Translation guide
The period from Friday evening or Saturday to Sunday, typically a time for rest or leisure. In Japanese, the most common word is 週末 (shuumatsu), but there are also casual and written variants. The concept is similar to English, but note that Japanese often uses 土日 (donichi) to specifically refer to Saturday and Sunday as a pair.
Referring to the weekend as the end of the week, typically Saturday and Sunday.
The standard word for 'weekend'. Used in both spoken and written Japanese. Can refer to the entire period from Friday evening to Sunday, but most commonly means Saturday and Sunday.
週末は何をしますか。
What do you do on weekends?
今週末、映画を見に行きませんか。
Would you like to go see a movie this weekend?
Abbreviation of 土曜日 (Saturday) and 日曜日 (Sunday). Very common in casual conversation and schedules. Emphasizes the two days specifically, rather than the concept of 'weekend'.
土日はいつも家族と過ごします。
I always spend Saturdays and Sundays with my family.
この仕事は土日が休みです。
This job has Saturdays and Sundays off.
Loanword from English. Used in some contexts like travel or fashion, but can sound slightly stylish or written. Not as common as 週末 in daily speech.
ウィークエンドに旅行に行く。
I'm going on a trip over the weekend.
A weekend that includes a public holiday, making it three days or more.
Means consecutive holidays. Often used for a three-day weekend or longer break that includes a weekend. Not limited to weekends, but commonly used in that context.
今週末は三連休です。
This weekend is a three-day weekend.
連休を利用して旅行します。
I'll take advantage of the long weekend to travel.
Specifically a three-day weekend. Very common in conversation.
Emphasizing the weekend as a break or days off.
General word for 'holiday' or 'day off'. When combined with 週末, it clarifies the weekend as a rest period. Often used in phrases like 週末の休み.
週末の休みはゆっくりしたい。
I want to relax on my days off this weekend.
A common pattern to state that weekends are days off.
私の会社は週末は休みです。
My company is closed on weekends.
週末 (shuumatsu) is the general term for 'weekend' and can include Friday evening. 土日 (donichi) specifically means Saturday and Sunday. Use 土日 when talking about schedules or days off that are exactly those two days. 週末 is more flexible and common in phrases like 'this weekend' (今週末).
週末はたいてい家にいます。
I'm usually at home on weekends.
土日は塾があります。
I have cram school on Saturdays and Sundays.
To say 'this weekend', use 今週末 (こんしゅうまつ). For 'next weekend', 来週末 (らいしゅうまつ). For 'last weekend', 先週末 (せんしゅうまつ). These are straightforward and commonly used.
次の三連休は何をしますか。
What are you doing for the next three-day weekend?