Translation guide
The English word 'daily' can be an adjective, adverb, or noun. In Japanese, the most common equivalent is 毎日 (mainichi) for 'every day', but other expressions like 日常の (nichijou no) for 'everyday/ordinary' and 日刊 (nikkan) for 'daily publication' are used depending on context.
Expressing that something happens each day or on a daily basis.
The most common and neutral way to say 'every day'. Can be used in most contexts.
私は毎日ジョギングをします。
I go jogging daily.
毎日同じことをするのは退屈だ。
Doing the same thing daily is boring.
A slightly more literary or formal way to say 'daily' or 'day by day'. Often used in writing or set phrases.
日々の努力が大切です。
Daily effort is important.
Means 'almost every day' or 'on a daily basis', implying frequency but not necessarily literally every single day.
彼は毎日のように遅刻する。
He is late almost daily.
Describing something that is part of normal daily life, routine, or commonplace.
The standard adjective meaning 'daily' in the sense of 'everyday life' or 'routine'. Used with nouns.
日常の出来事を日記に書く。
I write about daily events in my diary.
Referring to something published or occurring every day, like a newspaper.
Using 'daily' as a noun, e.g., 'the daily' meaning the newspaper, or 'a daily' meaning a domestic helper.
Japanese does not use 'daily' as a noun in the same way. Instead, specify the thing: 日刊紙 (daily newspaper), 日雇い (daily worker), etc.
彼女は日雇いの家政婦として働いている。
She works as a daily (domestic helper).
Used in instructions or medical prescriptions, e.g., 'take daily'.
Means 'once a day', commonly used in medical or instructional contexts.
この薬を1日1回服用してください。
Take this medicine once daily.
毎日 (mainichi) means 'every day', not 'ordinary' or 'everyday'. To say 'daily life' or 'daily routine', use 日常 (nichijou) or 日々 (hibi). Saying 毎日の生活 is possible but less natural than 日常生活.
日常生活で使う言葉
words used in daily life
毎日 is the default for 'every day'. 日々 is more literary and often used in expressions like 日々の努力 (daily effort) or 日々成長する (grow day by day). It emphasizes the passage of days.
I want to relieve daily stress.
Similar to 日常の but can feel slightly more poetic or emphatic about each day.
日々の生活に追われている。
I'm caught up in daily life.
A na-adjective meaning 'everyday' or 'ordinary', often used to describe something as commonplace or routine.
それは日常的な問題だ。
That's a daily problem.
Prefix meaning 'daily publication'. Commonly used in newspaper names.
日刊新聞を購読している。
I subscribe to a daily newspaper.
Specifically a daily newspaper.
この日刊紙は発行部数が多い。
This daily has a large circulation.
Literally 'take daily', used in medical contexts.
毎日服用が必要です。
Daily intake is necessary.