bcb00b7feb61270/6509520209cbfb5baf09beea/hong_kong_504737037.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&quality=80&\")
| English | \nHiragana | \nKanji + Hiragana OR Katakana | \nRomaji | \nNote | \n
| See you. | \nまたね。 | \n(Only written in hiragana) | \nMata ne. | \nCasual | \n
| See you then. | \nじゃあ、また。 | \n(Only written in hiragana) | \nJā, mata. | \nCasual | \n
| では、また。 | \n(Only written in hiragana) | \nDewa, mata. | \nPolite | \n|
| See you tomorrow. | \nまたあした。 | \nまた明日。 | \nMata ashita. | \nCasual | \n
| I’ll see you tomorrow. | \nまたあしたおあいしましょう。 | \nまた明日お会いしましょう。 | \nMata ashita oaishimashō. | \nPolite | \n
| I will see you tomorrow. | \nまたあすおめにかかります。 | \nまた明日お目にかかります。 | \nMata asu ome ni kakarimasu. | \nFormal ‘明日’ is pronounced as ‘あす’ (asu) on highly formal occasions. \n | \n
| See you next week. | \nまたらいしゅう。 | \nまた来週。 | \nMata raishū. | \nCasual | \n
| I’ll see you next week. | \nまたらいしゅうおあいしましょう。 | \nまた来週お会いしましょう。 | \nMata raishū oaishimashō. | \nPolite | \n
| I will see you next week. | \nまたらいしゅうおめにかかります。 | \nまた来週お目にかかります。 | \nMata raishū ome ni kakarimasu. | \nFormal | \n
| See you next time. | \nまたこんど。 | \nまた今度。 | \nMata kondo. | \nCasual | \n
| I’ll see you next time. | \nまたこんどおあいしましょう。 | \nまた今度お会いしましょう。 | \nMata kondo oaishimashō. | \nPolite | \n
| I will see you next occasion. | \nまたつぎのきかいにおめにかかります。 | \nまた次の機会にお目にかかります。 | \nMata tsugi no kikai ni ome ni kakarimasu. | \nFormal | \n
| I’ll email/call/message you again. | \nまたメール / でんわ / めっせーじするね。 | \nまたメール / 電話 / メッセージするね。 | \nMata mēru/denwa/messēji suru ne. | \nCasual | \n
| またメール / でんわ / めっせーじします。 | \nまたメール / 電話 / メッセージします。 | \nMata mēru/denwa/messēji shimasu. | \nPolite | \n
To your boss, senior/junior colleagues, peers, clients, or customers. Below are some commonly used goodbyes in Business Japanese.
\n![\"Goodbye](\"https://images.contentstack.io/v3/assets/bltacc1a01c4d280f24/blte63ef8f3df81e89c/65095357b556bd18e3d3b006/Examples_of_cultural_differences_in_communication.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&quality=80&\")
| English | \nHiragana | \nKanji + Hiragana OR Katakana | \nRomaji | \nNote | \n
| Thank you for your hard work. | \nおつかれさまでした。 | \nお疲れさまでした。 | \nOtsukaresama deshita. | \nExplained below. | \n
| Good work! | \nおつかれ！ | \nお疲れ！ | \nOtsukare! | \nShortened and very casual ‘Otsukaresama deshita’. | \n
| Excuse me for leaving before you. | \nおさきにしつれいします。 | \nお先に失礼します。 | \nOsaki ni shitsurei shimasu. | \nPolite | \n
| おさきにしつれいいたします。 | \nお先に失礼いたします。 | \nOsaki ni shitsurei itashimasu. | \nFormal | \n|
| I’ll excuse myself, then. | \nそれでは、しつれいします。 | \nそれでは、失礼します。 | \nSoredewa, shitsurei shimasu. | \nPolite | \n
| I’m leaving (before you)! | \nおさきに！ | \nお先に！ | \nOsaki ni! | \nShortened and very casual ‘Osaki ni shitsurei shimasu’. | \n
| I would appreciate it if you work with me nicely tomorrow, too. | \nあしたもよろしくおねがいします。 | \n明日もよろしくお願いします。 | \nAshita mo yoroshiku onegai shimasu. | \nAlso explained below. | \n
| I would appreciate it if you work with me nicely again. | \nまたよろしくおねがいします。 | \nまたよろしくお願いします。 | \nMata yoroshiku onegai shimasu. | \nAs above | \n
'お疲れさまでした' (Otsukaresama deshita) is the most common 'goodbye' in the business environment. '疲れ' (tsukare) means 'tiredness' or 'fatigue', and this phrase expresses appreciation for hard work. (\"You must be tired after making all the effort.\") Sounds pretty appropriate for Japanese busy bees, though I think it's over the top that some teenagers say 'お疲れ様でした' to their senior kids. (THEY SERIOUSLY DO.)
