Japanese Relative Time: Today, Yesterday, Tomorrow (今日, 昨日, 明日)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Master the Japanese relative time words {今日|きょう}, {昨日|きのう}, and {明日|あした} to anchor your sentences in time.
- These words act as time nouns and do not require particles like 'ni' when used in simple sentences.
- Place the time word at the very beginning of the sentence or immediately after the subject.
- Use {今日|きょう} (today), {昨日|きのう} (yesterday), and {明日|あした} (tomorrow) to define the tense of your verb.
Overview
Japanese communication frequently navigates temporal contexts using deictic expressions, which are words whose meaning shifts depending on the speaker's current location or, in this case, the present moment. Terms like 今日 (today), 昨日 (yesterday), and 明日 (tomorrow) are fundamental examples. They serve not merely as vocabulary but as a core mechanism for Japanese speakers to perceive and articulate time dynamically, anchoring conversations to the immediate temporal reality.
Unlike absolute time markers such as ５月５日 (May 5th) or 月曜日 (Monday), which denote fixed points on a calendar, these relative time words are inherently flexible. They establish a shared temporal framework between speaker and listener without requiring explicit date references. This approach significantly enhances conversational efficiency and fosters a sense of immediacy, which is vital for natural dialogue.
Mastering these expressions allows you to seamlessly discuss immediate plans, recent experiences, and near-future commitments, integrating into typical Japanese conversational patterns. Without proficiency in these fundamental temporal markers, communication can become stilted or unclear, as the listener may lack the immediate temporal context necessary for comprehension.
These words operate as adverbial nouns, a linguistic category that functions both as a noun and as an adverb. This dual nature allows them to directly modify verbs, indicating when an action occurs, typically without the need for an additional particle like に (ni). This inherent adverbial quality streamlines communication by providing immediate temporal context.
Understanding this grammatical function is key to grasping why they behave differently from other time-related nouns in Japanese.
How This Grammar Works
今日, 昨日, and 明日 primarily function as adverbial nouns. This means they intrinsically carry adverbial force, directly specifying the time of an action or state without requiring a grammatical particle to convert them into an adverbial phrase. When you say 今日、図書館に行きます (Kyō, toshokan ni ikimasu. - "Today, I will go to the library."), 今日 directly modifies 行きます by indicating when the action takes place.８時に起きます (hachiji ni okimasu. - "I wake up at 8 o'clock.") to mark a specific point in time, you usually omit に after 今日, 昨日, 明日, 一昨日, and 明後日. The default expectation is that these words act as adverbs specifying the time. Including に with these words is generally considered redundant and can sound unnatural or even grammatically incorrect in standard usage, unless a specific nuance is intended.- Correct (no
に):明日、会議があります。(Ashita, kaigi ga arimasu.- "Tomorrow, there is a meeting.") - Incorrect (with
に):明日に、会議があります。(Ashita ni, kaigi ga arimasu.) - Sounds unnatural in most contexts.
は can and often does follow these words. When は is used, it functions as a topic marker, emphasizing "today" or "tomorrow" as the subject or topic of the sentence. This highlights what today is like, or what today's plan is, rather than just stating when an action occurs.今日、仕事があります。(Kyō, shigoto ga arimasu.- "I have work today." -今日specifies when the work exists.)今日は寒いですね。(Kyō wa samui desu ne.- "Today, it's cold, isn't it?" -今日is the topic, describing today's weather.)
昨日 immediately signals that the verb will likely be in the past tense. This structural approach facilitates clarity, allowing the listener to construct a complete temporal picture as the sentence unfolds. It is an efficient way to orient the entire statement around a particular point in time relative to the moment of utterance.Formation Pattern
今日). Understanding these terms and their readings is fundamental for basic temporal navigation in Japanese.
{一昨日}|おととい} | ototoi | Two days ago (the day before yesterday) | Less common but occasionally used: {さきおととい} (sakiototoi) for three days ago. |
{昨日}|きのう} | kinō | Yesterday | {さくじつ} (sakujitsu): More formal, often used in written reports or very polite speech. |
{今日}|きょう} | kyō | Today | |
{明日}|あした} | ashita | Tomorrow | {あす} (asu): General formal, common in news, weather forecasts, public announcements. {みょうにち} (myōnichi): Highly formal, typically business or official communication. |
{明後日}|あさって} | asatte | The day after tomorrow | Less common but occasionally used: {しあさって} (shiasatte) for three days after tomorrow. |
昨日 and 明日, as they carry different nuances of formality. While kinō and ashita are standard for everyday conversation and polite speech, sakujitsu for yesterday and asu or myōnichi for tomorrow indicate increasing levels of formality. As an A2 learner, prioritizing ashita and kinō is sufficient for most daily interactions. However, recognizing their formal counterparts is beneficial for comprehension.
