Using Anki decks is one of the most effective, and certainly most convenient, ways to learn Japanese. Anki is a free, open-source flashcard program (available on any smartphone, tablet, and PC) that uses a spaced repetition system (SRS), allowing you to strategically space out repetition of cards to ingrain new words into your long-term memory. Through this, you can spend more time on words you have a harder time remembering and less on easier ones.

We strongly recommend Anki to learn new Japanese words and build vocabulary over time due to the versatility and accessibility of so many different decks. So, when you are just starting out, try using one of the pre-made Anki decks. Once you know your learning preference, you can then customize it. You can easily download thousands of Anki decks from the Anki website.

Now you are probably wondering what the best options are. So, we will share what our team of native Japanese teachers believe are the top 15 best Japanese Anki decks for learning Japanese, even from scratch!

What is Anki?

Anki is a flashcard app that uses spaced repetition, a learning technique that shows you cards at increasing intervals based on how well you remember them. It’s used by a wide range of people, from med students to language learners. Basically, it is used by anyone who needs to memorize a large amount of information over time.

An Anki deck is essentially a set of flashcards grouped together. You can have multiple decks for different topics (e.g., “JLPT N5 Vocabulary”, “Medical Terminology”, “GRE Prep”). Each card typically has a front (question, prompt) and a back (answer). You can also include audio, images, and formatting.

How the Anki Platform Works and How to Find Shared Decks?

When learning Japanese with Anki, the front of the card is often the Japanese word, and the back shows the English meaning. As you become more familiar with Anki, you can start customizing your cards to suit your learning style. You can even add audio, pictures, tags, custom fields, or other types of media to make your flashcards more engaging and effective!

The Anki platform is pretty easy to navigate on your phone, tablet, or computer. You can simply use the search bar to find certain shared decks you desire, which, in this case, is Japanese. You can find even decks specific to an area you want to study, such as JLPT or Business Japanese.

The Anki website also allows you to access shared decks for languages directly, under which you can just click the “Japanese” link, and it will bring you to a page full of different Japanese Anki decks. There is also a search bar that you can use to find a specific topic.

You click on each Anki deck, look at the reviews, and see the contents. A rating column also shows how different users rate the deck. If you found an Anki Deck you want to use, simply click the “download” button to open Anki on your device. However, with there being hundreds of Japanese Anki decks for learning, choosing the right one can be difficult and confusing. This is especially true for first-time Anki users who have no idea where to start. So, let’s start getting into our top recommendations!

You can also head to our Japanese learner’s guide to Anki flashcards for complete beginners, if you need decks for beginners specifically.

Best Japanese Anki Decks

Now, let’s go through our top shared Anki Deck recommendations for learning Japanese! Many of these decks are beginner-friendly, but there are many that contain material for more advanced learners as well.

1. Japanese Core 2000 Step 01 Listening Sentence Vocab + Images

Japanese Core 2000 Step 01 is one of the most popular Anki decks for memorizing core Japanese vocabulary. Specifically customized for beginners in Japanese, this Anki Deck has over 2,000 Japanese words that are meant to be practical for you to start building real-world Japanese language you can start using soon.

The contents in this Anki deck are well-structured, with images provided for easier memorization. The deck is great for starting to practice your listening skills with 405 audio files. There are also 235 images and example sentences for the Kanji, which will help you associate new words with concrete pictures to help lock them into memory.

It would probably take 2-3 months to complete this Anki deck if you practice consistently. As we know, consistency is the number one thing for improvement.

Visit the Anki website to download the Anki Deck onto your computer. The flashcards will appear on your screen once the deck is imported to your device. You can edit the cards by clicking on the “edit” button.

Download Anki deck here.

2. Japanese Core 2000 Step 02 Listening Sentence Vocab + Images

Japanese Core 2000 Step 02 is the second part of the Japanese Core 2000 Anki series. If you’re starting from scratch, it might be better to start with Step 01 before jumping into Step 02. This Anki Deck is still great for beginners and is a great step up from the previous deck, offering audio files, English translations, and images in the flashcards.

The deck consists of Japanese Kanji, verbs, and practical expressions used in daily life. This Anki Deck has over 404 Audio files and 236 Images. So, it’s great for listening practice as well as reading.

Similar to Step 01, it would probably take you 2-3 months to complete this Anki Deck if you practice consistently.

Visit the Anki website to download the Anki deck. The flashcards will appear on your screen once the deck is imported to your device. You can edit the cards by clicking on the “edit” button.

Get Anki decks here.

3. Japanese Basic Hiragana

If you are starting completely from scratch and need to learn the basic Japanese writing systems, we highly recommend this deck. Unlike the Japanese Core Series Anki Deck, this Anki deck does not have any pictures, but it is particularly helpful if you want to remember hiragana characters.

The deck was modified from the TextFugu Hiragana deck and includes the 46 basic audio hiragana character files.

The best part about this deck is that you can type the romaji under each hiragana character before flipping the card to see if you got the answer right. This deck is perfect for beginners and is great for learning the basic 46 hiragana characters, which make up the majority of the writing system you will need to remember. The deck just doesn’t include the modified sound characters such as が (ga), ば (ba), ぱ (pa), ざ (za), and だ (da), which just add tenten to some of the basic characters to alter their sound.

So, we highly recommend using this deck to memorize the basic hiragana characters before you move on to some more advanced material!

Download Anki deck here

4. JLPT Grammar from Jtest4you

This is the all-in-one Anki deck if you want to focus on grammar. The Jtest4you Anki Deck is focused on JLPT grammar from N5 to N1. It includes example sentences, romaji, and translations that can be added to the front and back of the flashcards.

The vocabulary is divided into different JLPT levels, allowing you to study the specific level you need. The flashcards have you study each vocabulary term in different example sentences, allowing you to practice questions that are similar to the ones on the JLPT.

The front of each flashcard consists of kanji and the example sentences in Japanese, while the back of the flashcard shows the furigana, romaji, and English translation.

Download Anki deck.

5. Japanese Visual Novel, Anime, Manga, LN Vocab – V2K 

We all love Japanese anime and manga, but did you know you can learn Japanese from popular anime, visual novels, and manga as well?

This Anki deck consists of 2,000 Japanese vocabulary words based on the most commonly used phrases from Japanese novels, anime, and manga. The creator analyzed text from popular Japanese media to create a deck that actually reflects common words you would run into in real-life conversation.

The deck uses familiar English metaphors to help you understand how Japanese words and kanji are actually meant in the proper context rather than using direct translations that often lead to more confusion.

It’s very beginner-focused, where you can effectively learn kanji and furigana, along with pre-recorded audio so you can learn how to properly pronounce each word as well.

You will be able to pick up heaps of useful words, such as 全然駄目だ、結構, that are frequently mentioned in anime and manga. It will also significantly improve your reading and listening comprehension.

Download Anki deck here.

6. Katakana Reading Practice

Katakana Reading Practice is an Anki deck that acts as a guide for beginners in learning katakana. With over 1,000 words and phrases in Katakana, the flashcards focus heavily on foreign loanwords, proper names, onomatopoeia, animal names, and brand names.