\nWhat may confuse you is that people also say 'お疲れさまです' (Otsukaresama desu), 'お疲れさま' (Otsukaresama), or 'お疲れ' (Otsukare) as 'Hello'. You may hear it first in the morning. You may not be tired at all. Neither of you may not be leaving. They're such versatile phrases.
\nThe more literal translation of '明日もよろしくお願いします' (Ashita mo yoroshiku onegai shimasu) would be ‘Please be nice to me tomorrow, too’. If you're meeting the person the next day, and you may expect they'd do you a favor (e.g., support or teach you, do business with you), '明日もよろしくお願いします' is a perfect greeting. If you're not sure when you'll see them, 'またよろしくお願いします' (Mata yoroshiku onegai shimasu) will do.
\nLike 'お疲れさまです', the Japanese use 'よろしくお願いします' (Yoroshiku onegai shimasu) when meeting people, too. Oh, and this phrase is often seen at the end of business emails. When a friend asked me how they should write 'Best regards' in Japanese, I suggested 'よろしくお願いします。' with a line feed between it and their name.
\n\n\"I wave my hands when I say bye. Is that acceptable in Japan?\"
\nGood question! Here's the answer.
\nMost Japanese babies learn to wave goodbye before they can say \"Bye-bye.\" Waving a hand is a casual gesture of adios in Japan, too. For more formal occasions, we bow. Let's look at the illustration below.
\n![\"Here](\"https://images.contentstack.io/v3/assets/bltacc1a01c4d280f24/bltc9098c3b0d723f30/65094cd0a39cd6132daceb74/23721484.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&quality=80&\")
When you bow, keep your neck and back straight, feet together, and face down. That's the basic rule.
\nBend your upper body to about 15 degrees, and it means a quick and casual greeting. It's used for acquaintances or people older than you: your teacher, senior colleagues, or neighbors. Bend down to about 30 degrees, and it's more formal and respectful. You might do it to your bosses or customers. 45 degrees or more is a serious business. I've seen some professionals see their customers off, stooping down to nearly 90 degrees. It looked like kowtowing, but this is how some Japanese people show their utmost respect.
\nHandshaking. Hug. (Blowing) kiss. These may overwhelm people in Japan. I've been a hugger since I was little, and people thought I was so un-Japanese. When people initiate them, responding to them would be perfectly fine. If you want to shake hands, hug, or kiss as a goodbye gesture, ask the person how they'd feel about it. Also, don't leave without saying bye!
\n\nHint: to find the song lyrics, type in the original song title, artist name, and '歌詞' (kashi - lyrics) in the search box.
\nInterestingly, Japanese people say goodbye in the form of an apology on particular occasions. They may not always be *really* sorry, but that's how they're supposed to feel. It's perhaps part of the Japanese culture in which people are expected to do things together when possible and otherwise, it's considered rude.
\nThe beautiful part is that the Japanese also show their care and wishes to reunite when they leave or see someone off. Japanese farewell, in its original nature, is not solely about saying bye but reinforcing connections.
\nSo I'm signing off with, \"じゃあ、また今度！\".
\nKeep up to date with all our fun and free Japanese language articles on our Japanese blog here.