今日 and 明日, are examples of jukujikun (熟字訓) readings. This means their pronunciation is not derived from the standard on'yomi (Chinese-derived) or kun'yomi (native Japanese) readings of the individual kanji within the compound. Instead, the pronunciation is associated with the entire compound as a unit, often preserving older Japanese lexical items. For example, 今日 uses 今 (now) and 日 (day), but きょう is an ancient reading. Similarly, 明日 uses 明 (bright) and 日 (day), poetically suggesting "bright day" or "the day that brightens," with ashita also being a historical reading. This characteristic underscores their foundational role in the language, rooted in historical usage rather than strict phonetic composition. Always remember that their meaning is intrinsically tied to the present moment, updating dynamically each day.
When To Use It
- Making Immediate Plans: When coordinating with friends or colleagues about gatherings, meetings, or social activities scheduled for the next few days. For example,
明日、映画に行きませんか？(Ashita, eiga ni ikimasen ka?- "Shall we go to the movies tomorrow?") explicitly proposes an activity for the next day without specifying a date. The immediacy makes明日the natural choice. - Recounting Recent Events: To describe activities or experiences that occurred yesterday or two days prior, where the exact date is secondary to the event's recency. For instance,
昨日、新しいレストランに行きました。(Kinō, atarashii resutoran ni ikimashita.- "Yesterday, I went to a new restaurant.") focuses on the action's occurrence relative to today. Similarly,一昨日、試験が終わりました。(Ototoi, shiken ga owarimashita.- "Two days ago, the exam finished.") highlights the recent completion of an event. - Discussing Current Status or Activities: To refer to what is happening or planned for the current day. Such as,
今日、宿題をします。(Kyō, shukudai o shimasu.- "I'll do my homework today.") or今日は寒いですね。(Kyō wa samui desu ne.- "It's cold today, isn't it?"). In these cases,今日sets the temporal frame for the current state or intended action. - Informal Updates: In text messages, social media posts, or brief conversations where context is shared and brevity is valued. For example, a friend might text
明後日、飲み会だよ！(Asatte, nomikai da yo!, "The day after tomorrow is a drinking party!"). This efficiently conveys information without needing to consult a calendar or specify a date.
Common Mistakes
- 1Unnecessary use of
にparticle: This is perhaps the most prevalent mistake. As discussed, words like今日,昨日, and明日inherently function as adverbial nouns, meaning they already specify when an action occurs. Attaching the particleにis typically redundant and can make your speech sound unnatural or even grammatically incorrect in most contexts.
- Incorrect:
今日に、映画を見ます。(Kyō ni, eiga o mimasu.) - Grammatically awkward. - Correct:
今日、映画を見ます。(Kyō, eiga o mimasu.- "Today, I will watch a movie.") - Linguistic Reason: These words act as direct temporal modifiers, similar to English adverbs like "today" or "yesterday." Just as you wouldn't say "at today" in English,
にis usually omitted in Japanese. - Exception: When these words are paired with other particles that express duration, starting points, or ending points,
にis typically omitted, butから(from) orまで(until) are used. For example,今日から、毎日勉強します。(Kyō kara, mainichi benkyō shimasu.- "From today, I will study every day.") Here,からmarks the starting point, notにmarking a specific time point. Similarly,明日まで(ashita made) and今日で(kyō de) are common.
- 1Mismatched Verb Tense: A crucial aspect of using relative time words is ensuring the verb tense aligns correctly with the time reference. This is a common source of confusion for learners accustomed to more flexible tense usage in their native languages.
- For
昨日(yesterday) and一昨日(two days ago), you must use the past tense of the verb. - Incorrect:
昨日、学校に行きます。(Kinō, gakkō ni ikimasu.- "Yesterday, I will go to school.") - This creates a temporal contradiction. - Correct:
昨日、学校に行きました。(Kinō, gakkō ni ikimashita.- "Yesterday, I went to school.") - For
今日(today),明日(tomorrow), and明後日(the day after tomorrow), you must use the non-past tense. The non-past tense in Japanese covers both present and future actions/states. - Incorrect:
明日、宿題をしました。(Ashita, shukudai o shimashita.- "Tomorrow, I did homework.") - Another temporal contradiction. - Correct:
明日、宿題をします。(Ashita, shukudai o shimasu.- "Tomorrow, I will do homework.") - Linguistic Reason: Japanese verb tenses are highly contextual. Past tense marks completed actions or states in the past, while non-past covers current states, habitual actions, and future intentions or events. A mismatch directly contradicts the temporal information conveyed by the adverbial noun.
