Translation guide
In Japanese, 'tomorrow' is most commonly expressed as 明日 (あした) in everyday conversation. The more formal 明日 (あす) is used in polite or written contexts, while 翌日 (よくじつ) refers to 'the next day' in a relative sense. Time expressions like 明日の朝 (あしたのあさ) 'tomorrow morning' are also common.
Referring to the calendar day following the current one.
The standard, everyday word for 'tomorrow'. Used in casual and neutral contexts.
明日は何をしますか。
What will you do tomorrow?
明日、映画を見に行かない？
Want to go see a movie tomorrow?
A more formal or literary word for 'tomorrow'. Common in news, business, and polite speech.
明日の会議は10時からです。
Tomorrow's meeting is from 10 o'clock.
Means 'the next day' or 'the following day', often used in narratives or when referring to a day relative to a past or future event.
彼は翌日、町を去った。
He left town the next day.
Specifying a time of day on the day after today.
'Tomorrow morning'. The pattern is 明日の + time word.
明日の朝、早く起きなければならない。
I have to get up early tomorrow morning.
'Tomorrow night/evening'.
明日の夜、パーティーがある。
There's a party tomorrow night.
'Tomorrow afternoon'.
明日の午後、歯医者に行きます。
I'm going to the dentist tomorrow afternoon.
Expressing a deadline or continuation until the next day.
'By tomorrow'. Used for deadlines. までに indicates a time limit.
このレポートを明日までに提出してください。
Please submit this report by tomorrow.
'Until tomorrow'. Used for continuous states or actions lasting until tomorrow.
この天気は明日まで続くでしょう。
This weather will probably continue until tomorrow.
Indicating that something starts or changes from the next day.
'From tomorrow' or 'starting tomorrow'.
明日からダイエットを始めます。
I'll start my diet tomorrow.
Referring to something belonging to or associated with tomorrow.
The possessive form. Attach to a noun to mean 'tomorrow's ~'.
明日の天気はどうですか。
How's tomorrow's weather?
明日の予定を教えてください。
Please tell me tomorrow's schedule.
Using 'tomorrow' metaphorically to mean the near future.
In formal or poetic contexts, あす can refer to the near future, similar to English 'tomorrow' as in 'the world of tomorrow'.
明日の日本を担う若者たち
The young people who will carry Japan's future
Both are written 明日. あした is the default in daily conversation. あす is more formal and common in news, business, and set phrases like 明日の日本 (あすのにほん). Using あす in casual speech can sound stiff.
翌日 (よくじつ) means 'the next day' relative to a reference point, not necessarily 'tomorrow'. It's unnatural to say 翌日は休みです to mean 'I'm off tomorrow'; use 明日 (あした) instead.