"}],"exclude_internal_ref_image":false,"contain_image":false},{"call_to_action_text":"I love you in Japanese","basic_card":false,"align_center":false,"page_reference":[{"title":"70 ways to say I love you in Japanese & share your true feelings","url":"/blog/i-love-you-japanese","image":{"url":"https://images.contentstack.io/v3/assets/bltacc1a01c4d280f24/bltd2fd9a2ffa3123ca/64ed5041dfcd7b1176f6f449/pexels-loc-dang-1829413_(1).jpeg"},"post_content":"“We don’t really say ‘I love you’ in Japanese, do we?” I asked my Japanese friends. “No, not really”, said everyone I’d asked. There are equivalent phrases in Japanese, and you see and hear them a lot in films, TV shows, books, or anime. But those are not part of our everyday language.
Then how do Japanese people express love? And how would YOU tell your beloved Japanese person you love them?
Rest assured; in this post, you’ll learn the cultural context and some useful phrases so your words won't be taken as inappropriate or over the top.
![\"A](\"https://images.contentstack.io/v3/assets/bltacc1a01c4d280f24/bltc4b371819842b5a2/64ed50f2ae5a4bd28f84be37/I-love-you-in-japanese.jpeg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&quality=80&\")
Whenever you speak Japanese, the relationship between you and the person/people you talk to determines the type of language you use. You’re expected to use polite language if the person has a higher status, is a stranger, or is not close to you. With your peers or people who are younger than you, casual language would sound natural. This rule applies to the Japanese love language, too.
For instance, to your teacher, senior coworker, or parent-in-law, it's recommended to use polite language. People may use polite language to show their seriousness, regardless of the status of the listener.
There are several ways to address ‘you’ in Japanese. Here are the basic ones;
君 (きみ - kimi)
This can be used only to call someone who is your peer or has lower status than you.
あなた (あなた - anata)
This is a polite word used to call someone who is older than you, has higher status than you, or is a stranger or unfamiliar to you.
As we’re exploring intimate language, the person’s name would sound more natural than the pronouns like ‘君’ or ‘あなた’.
In general, Japanese people don’t verbally express their love much. It’s part of the ‘read between the lines’ culture, in which people think they’re showing love through their actions. (It can be incredibly subtle!) It may be something that shows their loyalty or kindness rather than affectionate gestures. You might’ve heard that public displays of affection are commonly not well-received in Japan, too.
This means the love language can be immensely special. If you whisper words of adoration into the ear of your Japanese love, they may respond by a) swooning, b) giggling (out of shyness, awkwardness, or thinking you’re too dramatic), or c) looking upset. It really depends on the person and the relationship between you and them.
How would you have your genuine feelings understood then?
Be yourself. Just choose your words carefully. Closely watch the reaction. If they are smiling yet look as if they have no clue what to say, it’s always good to ask how they feel. Wouldn’t it be beautiful to explore the love language you both feel comfortable with and cherish?
I have a bunch of non-Japanese friends who are learning or have learned Japanese through manga and anime. It’s a fun way to study, but no matter how realistic the show seems, the characters' lines may sound theatrical or inauthentic. Often there’s a HUMONGOUS gap between everyday Japanese and media Japanese.
Translations are not always accurate, either. (AI has a long way to go to reach a decent level in this regard.) Or the translation makes sense only in the specific context. The wonder of the super-high-contextual language, that is.
It’s safe to ask your Japanese teacher or friends what the expression sounds like when it comes from you. Or if you’ve already built some trust between the Japanese person you love, just try it out and see how it goes! If it wasn’t received well, clarify that you picked the line from a show and ask for feedback. Who wouldn’t admire people aspiring to learn?
Alrightie. Let’s look at some useful phrases!
![\"I](\"https://images.contentstack.io/v3/assets/bltacc1a01c4d280f24/bltaa3014ffb8d55ead/64ed5255e61c1a4548f699e0/pexels-tristan-le-1642883.jpeg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&quality=80&\")
These are the basic Japanese expressions for “I love you”.