- 1Confusing Formality Readings: While
ashitaandkinōare versatile for general use, misjudging the appropriate context for their more formal counterparts can lead to an awkward or overly stiff tone.
- Using
{みょうにち}|myōnichi}for明日in a casual text message would sound akin to using overly archaic or bureaucratic language in English.{あす}|asu}is commonly heard in news or public announcements, indicating a slightly higher, but generally accessible, level of formality. {さくじつ}|sakujitsu}for昨日is primarily used in formal written documents, official reports, or very formal spoken contexts. For everyday interactions, stick tokinō.- Guidance: For A2 learners, prioritize
kinōandashita. Gradually introduceasuandsakujitsuas your understanding of formality deepens. Avoidmyōnichiunless explicitly in a formal business setting.
- 1Extending Beyond the Immediate Window: These terms are specifically for the immediate past and future (roughly within a five-day span). Attempting to apply them to events further in the past or future sounds unnatural and is grammatically incorrect.
- For "three days ago," while
一昨昨日exists, it is very uncommon. It is much more natural and clearer to use specific counter-based expressions like３日前(san-nichi mae- "three days ago"). - Similarly, for "three days after tomorrow,"
明々後日(shiasatte) exists but is rarely used. Prefer３日後(san-ka-go- "three days later"). - General Rule: For anything beyond
一昨日(two days ago) and明後日(the day after tomorrow), use numerical counters with～日前(days ago) or～日後(days later), or broader time expressions like{先週}|senshū}(last week),{来週}|raishū}(next week), etc.
Real Conversations
In authentic Japanese communication, these relative time expressions are employed with a natural fluidity that reflects their core function: to efficiently convey temporal context within shared, immediate realities. You'll observe their usage across various informal and semi-formal settings, from quick text exchanges to casual workplace discussions, demonstrating their pervasive and essential role.
1. Casual Texting/Messaging: This context exemplifies the efficiency and implicit understanding facilitated by relative time words.
A: 明日、暇？ (Ashita, hima? - "Are you free tomorrow?")
B: うん、暇だよ！何する？ (Un, hima da yo! Nani suru? - "Yeah, I'm free! What'll we do?")
A: じゃあ、今日映画どう？ (Jaa, kyō eiga dō? - "Well, how about a movie today?")
B: 今日じゃなくて、明後日がいいな。 (Kyō janakute, asatte ga ii na. - "Not today, I prefer the day after tomorrow.")
- Observation: Notice the directness and the complete absence of に particles after 明日, 今日, and 明後日. The context of "being free" or "doing something" is entirely inferred from the time word. 今日じゃなくて clearly contrasts "today" with another day, using じゃなくて as "not X, but Y."
2. Social Media Post (Caption): Here, 昨日 immediately sets the scene for a recent, enjoyable event.
昨日、友達と桜を見に行きました！すごく綺麗だった！🌸 (Kinō, tomodachi to sakura o mi ni ikimashita! Sugoku kirei datta!)
("Yesterday, I went to see the cherry blossoms with friends! It was so beautiful! 🌸")
- Observation: The post immediately establishes the timeline with 昨日, then proceeds to describe the event using the past tense. No explicit date is necessary, as the relativeness to "today" is sufficient. The informal, exclamatory tone (すごく綺麗だった！) is typical of social media.
3. Semi-Formal Workplace Discussion (with a colleague): Even in a professional setting, if the context is understood and less formal, relative time is preferred for efficiency.
A: 山田さん、例の書類、今日中に終わりますか？ (Yamada-san, rei no shorui, kyōjū ni owarimasu ka? - "Yamada-san, will that document be finished by the end of today?")
B: はい、今日中に提出します。 (Hai, kyōjū ni teishutsu shimasu. - "Yes, I'll submit it by the end of today.")
A: 助かります。明日の会議で使いますから。 (Tasukarimasu. Ashita no kaigi de tsukaimasu kara. - "That helps. We'll use it in tomorrow's meeting.")
