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A1 noun #3,862 most common 10 min read

翌日

yokujitsu Top 3,862

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 翌日 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 翌日 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you are learning the basics of time. You likely already know 'ashita' (tomorrow). 'Yokujitsu' is introduced as a more formal way to say 'the next day' in stories. Imagine you are reading a simple story about a boy who goes to the beach. On Monday, he swims. The 翌日 (next day), he builds a sandcastle. At this level, just recognize that 翌日 means 'the day after something happened.' You don't need to use it in casual speech yet, but you will see it in your textbooks and simple reading passages. It helps you understand the order of events in a narrative without getting confused about whether the story is happening 'tomorrow' or 'in the past.' Focus on the two kanji: 翌 (next) and 日 (day).

At the A2 level, you start using 翌日 in more practical contexts, such as travel planning or simple diaries. When you write about a trip you took, you should use 翌日 to describe what you did on the second day. For example: 'Tokyo ni tsukimashita. Yokujitsu, Disney Land ni ikimashita' (I arrived in Tokyo. The next day, I went to Disneyland). You will also see this word on travel itineraries and shopping websites (for delivery dates). You should begin to distinguish between 'ashita' (tomorrow from now) and 'yokujitsu' (the day after a specific event). Understanding this difference makes your storytelling much clearer and prevents the listener from thinking you are suddenly talking about the future.

By B1, you are expected to use 翌日 comfortably in both writing and formal speaking. You will encounter it frequently in news articles and business correspondence. You should understand how to pair it with particles like 'ni' (at/on), 'kara' (from), and 'made' (until). For example, 'Kensa no yokujitsu ni kekka ga demasu' (The results will come out the day after the test). You should also be aware of the 'yoku-' family, like 翌朝 (next morning) and 翌年 (next year). At this level, you start to appreciate the 'objective' feel of the word—it sounds more professional than 'tsugi no hi.' In a business report, 翌日 is the standard term to use when documenting a sequence of events or a project timeline.

At the B2 level, you should have a nuanced understanding of when to use 翌日 versus its more casual or literary counterparts. You will see it in complex legal or medical documents where precision is paramount. For instance, 'Shujutsu no yokujitsu yori rikuhabiri o kaishi suru' (Rehabilitation begins from the day after surgery). You should also be able to handle compound terms like 'yokueigyobi' (next business day) and understand how they function in contracts or official notices. Your ability to use 翌日 in a formal presentation to bridge different phases of a plan will demonstrate your command of professional Japanese register. You should also recognize the word in historical contexts, where it sequences events in a distant past.

At the C1 level, you are exploring the stylistic choices between 翌日 and more advanced terms like 'akuru hi' (the following day - literary) or 'yokuchou' (the next morning - formal). You understand that 翌日 is the 'neutral-formal' choice, whereas 'akuru hi' might be used to add a narrative flourish to a piece of creative writing. You can use 翌日 to describe complex logical sequences in academic papers or technical manuals. You are also sensitive to how the word functions in 'keigo' (honorific) environments, where it maintains a polite distance and objective tone. Your mastery of relative time allows you to write long-form narratives or reports where multiple timelines are managed simultaneously without ever confusing the reader.

At the C2 level, you use 翌日 with the precision of a native professional. You are aware of its historical etymology and how it fits into the broader structure of Sino-Japanese (Kango) temporal expressions. You can distinguish the subtle nuances between 翌日 and other formal variants in legal statutes or high-level diplomatic communication. In C2 level reading, such as classical literature or dense philosophy, you might see 翌日 used as a rhetorical device to emphasize the inevitability of time. You are also fully comfortable with its use in highly specialized fields, such as financial forecasting or medical research, where 'yokujitsu' functions as a critical variable in data sequencing. Your use of the word is indistinguishable from that of a highly educated native speaker.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

翌日 in 30 Seconds

Yokujitsu means 'the next day' relative to a specific reference point.
It is a formal word used in writing, news, and business.
Unlike 'ashita' (tomorrow), it can refer to the past or future.
It is essential for clear storytelling and professional scheduling in Japanese.