Many users of this Anki deck have found it very helpful in improving their speed and confidence in speaking and writing katakana.

English speakers might think it’s unnecessary to learn katakana since many of them are loan words from English — but you’d be surprised that some Japanese katakana words don’t sound similar to the original English words, and the fact that there are many katakana words not from English. So, it’s worth spending some time learning different katakana vocabulary and practicing how to read and recognize each character efficiently.

Download Anki deck here.

7. Official KanjiDamage deck

KanjiDamage is the official kanji deck from the KanjiDamage kanji program, which helps you learn and effectively remember Kanji using mnemonics and a healthy dose of humor. There are over 1,700 Kanji to learn from in this Anki Deck.

You will learn a mix of commonly used Kanji as well as uncommonly used Kanji that have been put in random order. The stroke order for writing the Kanji is also included.

If you want to learn kanji frequency instead, check out another Anki Deck made by the same user, which is a reordered version of this Anki deck. It has been reordered based on the frequency of each Kanji character so that you can more common characters first, followed by the uncommon ones.

Visit the Anki website to download the Anki Deck onto your computer. Once the deck is imported to your device, the flashcards will appear on your screen. You can edit the cards by clicking on the “edit” button.

Download Anki deck here.

8. All-in-One Kanji Deck

Looking to learn pretty much everything there is to learn about Kanji? All in One Kanji deck is one of the most comprehensive and informative collections out there. It is perfect for those looking to practice writing the Kanji and gaining more knowledge on kanji meaning and readings.

The Anki deck is nicely formatted. With over 10,000 flashcards, you will learn how to read each kanji in onyomi, kunyomi, and nanori as well as learn the number of strokes and stroke orders.

It also teaches you how each Kanji has been changed from its original Chinese elements to become a Japanese character.

Download Anki deck here.

9. Tofugu: Learn Hiragana Deck

This Anki deck, created by Tofugu, a Japanese learning platform, helps you learn Hiragana through mnemonics, images, or shortcuts to help you remember and recall new material. With this deck, you will be able to learn the basics of Japanese pronunciation and hiragana through fun illustrations that will help you remember each character more easily.

Download Anki deck here.

10. Tofugu: Learn Katakana Deck

Similar to Tofugu’s Learn Hiragana Deck, this deck helps you learn Katakana through mnemonics.

Through descriptive and animative mnemonics, learning is more fun and interactive, and above all very effective for memorization!

Download Anki deck here.

11. Japanese Course Based on Tae Kim’s Grammar Guide & Anime

This is a self-contained Japanese course for beginners, built around Tae Kim’s Grammar Guide, a popular free resource known for its clear explanations of essential grammar points. The creators also developed a companion Anki deck, making it easy to study and review.

The course places a strong focus on listening comprehension, using real anime scenes to reinforce learning. Each flashcard shows a Japanese phrase on the front, along with a video clip of the sentence used in an anime. The back of the card includes the English translation and a detailed grammar breakdown, helping learners understand both meaning and structure.

Download Anki deck here.

12. Genki 1 & 2 Kanji

If you’ve taken a Japanese class, chances are you’ve used the well-known Genki textbook series. This Anki deck is a simple but effective tool that was created to help students learn how to write the kanji introduced in Genki I and Genki II.

The deck covers individual kanji characters from Lesson 3 to Lesson 23, following the exact order presented in the textbooks. Each flashcard shows the English meaning, along with the on-yomi and kun-yomi readings on the front, and the kanji character on the back.

It’s perfect for reinforcing writing practice and memorizing readings in context with the Genki curriculum.

Download Anki deck here.

13. Katakana Reading Practice

Reading katakana can be surprisingly challenging, even if you’ve already memorized the characters. Unlike hiragana, katakana is often used for foreign loanwords and names, which don’t always follow typical Japanese word structure. 

This Anki deck features 1,000 cards designed to help you read katakana with speed and confidence. It focuses on loanwords from English, German, French, Portuguese, Chinese, and more, along with wasei-eigo (English-inspired words created in Japan, such as salaryman). You’ll also find cards with onomatopoeia, company names, animal names, and other real-world katakana usage to give you the exposure you need.

Download Anki deck here.

14. Remembering the Kanji 1, 6th Edition (2200 Kanji)

This Anki deck includes all 2,200 kanji from the 6th edition of Remembering the Kanji 1 by James W. Heisig. It was created to offer a complete and accurate companion to the book, as many existing shared decks were either incomplete, based on older editions, or lacked consistency in format and content.

The deck focuses solely on kanji characters, excluding primitive elements that are not kanji themselves. Each card includes a link to an external website for stroke order diagrams, allowing for easy reference and writing practice. It’s an ideal tool for learners following the Heisig method who want a streamlined, comprehensive study aid.

Download Anki deck here.

15. All in One Kanji Deck

This comprehensive Anki deck includes the full set of 2,136 Jouyou Kanji — the official list of kanji designated by the Japanese Ministry of Education for daily use. These are the characters taught in Japanese schools and used in newspapers, books, and official documents. In addition to the Jouyou Kanji, the deck covers JLPT N5 to N1 kanji, 861 Jinmeiyou Kanji (used primarily in names), the 2,500 most frequent kanji, 3,007 kanji from Heisig’s Remembering the Kanji, and more.

Download Anki deck here. 

16. Full Japanese Study Deck

The Full Japanese Study Deck consists of everything a Japanese learner would want, from JLPT-categorized vocabulary and kanji to additional words. The cards are designed simply. You can go through the subdeck, which contains the vocabulary and kanji, one by one.
It can be considered a “core deck” as well, as it contains common/essential words and kanji used in everyday Japanese (both in real life and in anime/manga). You can also find other subdecks, like the “ready-made mining material” subdecks, where all cards are suspended by default, and “reference material” subdecks for a quick search when you need to look up radicals, kana, and kanji.

Each card contains rich, detailed information: the English meaning, readings (onyomi, kunyomi, and nanori), stroke count, stroke order, and an example compound word. It also includes kanji classification levels such as JLPT level, Jouyou grade, and usage frequency.

Download the Anki deck here.

Conclusion: Should You Learn Japanese with Anki?

Anki is an amazing tool for memorizing new Japanese vocabulary, phrases, and kanji, due to its spaced repetition system that helps you focus on your weakest areas while words you know better will show up later to ensure you don’t forget them. However, it should not be your only resource for learning Japanese. Don’t get us wrong, it’s a great tool with tons of incredible functions, including the ability to embed audio recordings and reading passages to help with listening and reading. But you still need to actually take what you learn and test it in real conversation. In other words, to actually practice speaking, preferably with a partner.

If you are self-studying Japanese, Anki is definitely one of the best ways to build vocabulary over time, but don’t forget to mix it with other resources too!

Take Your Anki Learning to The Next Level!