| English | Hiragana | Kanji + Hiragana | Romaji | Note |
| I love you. | （きみを）あいしてる。 | （君を）愛してる。 | (Kimi o) Aishiteru. | Casual yet serious |
| （あなたを）あいしています。 | （あなたを）愛しています。 | (Anata o) Aishiteimasu. | Polite, formal, and serious | |
| （きみが）だいすきだよ。 | （君が）大好きだよ。 | (Kimi ga) Daisukida yo. | Casual | |
| （あなたが）だいすきです。 | （あなたが）大好きです。 | (Anata ga) Daisukidesu. | Polite | |
| （きみが）すきだよ。 | （君が）好きだよ。 | (Kimi ga) Sukida yo. | Casual | |
| （あなたが）すきです。 | （あなたが）好きです。 | (Anata ga) Sukidesu. | Polite |
* Romaji: Character that represents written Japanese using the English alphabet
‘愛’ (あい - ai) literally means ‘love’ and is considered a big word. The first two phrases are rarely used in everyday conversation as they sound massively serious. If you’re indeed serious and want to stress it’s ‘love’, not just ‘like’, then go for these expressions.
‘好き’ (すき suki) means ‘like’, and the Japanese use this word more when expressing love. When someone says ‘大好き’ (だいすき - daisuki), it usually means they love someone or something, though it may or may not indicate romantic feelings.
Is ‘好き’ alone enough to show your love? It depends on the context and your non-verbal expressions. If you look someone in the eye so devotedly and say “好きだよ” — it might make their heart pound.
‘よ’ (yo) comes at the end of a phrase in a casual expression. It indicates you’re pretty sure about what you’re saying and that you’re really talking to the person.
Both ‘君’ (きみ - kimi) and ‘あなた’ (anata) are often omitted because it’s clear that you’re talking to this person and nobody else. Not leaving out the words in the brackets in the table would add a bit more formality.
Phrases with ‘愛’ can be perceived as dramatic, and ‘好き’ can sound like casual ‘like’. But these below would unmistakably show that you love the person in all seriousness.
![\"I](\"https://images.contentstack.io/v3/assets/bltacc1a01c4d280f24/blt9930908708e2c12f/64ed597d56282b4c1d4daefb/I-love-you-so-much-in-japanese.jpeg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&quality=80&\")
| English | Hiragana | Kanji + Hiragana | Romaji | Note |
| I love you so much. | (きみを) すごくあいしてる。 | （君を）すごく愛してる。 | (Kimi o) Sugoku aishiteru. | Casual |
| （あなたを）とてもあいしています。 | （あなたを）とても愛しています。 | (Anata o) Totemo aishiteimasu. | Polite | |
| （きみが）すごくすきだよ。 | （君が）すごく好きだよ。 | (Kimi ga) Sugoku sukida yo. | Casual | |
| （あなたが）とてもすきです。 | （あなたが）とても好きです。 | (Anata ga) Totemo sukidesu. | Polite | |
| I really love you. | （きみを）ほんとうにあいしてる。 | （君を）本当に愛してる。 | (Kimi o) Hontōni aishiteru. | Casual |
| （あなたを）ほんとうにあいしています。 | （あなたを）本当に愛しています。 | (Anata o) Hontōni aishiteimasu. | Polite | |
| （きみが）ほんとうにすきだよ。 | （君が）本当に好きだよ。 | (Kimi ga) Hontōni sukida yo. | Casual | |
| （あなたが）ほんとうにすきです。 | （あなたが）本当に好きです。 | (Anata ga) Hontōni sukidesu. | Polite | |
| I love you more than anyone else. | ほかのだれよりも（きみを）あいしてる。 | 他の誰よりも（君を）愛してる。 | Hoka no dare yori mo (kimi o) aishiteru. | Casual |
| ほかのだれよりも（あなたを）あいしています。 | 他の誰よりも（あなたを）愛しています。 | Hoka no dare yori mo (anata o) aishiteimasu. | Polite | |
| ほかのだれよりも（きみが）すきだよ。 | 他の誰よりも（君が）好きだよ。 | Hoka no dare yori mo (kimi ga) sukida yo. | Casual | |
| ほかのだれよりも（あなたが）すきです。 | 他の誰よりも（あなたが）好きです。 | Hoka no dare yori mo (anata ga) sukidesu. | Polite | |
| I love you, too. | わたしも（きみを）あいしてるよ。 | 私も（君を）愛してるよ。 | Watashi mo (kimi o) aishiteru yo. | Casual |
| わたしも（あなたを）あいしています。 | 私も（あなたを）愛しています。 | Watashi mo (anata o) aishiteimasu. | Polite | |
| わたしも（きみが）すきだよ。 | 私も（君が）好きだよ。 | Watashi mo (kimi ga) sukida yo. | Casual | |
| わたしも（あなたが）すきです。 | 私も（あなたが）好きです。 | Watashi mo (anata ga) sukidesu. | Polite | |
| I’ve never loved someone like this. | こんなにだれかをすきになったのは、はじめてだよ。 | こんなに誰かを好きになったのは、初めてだよ。 | Kon’nani dareka o suki ni natta no wa hajimete dayo. (Casual) | The literal translation is more like, “It’s the first time I love someone this much.” |
| こんなにだれかをすきになったのは、はじめてです。 | こんなに誰かを好きになったのは、初めてです。 | Kon’nani dareka o suki ni natta no wa hajimete desu. (Polite) | As above |
‘Love confession’ is one of the unique aspects of the Japanese relationship culture. While the Japanese typically don't articulate their affection, it's common that they confess their love and confirm each other's feelings before officially starting a relationship.