The Japanese word 翌日 (よくじつ - yokujitsu) is a formal and precise noun that translates to 'the next day' or 'the following day.' While English speakers often use 'tomorrow' and 'the next day' somewhat interchangeably depending on the narrative context, Japanese maintains a strict distinction between deictic time (time relative to now) and relative time (time relative to a point in a story). 翌日 is the anchor of relative time, making it essential for storytelling, reporting, and planning. It is composed of two kanji: 翌, meaning 'next' or 'following,' and 日, meaning 'day.' This combination creates a stable, objective term used in newspapers, business emails, and literature to sequence events without ambiguity.

Relative Chronology: Unlike 'ashita' (tomorrow), which always means the day after the moment you are speaking, 'yokujitsu' can refer to the day after a historical event in 1850, or the day after a meeting scheduled for next month. It is the mathematical 'n+1' of the calendar.
Formal Register: In professional settings, using 'yokujitsu' instead of 'tsugi no hi' (the next day) signals a higher level of literacy and professionalism. It is the standard term used in shipping estimates, medical follow-ups, and legal documents.

"台風が去った翌日、空は驚くほど青かった。"
— The day after the typhoon left, the sky was surprisingly blue.

In daily conversation, if you are talking about what you will do tomorrow, you will almost always use ashita. However, the moment you begin recounting a past experience, yokujitsu becomes the natural choice. For example, 'I arrived in Tokyo on Friday. The next day (yokujitsu), I met my friend.' Using 'ashita' here would sound like you are suddenly talking about the future relative to your current conversation, causing confusion for the listener. This distinction is one of the first hurdles for English speakers who are used to the more flexible 'next day' usage in English.

"注文の翌日に商品を発送します。"
— We will ship the product the day after the order is placed.

Furthermore, the word is part of a larger family of 'yoku-' words. You have 翌朝 (yokuasa - the next morning), 翌晩 (yokuban - the next evening), 翌週 (yokushuu - the next week), and 翌年 (yokunen/yokutoshi - the next year). Mastering 翌日 opens the door to this entire set of temporal vocabulary, allowing you to describe sequences of time with the same precision as a native speaker or a professional journalist. It is a word that bridges the gap between basic 'survival' Japanese and the descriptive power needed for real-world storytelling and professional competence.

Using 翌日 correctly requires understanding its grammatical role as a temporal noun. It can function as the subject of a sentence, an adverbial phrase (often with the particle 'ni'), or as part of a compound noun. Because it is a 'noun of time,' it is remarkably versatile, but its placement determines the emphasis of your sentence.

As an Adverbial Phrase (翌日に): The most common usage is adding the particle 'ni' to indicate when an action happens. 'Yokujitsu ni' specifies the timing of a discrete event. For example, 'Yokujitsu ni shuppatsu shimashita' (I departed the next day).
As a Subject (翌日は): When you want to describe the nature or state of the following day, use 'wa.' 'Yokujitsu wa hare deshita' (The next day was sunny). This sets the stage for the atmosphere of that day.

"手術の翌日から歩く練習を始めました。"
— I started practicing walking from the day after the surgery.

One critical pattern is the use of the particle 'no' to link 翌日 to another noun. This is seen in phrases like 'yokujitsu no asa' (the morning of the next day) or 'yokujitsu no shinbun' (the next day's newspaper). This possessive or attributive relationship is very common in written reports. Additionally, you will often see it paired with 'kara' (from) or 'made' (until) to define durations starting or ending on that specific day.

"彼はパーティーの翌日、ひどい二日酔いになった。"
— He had a terrible hangover the day after the party.

When constructing complex sentences, 翌日 serves as a logical bridge. If you are describing a sequence of events—'A happened, then B happened the next day'—using 翌日 provides a much smoother transition than repeating 'soshite' (and then) or 'sono ato' (after that). It provides a specific temporal anchor that helps the reader or listener visualize the passage of time. In academic or technical writing, it is used to describe results in experiments: 'The cells were observed 24 hours later, on the 翌日 (following day).' This level of specificity is what makes the word so powerful in the Japanese lexicon.

