日
day, sun, Japan, counter for days
Readings
On'yomi
- ニチ
- ジツ
Kun'yomi
- ひ
- -び
- -か
Nanori
- あ
- あき
- いる
- く
- くさ
- こう
- す
- たち
- に
- にっ
- につ
- へ
Meaning
日 centers on the sun and the day it defines: the bright celestial body, the period of daylight, and by extension the concept of a full day. The Japan sense is a cultural application of the sun symbol, and the counter for days follows naturally from the day meaning.
Most common words using 日
24 of 2,181- 日ひN5
day; days
- 日にちN3
Sunday
- 日本にほんN4
Japan
- 今日きょうN5
today; this day
- 明日あしたN5
tomorrow
- 毎日まいにちN5
every day; daily
- 昨日きのうN5
yesterday
- 日本人にほんじん
Japanese person
- 日本語にほんごN5
Japanese (language)
- 今日はこんにちはN4
hello; good day; good afternoon
- 日常にちじょうN3
everyday; daily; ordinary; usual; routine; regular
- 本日ほんじつN3
today; this day
- 当日とうじつN3
day in question; appointed day; that very day; the day (of issue, publication, etc.)
- 日々ひびN1
daily; everyday
- 平日へいじつN4
weekday; ordinary days (i.e. non-holiday)
- 日記にっきN5
diary; journal
- 休日きゅうじつN1
holiday; day off
- 先日せんじつN3
the other day; a few days ago
- 日曜にちようN3
Sunday
- 日曜日にちようびN5
Sunday
- 前日ぜんじつN3
previous day; day before; eve; prior day; preceding day
- 翌日よくじつN3
next day
- 土曜日どようびN5
Saturday
- 朝日あさひN1
morning sun
Study
Etymology
日 is a pictograph of the sun, originally a circle with a dot or line inside. The modern squared form with a central horizontal stroke is a stylized version of that ancient sun image.
Meaning mnemonic
The rectangular outline is the sun's disk, and the horizontal stroke inside is its bright center. See 日 as a simple drawing of the sun, which gives us day and light.
Reading mnemonic
For ニチ, imagine a sunny day perfect for a picnic with a niche cheese: niche -> ニチ, and the sun shines on your day out.