| English | Hiragana | Kanji + Hiragana | Romaji | Note |
| Will you be in a relationship with me? | わたし / ぼく と つきあってくれる？ | 私 / 僕 と付き合ってくれる？ | Watashi/Boku to tsukiatte kureru? | Casual |
| Would you be in a relationship with me? | わたし / ぼく と つきあってくれますか？ | 私 / 僕 と付き合ってくれますか？ | Watashi/Boku to tsukiatte kuremasuka? | Polite |
| I want you to be my boyfriend. | かれしになってほしい。 | 彼氏になってほしい。 | Kareshi ni natte hoshii. | Casual |
| Would you be my boyfriend? | かれしになってくれませんか？ | 彼氏になってくれませんか？ | Kareshi ni natte kuremasenka? | Polite |
| I want you to be my girlfriend. | かのじょになってほしい。 | 彼女になってほしい。 | Kanojo ni natte hoshii. | Casual |
| Would you be my girlfriend? | かのじょになってくれませんか？ | 彼女になってくれませんか？ | Kanojo ni natte kuremasenka? | Polite |
| I’ve always loved you. | ずっとすきだった。 | ずっと好きだった。 | Zutto sukidatta. | Casual |
| ずっとすきでした。 | ずっと好きでした。 | Zutto sukideshita. | Polite |
How do you say when you like someone but it’s not love (yet)? Or you don't mean anything romantic? I imagine it can be a difficult question in any culture. Someone says you’re cute, and you might think it’s just a compliment or they have a crush on you. Someone asks you out for dinner, and it might be a date, or they simply want to hang out with you. We need a communication class AND a language lesson, don't we?
![\"Man](\"https://images.contentstack.io/v3/assets/bltacc1a01c4d280f24/blt3c8140cc933ff531/6268b8a0f8819866142d8245/istock-908168348_copy.jpeg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&quality=80&\")
Anyway, here’s a tip; when you mean non-romantic affection with the word ‘好き’, you should be crystal clear about your intention. You might say ‘好き’ to your pal, thinking they’re a good friend, and they start behaving rather awkwardly since then… One way to avoid that kind of situation is to use different words that describe your feelings more specifically. Clarifying your intention helps, too.
Look at the table below — you’ve already seen the first four phrases in the basic 'I love you' section. Is it love or like? It depends on the narrative, context, relationship, or how you say it.