Anki is incredibly powerful for building vocabulary and strengthening your memory. But just like any learning process, the best way to truly learn Japanese is through immersion. That means speaking with native speakers, practicing conversations out loud, writing actively in Japanese, and so much more.

These are experiences you simply can’t get from Anki alone. That’s where Coto Academy comes in.

Since 2000, Coto Academy has been helping students learn natural, real-life Japanese through conversation-focused lessons. With campuses in Tokyo and Yokohama, plus a thriving online school, Coto offers an immersive learning environment wherever you are. You won’t just learn kanji, grammar, and vocabulary. You’ll learn how to use them in real situations, right away.

Why join Coto Academy?

• School locations in Shibuya, Minato, Iidabashi, and Yokohama, plus a fully online Japanese language school, so that you can learn anywhere, anytime!
• Small classrooms with only up to 8 students for personalized support
• Professional native Japanese teachers, all trained to help you succeed
• Over 60 different Japanese classes across 18 levels, tailored to your needs

You can explore our courses and talk with our staff. No string attached. We just want to help you learn Japanese,

FAQ

What is Anki?

Anki is a powerful flashcard app that uses spaced repetition to help you memorize information more efficiently. For Japanese learners, it’s especially useful for retaining kanji, vocabulary, grammar points, and listening comprehension.

Can I customize the Japanese Anki deck?

Yes! Anki is very flexible—you can edit cards, add audio, images, mnemonics, or even create your own card types to match your study style.

What’s included in this Japanese Anki deck?

That depends on the deck, but typically you’ll find:

• Listening and reading practice (optional with media decks)
  Some decks are based on popular resources like Genki, Tae Kim, or Heisig, and include JLPT-level tagging (N5 to N1).
• Kanji cards (with meanings, readings, stroke order, and examples)
• Vocabulary cards (with context sentences and audio)
• Grammar explanations

You May Be Interested In:

• Anki Add-ons You Need to Have
• The Ultimate Guide to Learning Japanese Online: Apps, courses and Resources
• Top 30 Japanese Learning Apps in 2025: Best way to learn online

Japanese adjectives fall into two grammatical categories: i-adjectives (い形容詞), which end in い and conjugate on their own, and na-adjectives (な形容詞), which need な to connect to a noun and conjugate more like nouns do.

Once you get the hang of basic Japanese grammar structure, you will want to form more complex sentences. What happens if you want to say that the dog is cute? Or short? Or friendly? This is where Japanese adjectives come in: to make you express more, rather than just stating the obvious.

This guide breaks down how to identify Japanese adjectives, conjugate, and use both types correctly.

Before we go further into the article, note that this article will mostly use hiragana, so prior knowledge of them is a must. If you’re still learning them, don’t worry — take a look at our hiragana chart to review them.

Also check out our video explaining い-adjectives and な-adjectives!

What are Adjectives in Japanese?

Adjectives in Japanese, or 形容詞 (keiyoushi), are descriptive words that add details to nouns by describing details about the noun. Adjectives in Japanese operate similarly to those in English, being used to describe the noun in the sentence, but they aren’t just used to describe physical appearance or behavior. They’re used as quantifiers — to express emotions and detail dimensions. They’re used to modify a noun. While they function similarly to English, the grammar rules of Japanese adjectives are a little bit complex, too. Adjectives come in many forms, including:

1. Descriptive adjectives 

Describe physical characteristics such as color (blue or red), size (large or small), the materials of something (wooden or metal), and age (old or young). Here are some common descriptive adjectives in Japanese

Japanese	Furigana	Romaji	English
赤い	あかい	akai	red
青い	あおい	aoi	blue (or green)
黄色	きいろ	kiro	yellow
大きい	おおきい	ookii	large
ちさい	ちさい	chisai	little
若い	わかい	wakai	young
古い	ふるい	furui	old
綺麗	きれい	kirei	pretty/clean
美しい	うつくしい	utsukushii	beautiful
硬い	かたい	katai	hard
柔らかい	やわらかい	yawarakai	soft

2. Quantitative Adjectives

Adjectives also describe the quantity of something, such as how many, how few, or a specific number of something. However, in Japanese, using numbers as an adjective would require using counters, which change based on what thing you are counting. For general objects, it’s common to use the 和語 (wago) or native Japanese counting system (e.g., hitotsu, futatsu, mitsu). 

		Romaji	English
Japanese	Furigana	Romaji	English
多い	おおい	ooi	a lot
たくさん	たくさん	takusan	a lot
少ない	すくない	sukunai	a little
結構	けっこう	kekkou	some
一つ	ひとつ	hitotsu	1 (object)
二つ	ふたつ	futatsu	2 (objects)
三つ	みっつ	mittsu	3 (objects)

To learn more about how counting and numbers work in Japanese, read our blog: How to Count & Read Numbers in Japanese.

3. Proper Adjectives

Similar to nouns, adjectives can also be proper, which can be the names of people, places, and things like products. In English, proper nouns are often conjugated into adjectives, but they will differ depending on the type of noun. In Japanese, it works similarly, but let’s explore how they differ:

Persons:

John → John’s

ジョン → ジョンの

Places: 

Japan → Japanese

日本 (nihon) → 日本の (nihonno)

Things:

Nike → Nike’s (often the ‘s is omitted, e.g., Nike shoes)

ナイキ → ナイキの

In Japanese, you attach the particle の to nouns, whether they are proper or not, to transform it into an adjective. 

4. Adjectives for Abstract Characteristics

Adjectives are also used to describe abstract characteristics such as the function, value, and quality of something or the behavior of someone. For example, a machine can be described as expensive or cheap, and a person can be described as smart or kind.

Japanese	Furigana	Romaji	English
うるさい	うるさい	akai	red
静か	しずか	shizuka	quiet
頭がいい	あたまがいい	atama ga ii	smart
難しい	むずかしい	muzukashii	difficult
優しい	やさしい	yasashii	easy/kind
意地悪	いじわる	ijiwaru	mean
厳しい	きびしい	kibishii	strict
すごい	すごい	sugoi	amazing
美味しい	おいしい	oishii	delicious
高い	たかい	takai	expensive
安い	やすい	yasui	cheap
危ない	あぶない	abunai	dangerous
安全	あんぜん	anzen	safe
早い	はやい	hayai	fast
遅い	おそい	osoi	slow

Just like in English, adjectives in Japanese are descriptors that modify nouns; however, there are 2 different types of grammatical Japanese adjectives to be aware of.

Types of Japanese Adjectives (And How to Use Them)

Japanese adjectives are categorized into two types: な-adjectives and い-adjectives. Their main function is to describe nouns, but these adjectives can also be transformed into nouns themselves.

The easiest way to separate な-adjectives and い-adjectives is by checking the adjective’s ending. More precisely, it is whether the word ends with い or not. For example, 大きい (ookii) is an i-adjective, but 静か is a na-adjective.

Of course, this is a rule of thumb, but there are exceptions you need to note as well. What you need to know are the grammar particles and the way they conjugate.

To know all the basic Japanese adjectives, check out the 100 most common adjectives we’ve collected.