You will encounter 翌日 in a variety of real-world scenarios, ranging from the mundane to the highly professional. Its presence is a hallmark of clear communication in Japanese society. If you are in Japan, you are most likely to see this word on signs, in news broadcasts, and in logistics tracking apps.

News and Media: News anchors use it constantly. 'The incident occurred on Monday, and the suspect was apprehended the following day (yokujitsu).' It provides the objective distance necessary for journalistic reporting.
E-commerce and Logistics: When shopping on Amazon Japan or Rakuten, you will see 'yokujitsu haiso' (next-day delivery). This is a standard promise of speed in the Japanese service industry.

"このチケットは、購入の翌日から有効です。"
— This ticket is valid starting from the day after purchase.

In the workplace, 翌日 is the default for discussing deadlines and schedules. A manager might say, 'Please submit the report by the next day (yokujitsu) of the client meeting.' This removes the confusion that might arise if the meeting is on a Friday and the 'next day' is a Saturday—it clearly points to the chronological next day, though business context usually implies the next business day (yokueigyobi). You will also hear it in weather forecasts: 'The rain will stop tonight, but the following day (yokujitsu) will remain cloudy.'

"大雪のため、翌日の便はすべて欠航となりました。"
— Due to heavy snow, all of the following day's flights were canceled.

Literary contexts also heavily rely on 翌日. In novels, it is used to transition between scenes. 'He couldn't sleep that night. The next day (yokujitsu), he decided to leave the city.' It acts as a cinematic cut, moving the narrative forward efficiently. Even in anime or movies, a time-skip of one day is often introduced with a caption reading '翌日' on a black screen. This visual shorthand is instantly understood by all Japanese speakers as 'time has passed, and we are now at the next day in the story's timeline.'

While 翌日 is a straightforward word, English speakers often stumble over its usage due to the 'tomorrow' vs. 'next day' distinction and certain kanji-related errors. Understanding these pitfalls will help you sound more like a native speaker and avoid confusing your Japanese interlocutors.

Confusing 'Ashita' and 'Yokujitsu': The most common mistake is using 'yokujitsu' when you mean 'tomorrow' (relative to today). If you say 'Yokujitsu aimashou' (Let's meet the next day), it sounds like you are quoting a book or speaking very strangely. If you mean tomorrow, use 'ashita.'
The 'Next Business Day' Trap: In a business context, 'yokujitsu' means the literal next day (including weekends). If you want to say 'the next business day,' you must use 'yoku-eigyou-bi' (翌営業日). Mistaking these can lead to missed deadlines or shipping errors.

"❌ 明日の翌日に会いましょう。"
— Avoid redundant phrasing like 'the next day of tomorrow.' Just say 'asatte' (the day after tomorrow).

Another mistake involves the kanji. The kanji 翌 (yoku) is sometimes confused with similar-looking kanji like 卵 (tamago - egg) by beginners, though they are quite different upon closer inspection. More commonly, learners might confuse 翌日 with 翌々日 (yokuyokujitsu - the day after the next day). Ensure you count your 'yokus' correctly! One 'yoku' means one day forward; two 'yokus' means two days forward.

"❌ 昨日の翌日は今日です。"
— While logically true ('the day after yesterday is today'), this is almost never said. It sounds like a riddle rather than natural Japanese.

Finally, be careful with the pronunciation of the 'tsu' in 'jitsu.' Some learners pronounce it too strongly like 'tsu-u,' making it three syllables (yo-ku-ji-tsu-u). It should be a crisp, short 'tsu' sound. Also, ensure you don't confuse 翌日 (yokujitsu) with 休日 (kyuujitsu - holiday). They sound somewhat similar in a fast conversation but have entirely different meanings. Mishearing 'holiday' for 'the next day' could lead to significant scheduling mishaps!

While 翌日 is a key word, Japanese offers several alternatives depending on the level of formality and the specific context of the 'next day' you are referring to. Understanding these synonyms will give your Japanese more color and accuracy.