- Observation: {今日中に}|きょうじゅうに} (kyōjū ni) means "within today," indicating a deadline. 明日 is used without に for the meeting, clearly establishing its timing. The conversation prioritizes clarity and efficiency through these direct temporal references rather than specific dates. The politeness markers (～ますか, ～ます) maintain the appropriate workplace tone.
4. Recounting a Past Event in Conversation: 一昨日 provides a concise and natural way to reference a slightly older, but still recent, event.
A: ねぇ、先週末どうだった？ (Nē, senshūmatsu dō datta? - "Hey, how was your last weekend?")
B: 一昨日、京都に行ったんだ。 (Ototoi, Kyōto ni ittan da. - "Two days ago, I went to Kyoto.")
A: へぇ、いいな！私も来年行きたい。 (Hee, ii na! Watashi mo rainen ikitai. - "Oh, nice! I want to go next year too.")
- Observation: 一昨日 concisely sets the scene for the trip. The conversation flows naturally without needing specific calendar dates, relying on the shared temporal understanding established by 一昨日 relative to the current day. The informal ～んだ ending reflects a casual conversation.
These examples collectively demonstrate how deeply embedded these relative time words are in everyday Japanese. They allow speakers to communicate effectively and naturally by always orienting their conversations around their shared "now," showcasing the pragmatic and deictic nature of Japanese temporal expressions.
Quick FAQ
{今日}|きょう} be used with は? What's the difference between 今日、～ and 今日は～?は (the topic marker) with 今日, 昨日, 明日, etc., is grammatically correct and serves a distinct purpose.- When
今日is used withoutは(e.g.,今日、図書館に行きます。- "Today, I will go to the library."), it functions purely as an adverb, indicating when the action takes place. It provides temporal information without drawing particular attention to "today" itself. - When
今日はis used (e.g.,今日は雨です。- "Today, it is rain." / "It's raining today."),今日becomes the topic of the sentence. This emphasizes what today is like, or what today's specific characteristic or plan is. It implies a focus on "today" in contrast to other days. Consider今日は寒いですね。("It's cold today, isn't it?") where the focus is on today's weather.
- "Three days ago":
一昨昨日(sakiototoi) - "Three days after tomorrow":
明々後日(shiasatte)
３日前 (san-nichi mae, "three days ago") or ３日後 (san-ka-go, "three days later"). These numerical expressions are widely understood and used for any period beyond the immediate two-day window (一昨日, 明後日).{今日}|きょう}, {昨日}|きのう}, {明日}|あした}?に is generally omitted when these words simply indicate a point in time, other particles that express duration, starting points, or ending points are frequently and correctly used. This is because these particles convey a different grammatical function than simply marking the time of an event.～から(kara, "from"): Marks a starting point in time.今日からダイエットを始めます。(Kyō kara daietto o hajimemasu.- "I'll start a diet from today.")～まで(made, "until/by"): Marks an ending point or deadline.明日までに本を返します。(Ashita made ni hon o kaeshimasu.- "I'll return the book by tomorrow.")～で(de, "with/as of"): Can indicate completion or a state as of a certain day.今日でこのプロジェクトは終わりです。(Kyō de kono purojekuto wa owari desu.- "This project ends with today.")
今日 and 明日 have fairly consistent pitch patterns, mastering them typically comes with extended exposure and practice.今日(kyō): Usually a high-low or flat pattern (e.g.,キョーin Tokyo accent).明日(ashita): Often a flat or high-low pattern (e.g.,ア^シタorア'シタ).
Relative Time Usage Table
| Time Word | Meaning | Particle | Verb Tense |
|---|---|---|---|
|
{今日|きょう}
|
Today
|
は
|
Non-past
|
|
{昨日|きのう}
|
Yesterday
|
は
|
Past
|
|
{明日|あした}
|
Tomorrow
|
は
|
Non-past
|
Formal vs Informal
| Word | Casual | Formal |
|---|---|---|
|
Tomorrow
|
{明日|あした}
|
{明日|あす}
|
Meanings
These are temporal nouns used to specify the relative time of an action or state.
Basic Time Reference
Indicating the specific day relative to the present.