い-adjectives in Japanese

I-adjectives are easy to identify: they end in い. Some i-adjectives have a double い (いい), but the stem stays the same regardless of what form the adjective takes. For example, おいしい (delicious) has the stem おいし, and that stem never changes no matter how you conjugate it.

The reason i-adjectives are considered “easy” is that they conjugate entirely on their own, without needing any helper word. You simply change the ending, unlike na-adjectives, which need な or a form of the verb だ to do the same job.

Below is how you will conjugate an い-adjective into different tenses and forms.

Form	Kanji	Hiragana	Meaning
Positive (Present)	高い	たかい	High
Negative (Present)	高くない	たかくない	Not high
Positive (Past)	高かった	たかかった	Was high
Negative (Present)	高くなかった	たかくなかった	Was not high

Present Tense for I-adjectives

To express an い-adjective in the present tense, simply let it take its original stem form and add an 〜い (already joined).

Keep in mind that Japanese does not clearly distinguish between the present and the future tense. A sentence in the present tense can also refer to the future, depending on the context. In other words, Japanese treats them as the same tense.

今日の天気はいいです。
Kyou no tenki wa ii desu.
The weather is nice today.

明日の天気はいいです。
Ashita on tenki wa ii desu.
The weather will be nice tomorrow.

Negative (Present) Tense for I-adjectives

To make a present-tense い-adjective negative, replace the 〜い with 〜くない.

Base Adjective	Rule	Negative Form	Meaning
〜い adjective	〜い → 〜くない	〜くない	not ~

今日は寒くないです。
Kyou wa samukunai desu.
It is not cold today.

Past Tense for I-adjectives

To express an い-adjective in the present tense, you must omit the 〜い from the word’s stem form and join it with a 〜かった.

Base Adjective	Rule	Negative (Past)	Meaning
〜い adjective	〜い → 〜くなかった	〜くなかった	was not ~

あの車が高かったです。
Ano kuruma ga takakatta desu.
That car was expensive.

Negative (Past) Tense for I-adjectives

For this, similar to negative and past adjectives, you can change the 〜い with a new conjugation, which is a combination of くない and かった: 〜くなかった.

Base Adjective	Rule	Negative (Past)	Meaning
〜い adjective	〜い → 〜くなかった	〜くなかった	was not ~

Casual Form for I-adjectives

For the polite form of い-adjective, you will need to add the auxiliary verb of です. For negative and past adjective forms, follow the same conjugational transformation as well.

Form	Casual Form	Polite form	Meaning
Positive (Present)	よい	よい；いいです	Good; well
Negative (Present)	よくない	よくないです	Not good
Positive (Past)	よかった	よかったです	Was good
Negative (Present)	よくなかった	よくなかったです	Was not good

Making it a casual form is easier; simply remove the です and leave it as it is. However, note that this only applies when the adjective is put at the end of the sentence.

A lot of Japanese people will even shorten the adjective and omit the い. For example, when talking with friends in a good mood, people will say すげー instead of すごい to express something amazing, or うまー instead of うまい to compliment a very delicious meal.

な-adjectives in Japanese

A な-adjective, or na keiyoushi (な形容詞), is a type of Japanese adjective that acts like a noun and needs な when directly describing a noun. Unlike い-adjectives, you can’t modify conjugations in な-adjectives directly to express tense or form. Instead, think of them as nouns (although they’re not, so be careful).

This is because the way you modify their value is the same as how you would with nouns. What you want to do instead is to change the auxiliary verb of the whole sentence or phrase: です、ではありません、 でした or ではありませんでした.

The way you can identify a な-adjective is by looking at the particle attached to it: な. For example, 元気な人 (genki na hito), which means a healthy (or happy, depending on the context) person. A lot of people find な-adjectives to be easier to learn because of their simple (and easy modification) rule.

Like い-adjectives, you can put a な-adjective before a noun. When you do so, the adjective-noun combination becomes the subject.

You can also put a な-adjective at the end of a sentence. When that happens, the form is like this:

Form	Structure	Meaning
Present Affirmative	Adjective + な + Noun + です	is ~
Present Negative	Adjective + な + Noun + ではありません	is not ~
Past Affirmative	Adjective + な + Noun + でした	was ~
Past Negative	Adjective + な + Noun + ではありませんでした	was not ~

In this case, we’ll be using the example 元気, which means happy or healthy. Briefly, this is how you will transform a な-adjective into different tenses and forms.

Present Tense for Na-adjectives

The most basic form of な-adjectives — meaning, positive value in the present tense — is followed by the auxiliary verb of です (polite) or だ (casual). Keep in mind that, similar to い-adjectives, the present and future tense use the same form. To describe a noun, you need to put the particle な in the middle of the adjective and the noun (hence, it’s called na-adjective). Take a look at the example below.

Form	Kanji	Hiragana	Meaning
Positive (Present)	元気だ	げんきだ	Healthy; lively
Negative (Present)	元気じゃない	げんきじゃない	Not healthy; lively
Positive (Past)	元気だった	げんきだった	Was healthy; lively
Negative (Present)	元気じゃなかった	げんきじゃなかった	Was not healthy; lively

好きな人は田中さんだ。
Suki na hito wa Tanaka-san da.
The person I like is Tanaka-san.

As we mentioned before, the conjugation rules for な-adjectives are the same as nouns, so even when the adjective is put at the end of the sentence, you will still use だ.

田中さんが好きだ。
Tanaka-san ga suki da.
I like Tanaka-san.

Negative (Present) Tense for Na-adjectives

Similarly, to conjugate the auxiliary verb to get to the negative form for な-adjective, add 〜じゃありません. You can also use 〜ではありません, which has the same meaning (negative value), but sounds more polite and is usually used in written Japanese.

To make it casual, you can shorten it into 〜じゃない or 〜ではない.

あのウェイターはお客さんに親切ではない。
Ano weitaa wa okyakusama ni shinsetsu dehanai.
That waiter is not kind to guests.

あまり歌っていなくて、カラオケが上手じゃない。
Amari utte inakute, karaoke ga jouzu janai.
Because I don’t sing so much, I’m not good at karaoke.

You can also put a negative な-adjective before a noun.

Negative (Past) Tense for Na-adjectives

To indicate that something was true before (and is not now), you will need to add だった (casual) or でした (polite) at the end of the sentence or phrase with a な-adjective.

As with previous Japanese adjective modification, to make a na-adjective negative and in the past tense, simple add じゃありませんでした or ではありませんでした。

You can make it more casual by just transforming the auxiliary verb.

Style	Form	Structure	Example (きれい)
Polite	Standard	Adjective + ではありませんでした	きれいではありませんでした
Polite	Casual alt.	Adjective + じゃありませんでした	きれいじゃありませんでした
Casual	Plain	Adjective + ではなかった	きれいではなかった
Casual	Common	Adjective + じゃなかった	きれいじゃなかった

この街は静かじゃなかった。
Kono machi wa shizuka janakatta.
This town wasn’t peaceful (before).

