Below is a list of days of the week in Japan to English. Includes kanji, romaji, pronunciation, cultural origins, and real-life booking phrases for travelers & learners.
Japanese Days of the Week
| English | Japanese (Kanji) | Romaji | Pronunciation | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 月曜日 | getsuyōbi | get-sue-yoh-bee | Moon (月) |
| Tuesday | 火曜日 | kayōbi | kah-yoh-bee | Fire/Mars (火) |
| Wednesday | 水曜日 | suiyōbi | sue-ee-yoh-bee | Water/Mercury (水) |
| Thursday | 木曜日 | mokuyōbi | moh-koo-yoh-bee | Wood/Jupiter (木) |
| Friday | 金曜日 | kinyōbi | keen-yoh-bee | Metal/Gold/Venus (金) |
| Saturday | 土曜日 | doyōbi | doe-yoh-bee | Earth/Saturn (土) |
| Sunday | 日曜日 | nichiyōbi | nee-chee-yoh-bee | Sun (日) |
💡 Note: 曜日 (yōbi) literally means “day of the week.
FAQs: Days of the Week in Japan
Q: How do Japanese people say Monday to Sunday?
A: 月曜日 (getsuyōbi), 火曜日 (kayōbi), 水曜日 (suiyōbi), 木曜日 (mokuyōbi), 金曜日 (kinyōbi), 土曜日 (doyōbi), 日曜日 (nichiyōbi).
Q: What does 曜日 (yōbi) mean?
A: It literally means “day of the week.” 曜 = celestial body/day, 日 = day.
Q: Why are Japanese days named after elements like fire and water?
A: They’re named after the seven classical luminaries (Sun, Moon, and five visible planets), which ancient Chinese scholars associated with the five elements + sun/moon.
Q: Do Japanese use Sunday/Monday like English speakers?
A: Yes. The weekly cycle is identical. Only the names and kanji differ.
Q: How do I read Japanese calendar days quickly?
A: Memorize the single-kanji abbreviations: 月 火 水 木 金 土 日. They appear on 90% of schedules, apps, and booking forms.