“{昨日|きのう}、{映画|えいが}を{見|み}ました。”
“{明日|あした}は{学校|がっこう}が{休|やす}みです。”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Time + は + Verb
|
{今日|きょう}は{行|い}きます
|
|
Negative
|
Time + は + Verb-nai
|
{昨日|きのう}は{行|い}きませんでした
|
|
Question
|
Time + は + Verb-ka
|
{明日|あした}は{行|い}きますか？
|
|
Topic
|
Time + は
|
{今日|きょう}は{暑|あつ}いです
|
Formality Spectrum
{明日|あした}、{参|まい}ります。 (General)
{明日|あした}、{行|い}きます。 (General)
{明日|あした}、{行|い}くよ。 (General)
{明日|あした}、{行|い}くね。 (General)
Time Flow
Past
- {昨日|きのう} Yesterday
Future
- {明日|あした} Tomorrow
Examples by Level
{今日|きょう}は{学校|がっこう}です。
Today is school.
{昨日|きのう}は{雨|あめ}でした。
Yesterday was rain.
{明日|あした}は{日曜日|にちようび}です。
Tomorrow is Sunday.
{今日|きょう}は{何|なに}ですか？
What is today?
{昨日|きのう}、{友達|ともだち}と{会|あ}いました。
Yesterday, I met with a friend.
{明日|あした}、{日本語|にほんご}を{勉強|べんきょう}します。
Tomorrow, I will study Japanese.
{今日|きょう}は{忙|いそが}しいです。
Today is busy.
{昨日|きのう}は{何|なに}をしましたか？
What did you do yesterday?
{今日|きょう}の{予定|よてい}は{何|なに}ですか？
What is today's schedule?
{昨日|きのう}の{晩|ばん}、{映画|えいが}を{見|み}ました。
Last night, I watched a movie.
{明日|あした}の{朝|あさ}、{早|はや}く{起|お|}きます。
Tomorrow morning, I will wake up early.
{今日|きょう}は{会議|かいぎ}が{多|おお}いです。
There are many meetings today.
{明日|あした}までに{レポート|れぽーと}を{出|だ}さなければなりません。
I must submit the report by tomorrow.
{昨日|きのう}の{出来事|できごと}を{忘|わす}れてしまいました。
I have forgotten yesterday's events.
{今日|きょう}という{日|ひ}を{大切|たいせつ}にしたいです。
I want to cherish this day (today).
{明日|あした}の{天気|てんき}はどうなるでしょうか。
I wonder what tomorrow's weather will be like.
{昨日|きのう}の{今日|きょう}で、{状況|じょうきょう}が{変|か}わりました。
The situation has changed since yesterday (idiomatic).
{明日|あす}の{朝|あさ}、{早急|さっきゅう}に{対応|たいおう}します。
I will handle it urgently tomorrow morning.
{今日|きょう}の{議論|ぎろん}は{非常|ひじょう}に{重要|じゅうよう}です。
Today's discussion is very important.
{昨日|きのう}の{反省|はんせい}を{明日|あした}に{活|い}かします。
I will apply yesterday's reflection to tomorrow.
{明日|あす}の{予定|よてい}は{未定|みてい}ですが、{今日|きょう}は{忙|いそが}しいです。
Tomorrow's plans are undecided, but today is busy.
{昨日|きのう}の{今日|きょう}で{驚|おどろ}きました。
I was surprised by the sudden change since yesterday.
{明日|あす}の{こと|こと}を{言|い}うと{鬼|おに}が{笑|わら}う。
If you talk about tomorrow, the demons laugh (proverb).
{今日|きょう}この{日|ひ}を{迎|むか}えられたことに{感謝|かんしゃ}します。
I am grateful to be able to welcome this day (today).
Easily Confused
Learners think they need 'ni' for all time words.
Using non-past for past events.
When to use which.