リノベーションの前に、ホテルはきれいではありませんでした。
Rinobeeshon no mae ni, hoteru wa kirei dewa arimasen deshita.
Before the renovation, the hotel wasn’t pretty.

Casual Form for Na-adjectives

We’ve touched up how to change polite forms to casual forms for な-adjective, but we’ve made a table to sum it all up.

Form	Casual Form	Polite Form
Positive (Present)	元気だ	元気です
Negative (Present)	元気じゃない	元気じゃありません
Positive (Past)	元気だった	元気でした
Negative (Present)	元気じゃなかった	元気じゃありませんでした

What You Need to Know for Na-adjectives

You can immediately modify な-adjectives into a negative value, past tense, or both, and join it with a noun. However, keep in mind that this is only applicable if you use casual auxiliary verbs.

Here are a few examples:

元気じゃない人
Genki ja nai hito. (Correct)

元気じゃありません人
Genki ja arimasen hito. (Wrong)

元気だった人
Genki datta hito. (Correct)

元気でした人
Genki deshita hito. (Wrong)

Another thing to keep in mind is an exception: the Japanese adjective 同じ (onaji), which means “the same”. Even though it is technically a な-adjective, you will have to remove the な when you combine it with a noun.

君は僕と同じな背の高さです。(Wrong)
Kimi wa boku to onaji na se no takasa desu.
You are as tall as I am.

君は僕と同じ背の高さです。(Correct)
Kimi wa boku to onaji na se no takasa desu.

Learning to use and modify Japanese adjectives can be tricky, especially with the exceptions and grammar rules to remember. However, mastering the distinction between い-adjectives and な-adjectives will help you add more color and detail to your sentences.

Once you’ve learned some Japanese adjectives, we recommend practicing them with immersive Japanese listening conversations. Our Japanese podcasts are a great way to do this. Additionally, the NHK World Japan Audio Shows offer excellent listening practice for learners at any level.

Exception for Adjective

Both na and i adjective types have a handful of irregularities that don’t follow the standard conjugation rules above. These exceptions are common enough in everyday Japanese that it’s worth learning them early, rather than being caught off guard the first time you encounter one. Below are the key exceptions for each adjective type.

1. 良い (Yoi): Good, well, great

良い is a special case among i-adjectives. In modern spoken Japanese, it’s almost always read and written as いい rather than 良い, and いい is the form most learners encounter first. But いい doesn’t conjugate directly. For every form other than the plain present affirmative, it reverts back to its older reading, よい, before the standard i-adjective endings are attached.

In the present positive tense, both いい and よい can be used, with よい sounding more formal. However, when changing the adjective into negative or past forms, the stem changes to よ, not い.

This is why the correct forms are よくない (not good), よかった (was good), and よくなかった (was not good).

Form	Kanji	Hiragana	Meaning
Positive (Present)	良い	よい；いい	Good; well
Negative (Present)	良くない	よくない	Not good
Positive (Past)	良かった	よかった	Was good
Negative (Present)	良くなかった	よくなかった	Was not good

2. かっこい (Kakkoi): Cool

The same thing can be said with かっこいい (cool). When it becomes a negative form or past tense, the stem changes to よ. Instead of かっこいくない, change it to かっこよくない.

3. きれい (Kirei) and きらい (Kirai)

One last thing: also, it seems like it, きれい (pretty or clean) and きらい (hate or dislike) are actually na-adjectives even though the word ends with い, so be careful!

野菜がきらくない。
Yasai ga kirakunai.
I don’t hate vegetables. (Wrong)

野菜がきらいじゃない。
Yasai ga kirai ja nai.
I don’t hate vegetables. (Correct)

子供の頃、お風呂が嫌いだった。
Kodomo no koro, ofuro ga kirai datta.
When I was a kid, I hated taking a bath.

Turning Adjectives into Adverbs in Japanese

In Japanese, adjectives can turn into adverbs and are actually commonly used as adjectives. Conjugating adjectives into adverbs differs depending on whether it is an い-adjective or な-adjective. Let’s take a look at some examples to dive into how it works.

1. Using い-adjectives as Adverbs

To use い-adjectives as adverbs, you must conjugate い into く. For example, to use the adjective 早い (hayai), or quick, as an adverb, you conjugate it into 早く (hayaku) and place it before a verb. Here’s how it works:

早い (hayai) → 早く(hayaku)

Example:

もうすぐ会議があるので、早く食べないといけないです。

Sugu kaigi ga arunode, haraku tabenai to ikenai desu.

Because I have a meeting soon, I have to eat quickly.

2. Using な-adjectives as Adverbs

To use な-adjectives as adverbs, you don’t have to conjugate the word at all, and in many cases, you can just add the word right before the verb. For example, you can say たくさんを食べた (takusan tabeta) to say “I ate a lot.” 

But in many other cases, you would need to attach the particle に to the adjective. For example, if you want to say “please go home safely,” you would say 安全にかえってください (anzen ni kaete kudasai), meaning please go home safely. 

Using Adjectives as Nouns in Japanese

You can also use adjectives as nouns in Japanese, and it’s quite common; we do it quite often in English, like when we say “many will be there” or “few have visited.” In Japanese, using adjectives in this way might be even more flexible. So, let’s see how it works between い and な adjectives.

1. Using い-adjectives as a Noun

To use an い-adjective as a noun, you just need to conjugate the い into く, just like you would for adverbs. Then, the word can operate just like a noun and can be used as the subject or object of the sentence. 

Example 1:

近い (chikai) → 近く(chikaku)

近くが見える

Chikaku ga mieru

I can see the close one.

Example 2

遅い (osoi) → 遅く(osoku)

いつも遅くのはジョンです。

Itsumo osokuno wa jon desu.

The one who is always late is John.

2. Using な-adjectives as a Noun

Using a な-adjective as a noun is quite simple and doesn’t need any conjugation. You would just simply need to attach the correct particle to have the adjective operate like a noun. 

Example:

たくさんがパーティーに来ました。

Takusan ga paatii ni kimashita.

Many came to the party. 

Conclusion: Adjectives are the Building Blocks of Japanese

Adjectives are what allow us to describe different things when we make sentences in Japanese. Whether you need to specify that something is blue, green, quiet, or loud, or if a person is sweet, strict, nice, or friendly, you need to use adjectives. In Japanese, they can be used very flexibly, even as adverbs or adjectives. 

So, try to remember as many adjectives as you can to add to your Japanese arsenal to describe the world around you or give details when explaining an experience!

Learning Japanese? Let’s Make It Easy

Studying Japanese doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Whether you’re starting out or advancing, with the right class, becoming confident in speaking is easier than you think.

Master Japanese in weeks with Coto Academy! Learn to speak Japanese with our intensive, part-time or online Japanese courses and reach your goals faster!

FAQ

What’s the difference between い-adjectives and な-adjectives?

い-adjectives directly modify nouns and change form based on tense, while な-adjectives require the particle な before a noun and use auxiliary verbs to change tense.

Can I use い-adjectives and な-adjectives interchangeably?