| English | Hiragana | Kanji + Hiragana | Romaji | Note |
| I like you. | すきだよ。 | 好きだよ。 | Sukida yo. | Casual |
| すきです。 | 好きです。 | Sukidesu. | Polite | |
| I like you a lot. | だいすきだよ。 | 大好きだよ。 | Daisukida yo. | Casual |
| だいすきです。 | 大好きです。 | Daisukidesu. | Polite | |
| It’s fun to be with you. | きみといるとたのしい。 | 君といると楽しい。 | Kimi to iru to tanoshii. | Casual |
| あなたといるとたのしいです。 | あなたといると楽しいです。 | Anata to iru to tanoshii desu. | Polite | |
| I like that part of you. | きみのそういうところがすき。 | 君のそういうところが好き。 | Kimi no sōiu tokoro ga suki. (Casual) | “That part” may be a charming trait like kindness. Make it clear you’re not making fun of it. |
| あなたのそういうところがすきです。 | あなたのそういうところが好きです。 | Anata no sōuiu tokoro ga suki desu. (Polite) | As above. | |
| You’re like a cute little brother/sister to me. | きみってかわいいおとうと / いもうとみたい。 | 君って可愛い弟 / 妹みたい。 | Kimi tte kawaii otōto / imōto mitai. | Casual |
| I’m glad you’re here/there. | きみがいてくれてよかった。 | 君がいてくれてよかった。 | Kimi ga ite kurete yokatta. | Casual |
| あなたがいてくれてよかったです。 | あなたがいてくれてよかったです。 | Anata ga ite kurete yokatta desu. | Polite | |
| I respect you. | （きみを）そんけいするよ。 | （君を）尊敬するよ。 | (Kimi o) sonkeisuru yo. | Casual |
| （あなたを）そんけいします。 | （あなたを）尊敬します。 | (Anata o) sonkeishimasu. | Polite | |
| Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend? | かれし / かのじょはいるの？ | 彼氏 / 彼女はいるの？ | Kareshi/Kanojo wa iru no? | Casual |
| かれし / かのじょはいるんですか？ | 彼氏 / 彼女はいるんですか？ | Kareshi/Kanojo wa irundesuka? | Polite | |
| I want to know more about you. | きみのこと、もっとしりたい。 | 君のこと、もっと知りたい。 | Kimi no koto, motto shiritai. | Casual |
| あなたのことを、もっとしりたいです。 | あなたのことを、もっと知りたいです。 | Anata no koto o motto shiritai desu. | Polite | |
| I wish someone like you would be my boyfriend/girlfriend. | きみみたいなひとがかれし / かのじょだったらいいのに。 | 君みたいな人が彼氏 / 彼女だったらいいのに。 | Kimi mitaina hito ga kareshi/kanojo dattara iinoni. | Casual |
| あなたみたいなかたがかれし / かのじょだったらいいのに。 | あなたみたいな方が彼氏 / 彼女だったらいいのに。 | Anata mitaina kata ga kareshi/kanojo dattara iinoni. | Polite | |
| I want to see you again. | またあいたいな。 | また会いたいな。 | Mata aitai na. | Casual |
| またあいたいです。 | また会いたいです。 | Mata aitai desu. | Polite |
How do you know you’re in love? These feelings may be the indicator.
| English | Hiragana | Kanji + Hiragana | Romaji | Note |
| I miss you so badly. | きみがこいしくてしかたない。 | 君が恋しくてしかたない。 | Kimi ga koishikute shikatanai. | Casual |
| あなたがこいしくてしかたがありません。 | あなたが恋しくてしかたがありません。 | Anata ga koishikute shikata ga arimasen. | Polite | |
| When I’m with you, I can be myself. | きみといると、じぶんらしくいられる。 | 君といると、自分らしくいられる。 | Kimi to iru to, jibun rashiku irareru. | Casual |
| あなたといると、じぶんらしくいられます。 | あなたといると、自分らしくいられます。 | Anata to iru to, jibun rashiku iraremasu. | Polite | |
| I’ve never felt this way. | こんなきもちになったのは、はじめてだよ。 | こんな気持ちになったのは、初めてだよ。 | Kon’na kimochi ni natta no wa, hajimete dayo. | Casual |
| こんなきもちになったのは、はじめてです。 | こんな気持ちになったのは、初めてです。 | Kon’na kimochi ni natta no wa, hajimete desu. | Polite | |
| When I’m with you, it feels like I can be strong. | きみといると、つよくなれるきがする。 | 君といると、強くなれる気がする。 | Kimi to iru to, tsuyoku nareru ki ga suru. | Casual |
| あなたといると、つよくなれるきがします。 | あなたといると、強くなれる気がします。 | Anata to iru to, tsuyoku nareru ki ga shimasu. | Polite |
You're 100% positive that you'll love that person through the peaks and valleys of life. When you propose, forget the fact that Japanese people are reserved about love expressions. Focus on what makes your partner happy. Be sincere, be you. Good luck, my friend.