Common Mistakes
{昨日|きのう}は{行|い}きます
{昨日|きのう}は{行|い}きました
{今日|きょう}に{勉強|べんきょう}します
{今日|きょう}、{勉強|べんきょう}します
{明日|あした}は{行|い}きました
{明日|あした}は{行|い}きます
{昨日|きのう}は{何|なに}しますか
{昨日|きのう}は{何|なに}をしましたか
{明日|あした}に{会|あ}いましょう
{明日|あした}、{会|あ}いましょう
{今日|きょう}は{雨|あめ}が{降|ふ}った
{今日|きょう}は{雨|あめ}が{降|ふ}ります
{昨日|きのう}は{忙|いそが}しいでした
{昨日|きのう}は{忙|いそが}しかったです
{明日|あした}の{会議|かいぎ}は{昨日|きのう}ありました
{明日|あした}の{会議|かいぎ}は{明日|あした}あります
{今日|きょう}の{朝|あさ}は{行|い}きました
{今日|きょう}の{朝|あさ}は{行|い}きました
{昨日|きのう}の{こと|こと}を{話|はな}します
{昨日|きのう}の{こと|こと}を{話|はな}しました
{明日|あす}の{予定|よてい}は{昨日|きのう}{決|き}めました
{明日|あす}の{予定|よてい}は{昨日|きのう}{決|き}めました
{今日|きょう}の{今日|きょう}で{無理|むり}です
{今日|きょう}の{今日|きょう}で{無理|むり}です
{明日|あした}は{行|い}く{予定|よてい}でした
{明日|あした}は{行|い}く{予定|よてい}です
Sentence Patterns
___は___です。
___は___をしました。
___は___しますか？
___の___は___です。
Real World Usage
{今日|きょう}、{暇|ひま}？
{明日|あす}、{会議|かいぎ}があります。
{昨日|きのう}、{ここ|ここ}に{来|き}ました。
{今日|きょう}のランチ！
{明日|あした}の{予約|よやく}です。
{今日|きょう}は{面接|めんせつ}を{受|う}けに{来|き}ました。
Topic Particle
No 'ni'
Verb Tense
Formal 'Asu'
Smart Tips
Always check your verb ending first.
Use 'asu' instead of 'ashita'.
Use 'wa' after the time word.
Think: Past = 'mashita', Future = 'masu'.
Pronunciation
Kyo
The 'yo' is a small 'yo', making it one syllable.
Kino
Standard pronunciation.
Ashita
The 'shi' is often devoiced.
Statement
Kyo-o wa... (flat)
Neutral statement.
Question
Kyo-o wa...? (rising)
Asking a question.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Kyo' (Today) as 'Key' to the present, 'Kino' (Yesterday) as 'Key-no' (the key is gone), and 'Ashita' (Tomorrow) as 'Ah, she's there' (looking forward to the future).
Visual Association
Imagine a calendar. Today is a bright sun. Yesterday is a faded moon. Tomorrow is a rising star.
Rhyme
Kyo is today, Kino is past, Ashita is future, moving so fast.
Story
Today (Kyo) I eat sushi. Yesterday (Kino) I ate sushi. Tomorrow (Ashita) I will eat sushi.
Word Web
Challenge
Write three sentences about your day using these words.
Cultural Notes
These terms are used universally across Japan.
In news, 'asu' is preferred over 'ashita'.
The usage is the same, but the intonation varies.
These words are native Japanese (wago) terms.
Conversation Starters
{今日|きょう}は{何|なに}をしますか？
{昨日|きのう}は{何|なに}をしましたか？
{明日|あした}の{予定|よてい}はありますか？
{昨日|きのう}は{忙|いそが}しかったですか？
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
{昨日|きのう}は{何|なに}を___か？
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
{今日|きょう}に{勉強|べんきょう}します。
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
Yesterday was busy.
Answer starts with: {昨日...
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
A: {昨日|きのう}は{何|なに}をした？ B: ___
Can you use 'ni' with 'Kyo'?
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercises{昨日|きのう}は{何|なに}を___か？
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
{今日|きょう}に{勉強|べんきょう}します。
{行|い}きます / {明日|あした} / は
Yesterday was busy.
{明日|あした} = ?
A: {昨日|きのう}は{何|なに}をした？ B: ___
Can you use 'ni' with 'Kyo'?
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercisesI am busy today.
[{昨日|きのう}][{勉強|べんきょう}しました][を][日本語|にほんご]
Match these terms:
___、{散歩|さんぽ}しました。
Reading for {明日|あした}:
{明日|あした}、{買い物|かいもの}に{行きました|いきました}。
Tomorrow is a holiday.
___、Netflixを{見ます|みます}。
Choose 'this morning':
[は][今日|きょう][ですか][暇|ひま]
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
No, never use 'ni' with 'Kyo', 'Kino', or 'Ashita'.
'Ashita' is for daily life, 'asu' is for formal/news.
It's optional but makes the sentence more natural.
The listener will be very confused about when the event happened.
No, they are nouns.
Rarely, it sounds unnatural.
Use 'asatte'.
Use 'ototoi'.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
hoy/ayer/mañana
Japanese nouns can take particles.
aujourd'hui/hier/demain
Japanese word order is flexible.
heute/gestern/morgen
Japanese tense is strictly tied to these.
今天/昨天/明天
Japanese requires verb conjugation.
اليوم/أمس/غداً
Arabic has complex verb systems.
今日/昨日/明日
N/A
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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