No, they follow different grammatical rules. Make sure to use them appropriately based on the sentence structure.

What are the exceptions to na-adjectives?

While most な-adjectives follow a consistent rule, there are a few notable exceptions to keep in mind:

• きれい (kirei) – Meaning “pretty” or “clean,” this adjective ends with い but is still considered a な-adjective. It requires the particle な when used before a noun (e.g., きれいな花 – a pretty flower.
• きらい(kirai) – Meaning “hate” or “dislike,” this adjective also ends in い but functions as a な-adjective. It uses the な particle when modifying a noun (e.g., きらいな食べ物 – a disliked foods.
• おなじ (onaji) – Meaning “same,” this adjective is usually a な-adjective, but when modifying a noun, the な particle is often omitted (e.g., 君は僕とおなじ背の高さです – You are the same height as me.
• だめ (dame) – Meaning “no good” or “unacceptable,” this adjective doesn’t require な when used before a noun in many cases (e.g., だめなこと – “a bad thing”).

New to learning Japanese? Check out:

Basic Japanese Adverbs to Know

100 Basic Japanese Words to Know

How to Conjugate Past Tense in Japanese

Writing your address in Japanese is essential for living in Japan, from completing administrative procedures at the Japanese city hall to using postal services. The first thing you might notice about Japanese addresses is that they start with the largest unit (region/city) and end with the smallest (street name). So, in order to write an address in Japanese, there are a few things you might need to know when it comes to Japanese street systems and wards. 

So, how do you actually write your address, and is it completely different than writing your name in English? Let’s find out everything you need to know!

Japanese Address Converter

So, before we break down how to actually write your address in Japanese, if you’re in a bind, you can use our Japanese address converter below! Simply enter the address you need in English or Romaji, and the converter will provide it in the correct Japanese format.

Whichever address you input will be reordered into proper Japanese format (postal code → prefecture → city/ward → block/house number → building/room), plus a breakdown table. It will also flag anything ambiguous, like a missing postal code.

Wondering how to write your name in Japanese? Check out our blog: What is Your Name? Japanese Name Converter

Are Japanese Addresses Written Differently Compared to English?

When writing addresses in Japanese, there are a few things to keep in mind to prevent confusion. Japanese addresses are written starting with the largest area, generally the city, 都 (to), or the prefecture, 県 (ken). At the end, you write the smallest area, usually your apartment name and room number or house name. In other countries, like the United States, this is the opposite: you start with the smallest area and work up to the largest.

Also, keep in mind that addresses rarely use street names (except for major roads in some cases). This is because Japanese cities are generally divided into blocks and sub-areas, so most addresses use block names rather than road names. Here is how a typical Japanese address might look:

〒151-0073 
東京都渋谷区笹塚1-2-3

Now, let’s break down this address piece by piece, starting from the top, so you can learn how it works to write your address as well.

1. Writing Japanese Postal Codes

Postal codes are essentially equivalent to a zip code. However, you usually have to start every address with a postal code, which always starts with the postal symbol, 〒, followed by a 7-digit number separated by a dash after the first 3 digits. Let’s take a look at the example again.

〒151-0073

This is the actual postal code for the Sasazuka district, so every apartment or house in Sasazuka uses it. If you’re unsure what your postal code is, you can simply look up your specific district’s postal code on Google.

To tell people your postal code over the phone, you will need to know Japanese numbers! So, check out our detailed guide: How to Count Numbers in Japanese: 0 – 1,000,000

2. Writing the Prefecture in Japanese Addresses

After entering your postal code, you will need to write the prefecture name, which is similar to entering your state in the United States. If you live in Tokyo, you will need to attach the character 都 (to), as in the earlier example.

東京都
Toukyouto
Tokyo State/Prefecture

都 marks Tokyo specifically; it’s the only place in Japan that uses this character, reflecting its unique status as the capital. Everywhere else, you’ll see one of three other prefecture-level characters instead:

県 (ken) → used for most prefectures, like 熊本県 (Kumamoto-ken)
府 (fu) → used for Osaka and Kyoto, like 大阪府 (Osaka-fu)
道 (dou) → used only for Hokkaido, 北海道 (Hokkaidou). 

So, in total, there are four possible prefecture-level characters: 都, 道, 府, and 県. If you ever move from one prefecture to another, it’s important to check which one applies, since using the wrong kanji character (or leaving it off entirely) can cause confusion on forms and deliveries.

3. Writing the Ward in Japanese Addresses

Now we write the ward or city part of the address, so let’s revisit the example once again:

渋谷区 
Shibuyaku 
Shibuya ward

Shibuya uses the character 区 (ku), meaning “ward.” This is common in Tokyo’s 23 special wards, as well as in other major cities like Osaka, Nagoya, and Yokohama, which are also divided into wards. However, not every city in Japan uses 区. Smaller or less densely populated cities often skip the ward system entirely and use 市 (shi), meaning “city,” on its own instead. Let’s take a look at some examples.

大阪市 (Osaka shi) → Osaka City, with no ward attached, if you’re referring to the city as a whole rather than a specific ward within it
箱根町 (Hakone-machi) → Hakone Town, using 町 (machi), meaning “town”
白川村 (Shirakawa-mura) → Shirakawa Village, using 村 (mura), meaning “village”

So, depending on where you live, your address might use 区, 市, 町, or 村 at this point in the address, and it’s worth double-checking which one applies to you rather than assuming. A good rule of thumb is that the more urban and populous the area, the more likely it is to use 区; smaller cities, towns, and villages generally stick with 市, 町, or 村 instead.

4. Writing the District Town and City Block in Japanese

Finally, we get to the last part of the address: 

笹塚1-2-3 
Sasazuka ichi no ni no san
Sasazuka 1-2-3

Note: sometimes the address could be written like this:

笹塚1丁目2番3号
Sasazuka ichhoume ni ban san gou
Sasazuka 1-2-3

This part starts with the district or neighborhood name, 笹塚 (Sasazuka) in this case, followed by a set of numbers separated by hyphens. As the second example demonstrates, those numbers aren’t random; they’re shorthand for three separate units:

• 丁目 (choume/chome) → a sub-district or block area
• 番地 (banchi) → a specific block number within that chome
• 号 (gou) → the building or house number within that block

So 笹塚1-2-3 is technically shorthand for 笹塚1丁目2番3号 (Sasazuka Icchoume, 2 banchi, 3 gou). In everyday use, especially on envelopes, forms, and business cards, almost everyone writes it in the shortened hyphenated format rather than spelling out 丁目, 番地, and 号 in full, but it’s useful to know what each number actually represents.

One more regional variation to keep in mind: some older or more rural addresses use 大字 (Ooaza) or 字 (aza) instead of the choume system. These are older land divisions that predate the modern block-numbering system, and you’ll still come across them in more traditional or countryside areas. If your address includes 大字 or 字, the same overall logic applies, largest unit to smallest, but the internal numbering may look a little different from the standard choume-banchi-gou format. Ward name using the 区 character meaning “ward.”