![\"Japanese](\"https://images.contentstack.io/v3/assets/bltacc1a01c4d280f24/blt3a5b9eaa0f362cad/6268b7db6b305b6753933cf2/china_972417980.jpeg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&quality=80&\")
| English | Hiragana | Kanji + Hiragana | Romaji | Note |
| Will you marry me? | けっこんしてくれる？ | 結婚してくれる？ | Kekkon shite kureru? | Casual |
| けっこんしてくれませんか？ | 結婚してくれませんか？ | Kekkon shite kuremasuka? | Polite | |
| I want to marry you. | きみとけっこんしたい。 | 君と結婚したい。 | Kimi to kekkon shitai. | Casual |
| Please marry me. | けっこんしてください。 | 結婚してください。 | Kekkonshite kudasai. | Polite |
| I’d like to marry you. | あなたとけっこんしたいです。 | あなたと結婚したいです。 | Anata to kekkon shitai desu. | Polite |
| I want to spend the rest of my life with you. | これからのじんせいを、きみといっしょにすごしたい。 | これからの人生を、君と一緒に過ごしたい。 | Korekara no jinsei o kimi to issho ni sugoshitai. | Casual |
| I’d like to walk with you for the rest of my life. | これからのじんせいを、あなたといっしょにあゆんでいきたいです。 | これからの人生を、あなたと一緒に歩んでいきたいです。 | Korekara no jinsei o anata to issho ni ayunde ikitai desu. | Polite |
| I want to be family with you. | きみとかぞくになりたい。 | 君と家族になりたい。 | Kimi to kazoku ni naritai. | Casual |
| あなたとかぞくになりたいです。 | あなたと家族になりたいです。 | Anata to kazoku ni naritai desu. | Polite |
Love is a universal theme in music. Even the Japanese who don’t feel comfortable vocal about love may sing, “あいしてる” (Aishiteru).
Here are some Japanese love songs popular among a wide range of generations. If you sang your heart out and noticed your audience looking overwhelmed, just smile at them, \"It’s a great song, isn’t it?”
Wise men and women said...
| English | Hiragana | Kanji + Hiragana | Romaji | Note |
| Love is blind. | こいはもうもく。 | 恋は盲目。 | Koi wa moumoku. | ‘Koi’ means romantic love. |
| Love me little, love me long. | あいはこだしにせよ。 | 愛は小出しにせよ。 | Ai wa kodashi ni seyo. | Originally an English saying, but the latter part is omitted in Japanese. |
| There’s no medicine for lovesickness. | ほれたやまいにくすりなし。 | 惚れた病に薬なし。 | Horeta yamai ni kusuri nashi. | Also said as ‘Koi no yamai ni kusuri nashi’. |
| At the touch of love, everyone becomes a poet. | あいにふれると、だれもがしじんになる。 | 愛に触れると、誰もが詩人になる。 | Ai ni fureru to, dare mo ga shijin ni naru. | …said Plato. Possibly useful when someone thinks you’re poetic or dramatic because of love. |
| To love is not a state but an act of creation. | あいするとはじょうたいではなくつくるこういです。 | 愛するとは状態ではなく創る行為です。 | Aisuru to wa jōtai dewa naku tsukuru kōi desu. | Quote by Shūsaku Endō, a Japanese author. |
| When one door shuts, another door opens. | すてるかみあればひろうかみあり。 | 捨てる神あれば拾う神あり。 | Suteru kami areba hirou kami ari. | Literal translation is ‘There is one god that throws you away, and another god who picks you up.’ |
No matter how you express your love, people will probably get you if they know that's your natural way. In addition to learning how to say I love you in Japanese, investing in communication to learn about each other helps you achieve your goal — whether it's to let people know you love them or to be reciprocated.
There is no single answer to how you should address love in Japanese 'correctly'. Keep exploring. And don't be discouraged by the subtlety of Japanese communication manners.
Continue learning Japanese vocabulary on our Japanese blog.
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