JLPT N5 Grammar: 〜曜日 (yōbi)
Days of the week — from Monday to Sunday
JLPT N5 文法 曜日 (月・火・水・木・金・土・日)
⏱️ Study time: 4–6 minutes
曜日 (yōbi) means "day of the week". Each day is named after a classical element or celestial body — the same system used across East Asia. Learn the seven kanji and their readings, and you'll be able to read any Japanese calendar, schedule, or appointment.
Quick Summary
Monday (moon)
Tuesday (fire)
Wednesday (water)
Thursday (wood)
Friday (gold / metal)
Saturday (earth)
Sunday (sun)
📝 Pattern
💡 Toggle furigana, hiragana, or romaji for easier reading.
⚡ Complete Days of the Week Chart
⚡ The Seven Elements & Their Meanings
Each day is named after a classical element or celestial body. These same kanji appear in planet names and other contexts — learning them here helps everywhere.
💡 Memory aid: The order matches Western planets: Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Sun. If you know the planet names in English order, you can map them to the Japanese days.
⚡ Short Forms (Dropping 日)
In casual writing — calendars, schedules, text messages — the 日 is often dropped. The meaning is identical.
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Note: In very casual speech, you may even hear just the element: 「来週の月」= "next Monday". This is informal but extremely common.
Examples & Mini Dialogue
今日は何曜日ですか。きょうはなんようびですか。Kyō wa nan'yōbi desu ka.
What day of the week is it today?
✅ Standard question for asking the day.
毎週金曜日に日本語のクラスがあります。まいしゅうきんようびににほんごのくらすがあります。Maishū kinyōbi ni Nihongo no kurasu ga arimasu.
I have Japanese class every Friday.
A: 土曜日に何をしますか。どようびになにをしますか。Doyōbi ni nani o shimasu ka.
B: 友達と買い物に行きます。ともだちとかいものにいきます。Tomodachi to kaimono ni ikimasu.
Common Mistakes (and Fixes)
JLPT N5 Practice Questions
1. "Friday" in Japanese is:
2. 水曜日 is which day?
3. "What day of the week?" in Japanese is:
4. 土 in 土曜日 means:
Test yourself with a free mock exam →
About the Instructor
Taught by Anup Sensei at Gogaku Language & Training Center in Pokhara. With real Japan experience and a focus on exam essentials, he helps students pass the JLPT with confidence.
⚡ Vocabulary Used in This Lesson
Related Grammar
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 日曜日 read にちようび and not にちようび?
The 日 in 日曜日 uses its on‑reading にち. The second 日 is voiced to び because of rendaku (sequential voicing) — a very common sound change in Japanese compounds.
Can I always drop 日 in day names?
In casual and written contexts (calendars, notes, text messages), yes. 月曜 = Monday is perfectly understood. In formal speech, use the full form.
What about "weekend"?
週末 means weekend. You can also say 土日 (Saturday‑Sunday) as a shorthand for the weekend.
Continue Learning
Next: 〜月 / 〜日 — months and days of the month.
Learn Dates →→ Explore the JLPT N5 Grammar Hub
Ready to Pass JLPT N5 with Confidence?
Join Anup Sensei's intensive course at Gogaku Language & Training Center, Pokhara. Small batches, real conversation, mock tests, and full grammar mastery.
Join Now – www.gogakueducation.com