5. Writing Your Apartment/House Name and Room Number

At the very end of the address, you write your apartment building name (or house name, if applicable) followed by your room number. This part comes last because it’s the smallest, most specific unit in the address, narrowing everything down to your exact door.

Example:

笹塚コーポ101
Sasazuka Koopo 101
Sasazuka Corp, Room 101

Here, 笹塚コーポ (Sasazuka Koopo) is the building name, and 101 is the room number. Building names in Japan often borrow English- or French-sounding words like コーポ (koopo, from “corporate/corp”), ハイツ (haitsu, from “heights”), or メゾン (mezon, from the French “maison”), so don’t be surprised if your building name doesn’t look like standard Japanese vocabulary at all.

However, there are a few things to keep in mind for this part of the address. If you live in a house rather than an apartment, you typically won’t have a building name or room number at all. In that case, the address simply ends after the block and house number from the previous section (笹塚1-2-3), with no additional line needed.

If you live in an apartment or mansion (マンション), you’ll almost always need to include both the building name and room number, since multiple households share the same block/house number.

Room numbers often loosely correspond to the floor: for example, 101 usually means “1st floor, room 01,” and 305 would mean “3rd floor, room 05,” though this isn’t a strict rule and can vary by building.

Some older or smaller buildings don’t have an official building name at all. In these cases, you may only need to write the room number, or the block number itself may already be specific enough to identify the address.

Conclusion: Knowing How to Write Addresses in Japanese is Essential!

To live in Japan, being able to write and say your address in Japanese will make your life a whole lot easier! All the Japanese ward, city, and block names might be overwhelming at first, but as you understand how Japanese cities work, you will start remembering your address in no time. But if your address just completely wanders out of your mind, you can always show your address from your residence card or phone! Of course, feel free to use our Japanese Address converter above if you only know the address in English! 

Learn How to Write and Say Your Address at Coto Academy!

If you want to learn how to write your address properly, then we highly recommend joining us at Coto Academy! We have courses that will get you reading and writing not only hiragana and katakana but also kanji. But if you’re looking to get real practice speaking Japanese in practical settings, not just from a textbook, our conversation courses also have you covered!

Drop by our campuses in Tokyo and Yokohama, or join us online from anywhere in the world! Simply fill out the form if you’re ready to sign up or if you just want a casual chat for more details!

FAQ:

Do I need to use kanji when writing my address in Japan?

For most official purposes (city hall, banks, delivery services), it is safer to write Japanese addresses in kanji and kana. That said, many postal and delivery services can still process addresses written in romaji, especially for mail coming from overseas, so it’s not always a hard requirement.

Do all Japanese addresses include a building name?

Not always, if you live in a standalone house, you typically won’t have a building name at all, and the address ends after the block and house number. Apartments and mansions almost always require a building name and room number, since multiple households share the same block number.

Is it okay to write my address in the English order (smallest to largest) on forms in Japan?

It’s best to avoid this. Japanese forms and postal systems expect the largest-to-smallest order (postal code → prefecture → ward/city → block → building/room), and writing it in reverse can cause confusion or delivery issues, even if all the individual pieces are correct.

Can I just use the address converter instead of learning the format?

The converter is a great shortcut when you’re in a pinch, but it’s still worth understanding the structure yourself, since you’ll likely need to write your address by hand on forms, at the post office, or when giving it verbally.

How do you say Monday to Sunday in Japan? Knowing the days of the week in Japanese is one of the essential skills you need to have for everyday communication. Once you know them, along with days and months, you’ll find it much easier to make plans with your friends.

In this guide, we’ll introduce each day of the week with its Japanese name, pronunciation, and useful tips to help you remember them quickly. Let’s get started!

Basics of Days in Japanese: 曜日 (Youbi) 

Just like how each day of the week from Monday to Sunday ends with “day” in English, it is essentially the same in Japanese. Each day of the week ends with the word 曜日(youbi), which roughly means “day” but is specifically used for the weekdays. 

Note that although it’s spelled youbi, the first syllable isn’t pronounced like the English word “you.” In Japanese, it’s pronounced yo (as in “yo-yo”), followed by u (as in “oops”) and bi (like “bee”). This follows Japanese pronunciation rules and the concept of long vowels, not English phonetics.

Breaking down the characters, 曜 (you) means a celestial body, such as a planet, moon, or star, and 日 (bi) simply means “day”. The terms for the days of the week have their origins in ancient China, which associated each weekday with mythological beliefs in the celestial bodies. 

According to ancient Chinese astrology and mythology, there are five celestial bodies: fire, water, tree, gold/metal, and earth. Additionally, there is the moon and the sun. These concepts were brought to Japan, where they merged with local mythology to form the weekday names still used today. See how each day’s name relates to specific stars and planets.

Days of the Week in Japanese

The days of the week are quite simple. All you have to do is add one of the names of the weekday before 曜日 (youbi). Below is an infographic showing each day of the week along with the literal meaning of weekday to help make it easier to remember.

Here is each weekday in a table as well, showing each word in English, kanji, hiragana, and romaji for your convenience:

English	Japanese	Hiragana	Romaji
Monday	月曜日	げつようび	getsuyoubi
Tuesday	火曜日	かようび	kayoubi
Wednesday	水曜日	すいようび	suiyoubi
Thursday	木曜日	もくようび	mokuyoubi
Friday	金曜日	きんようび	kin youbi
Saturday	土曜日	どようび	doyoubi
Sunday	日曜日	にちようび	nichi youbi

Breaking Down Each Japanese Weekdays

So, let’s take a look at each name of the weekday in Japanese, breaking down the literal translation as well as the actual name of the weekday. We will explore the traditional meanings of each weekday and their origins in Japanese astrology. This will not only help you remember each day of the week, but it will also give you a peek into Japan’s rich history with ancient China. 

Let’s look at each Japanese weekday name, breaking down both the literal meaning and the modern-day term. We’ll also explore the traditional origins of these names in Japanese astrology. This will not only help you remember the days of the week more easily but also give you a glimpse into Japan’s deep historical ties with ancient China

1. Monday: 月曜日(Getsuyoubi)

月曜日 (getsuyoubi) literally means ‘moon day’ since the character 月 (getsu) translates to moon. Somehow, like in many countries halfway across the world, ancient China, Japan, and Korea associated Monday with the moon.

2. Tuesday: 火曜日(Kayoubi) 

火曜日 (kayoubi) means ‘fire day’ as the character 火 (ka or hi) literally means fire. However, the word kayoubi actually refers to Mars, which was called the fire star in ancient China due to its red color. 

3. Wednesday: 水曜日(Suiyoubi) 

水曜日 (sui youbi) means ‘water day’ with the character 水 (sui or mizu) meaning water. But in the context of weekdays, suiyoubi refers to Mercury, or the water star in ancient Chinese.

4. Thursday: 木曜日 (Mokuyoubi) 

木曜日 (moku youbi) means ‘tree day’ with the character 木 (moku or ki) meaning tree. However, mokuyoubi refers to Jupiter, which was called the wood star in ancient Chinese since the color resembled wood. 

5. Friday: 金曜日 (Kinyoubi) 

金曜日 (kinyoubi) literally translates to ‘gold day’, referring to Venus, which was thought to resemble metal. The character 金 (kin) can translate to gold, metal, or even money.

6. Saturday: 土曜日 (Doyoubi) 

土曜日 (do youbi) just means ‘earth day’ with the character 土 (do or tsuchi) meaning earth or soil. However, in ancient Chinese, the word doyoubi is interpreted as earth star. This is associated with Saturn, which has a color resembling soil. 

7. Sunday: 日曜日 (Nichiyoubi) 

日曜日 (nichiyoubi) means the same as its English name, ‘sun day’. The character, 日 (nichi, hi, or bi), means‘sun’. In Japan, nichiyoubi actually has roots with the sun goddess, Amataresu, from the Japanese folk religion Shinto.

Key Vocabulary Related to Days of the Week in Japanese

Now that we know how to say the weekdays, how do we express week durations and sequences of events? There will be times when you will need to specify a certain time in week durations such as “this week”, “a week ago”, or “in two weeks”. What are they?

The word for week in Japanese is 週 (shuu), which is hardly used alone and often attached to other words to express week durations or sequences in different situations. 

Before we dive into some key vocabulary, let’s discuss the grammar you need to know.

1. Saying week durations in Japanese 

If you understand numbers and counting in Japanese, counting weeks will be relatively straightforward, since it works the same way. You just need to add a number to 週 (shuu) and 間 (kan) to transform the expression for counting the number of weeks, such as one week or two weeks.

The structure for counting week durations is as follows: 

Number + 週間 (shuukan)

Here is a table for counting the durations of weeks from 1 to 10:

English	Japanese	Hiragana	Romaji
1 week	1週間	いっしゅうかん	ishhoukan
2 weeks	2週間	にしゅうかん	nishuukan
3 weeks	3週間	さんしゅうかん	sanshuukan
4 weeks	4週間	よんしゅうかん	yonshuukan
5 weeks	5週間	ごしゅうかん	goshuukan
6 weeks	6週間	ろくしゅうかん	rokushuukan
7 weeks	7週間	ななしゅうかん	nanashuukan
8 weeks	8週間	はちしゅうかん	hachishuuhan
9 weeks	9週間	きゅうしゅうかん	kyuushuukan
10 weeks	10週間	じゅうかかん	juushuukan

Note that ichi (1) conjugates into isshuu kan and not ichishuu kan. You might also notice that 7 weeks is pronounced nanashuukan. This is called rendaku (sequential voicing) or consonant changes due to euphonic reasons.

2. Expressing weekdays and weekends

Most Japanese public services and businesses will have different hours depending on whether it’s a weekday or a weekend. When asking the staff, on a bus timetable, or board with operating hours, these are the terms that are generally used:

English	Japanese	Furigana	Romaji
Weekday/working day	平日	へいじつ	heijitsu
Weekend	週末	しゅうまつ	shuumatsu
Weekend (Saturday and sunday)	土日	どにち	donichi
Public Holiday	祝日	しゅくじつ	shukujitsu

3. Key vocabulary for day-related timeframes and frequencies

How can you express weeks in relative time sequences (past, present, and future)? There will be times when you will need to specify this week or next week when scheduling. Here is some key vocabulary to remember:

English	Japanese	Furigana	Romaji
Last week	先週	せんしゅう	senshuu
This week	今週	こんしゅう	konshuu
Next Week	来週	らいしゅう	raishuu
A week ago	1週間前	いっしゅうかんまえ	isshuukamae
A week later	1週間後	いっしゅうかんご	ishuukan go
Every week	毎週	まいしゅう	maishuu

Tie everything together to schedule or make a reservation by not only specifying the week but also the time with our guide on how to tell time in Japanese.

How to Use Japanese Days Sentences

We’ve learned the basic days of the week in Japanese, from Monday to Sunday, along with related vocabulary. But in real life, you won’t just say the day names alone—you’ll need to use them in sentences, such as when asking questions, making plans, or giving answers.

Let’s take a look at some common phrases using the days of the week.

Talking about the days or week in Japanese

今日は火曜日です。
Kyou wa kayoubi desu.
Today is Tuesday.

明日は水曜日です。
Ashita wa suiyoubi desu.
Tomorrow is Wednesday. 

来週の月曜日は祝日です。
Raishuu no nichiyoubi wa shukujitsu desu.

平日は仕事がある。
Heijitsu wa shigoto ga aru.
I have work on the weekdays.

Asking about the day or week in Japanese

週末、予定がありますか。
Shuumatsu, yotei ga arimasu ka.
Do you have plans on the weekend?

明日は何曜日ですか。
Ashita wa nanyoubi desu ka.
What day is tomorrow?

昨日、何をしていましたか。
Kinou, nani o shite imashita ka.
What were you doing yesterday?

Conclusion: Wrapping Up The Week

Mastering the days of the week in Japanese is more than just memorizing vocabulary. It’s a key skill for daily communication, planning, and understanding Japanese culture. 

Of course, being able to schedule and make reservations in Japan takes practice. If you want to speak Japanese fluently, consider starting at a top language school like Coto Academy. At Coto, you’ll gradually ease into both the Japanese language and culture, learning real Japanese as it’s spoken in everyday life.

You can choose from part-time or intensive courses across our four campuses in Tokyo and Yokohama, or join our interactive online lessons to learn from anywhere. Our small classes (only 8 students) ensure plenty of speaking practice and personalized attention.

Ready to start? Fill out the form below for a free level check or consultation to find the best learning path for you!

FAQ

How do you say “day of the week” in Japanese?

You say 曜日 (youbi), which literally means “day of the week.” For example, 月曜日 (getsuyoubi) means “Monday.”

Do Japanese people use abbreviations for days of the week?

Yes! On calendars, days are often shortened to just the first kanji, like 月 (Mon), 火 (Tue), 水 (Wed), 木 (Thu), 金 (Fri), 土 (Sat), and 日 (Sun).

Is Sunday or Monday the start of the week in Japan?

In most Japanese calendars, Sunday (日曜日) appears first. However, in business contexts, Monday (月曜日) is often treated as the start of the week.

What are the seven days a week in Japanese?

Monday: 月曜日 (げつようび, getsuyoubi)

Tuesday: 火曜日 (かようび, kayoubi)

Wednesday: 水曜日 (すいようび, suiyoubi)

Thursday: 木曜日 (もくようび, mokuyoubi)

Friday: 金曜日 (きんようび, kinyoubi)

Saturday: 土曜日 (どようび, doyoubi)

Sunday: 日曜日 (にちようび, nichiyoubi)

Want to learn more basic Japanese? Read our guide on:

• 100 Basic Japanese Words to Know
• Complete Basic Japanese Phrases to Know
• Guide to Japanese Writing System: Hiragana, Katakana and Kanji
• Western to Japanese Year Converter
• Guide to Dates in Japanese