次の日 (Tsugi no hi): This is the most common and versatile alternative. It is less formal than 'yokujitsu' and is used frequently in daily conversation and children's books. If you are unsure which to use, 'tsugi no hi' is almost always safe.
明日 (Ashita / Asu / Myounichi): These all mean 'tomorrow' relative to today. 'Ashita' is casual/neutral, 'Asu' is slightly more formal/literary, and 'Myounichi' is very formal (used in business emails). None of these can be used to mean 'the next day' in a past narrative.

"明後日 (Asatte) vs 翌々日 (Yokuyokujitsu)"
— Just like ashita/yokujitsu, 'asatte' is 'the day after tomorrow' from now, while 'yokuyokujitsu' is 'two days after' a reference point.

Another related term is 明くる日 (akuru hi). This is a more poetic or literary version of 'yokujitsu.' You will often find it in classic literature or traditional storytelling (like folktales). It carries a sense of 'when the next day dawned.' In contrast, 翌日 is more clinical and objective. For business, you might also use 翌営業日 (yokueigyobi), which specifically refers to the next working day, skipping over weekends and national holidays.

"翌朝 (Yokuasa) - The next morning."
— If the next day's event happens specifically in the morning, 'yokuasa' is more precise than 'yokujitsu.'

Lastly, consider 翌週 (yokushuu - next week) and 翌月 (yokugetsu - next month). These follow the same 'yoku-' logic. If you are planning a project and say, 'We will finish Phase 1 in June, and start Phase 2 the following month (yokugetsu),' you are using the same relative time logic as 翌日. Mastering this entire 'yoku-' family allows you to navigate Japanese timelines with sophisticated precision, whether you are writing a history essay or a corporate project plan.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The kanji 翌 (yoku) actually contains the radical for 'wings' (羽) at the bottom. Originally, it might have referred to the 'flapping' or 'passing' of time like a bird's wings, leading to the meaning of 'the next cycle' or 'the next day.'

Pronunciation Guide

UK jɒ.kɯ.dʒi.tsɯ

US joʊ.ku.dʒi.tsu

Japanese is a pitch-accent language. In standard Tokyo Japanese, 翌日 (yo-ku-ji-tsu) starts high and drops.

Rhymes With

休日 (kyuujitsu) 祝日 (shukujitsu) 祭日 (saijitsu) 本日 (honjitsu) 先日 (senjitsu) 近日 (kinjitsu) 命日 (meinichi - though 'nichi' differs slightly from 'jitsu') 月日 (tsukichi - again, 'chi' vs 'jitsu')

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'jitsu' as 'jeet-soo' with a long vowel.
Stressing the wrong syllable (Japanese syllables should have relatively even length).
Making the 'tsu' sound like 'su'.
Pronouncing the 'ku' too heavily (it can be slightly devoiced).
Confusing the pitch with 'kyuujitsu' (holiday).

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

The kanji 翌 is slightly complex but common enough to learn early.

Writing 3/5

The kanji 翌 requires practice to balance the 'wings' radical.

Speaking 1/5

Pronunciation is simple and standard.

Listening 2/5

Easy to hear, but don't confuse with 'kyuujitsu'.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

日 (day) 明日 (tomorrow) 昨日 (yesterday) 次 (next) 月曜日 (Monday)

Learn Next

翌週 (next week) 翌月 (next month) 翌年 (next year) 前日 (previous day) 当日 (that day)

Advanced

翌営業日 (next business day) 明くる日 (following day - literary) 後日 (later date) 近日 (soon)

Grammar to Know

Relative vs. Absolute Time

Use 'ashita' for tomorrow from today; use 'yokujitsu' for the day after a story event.

Particle 'No' for Possession

イベントの翌日 (The day after the event).

Particle 'Ni' for Time Points

翌日に出発する (Depart on the next day).

Particle 'Kara' for Starting Points

翌日から始める (Start from the next day).

Compound Noun Formation

翌日 + 発送 = 翌日発送 (Next-day shipping).

Examples by Level

月曜日に着きました。翌日に海へ行きました。

I arrived on Monday. The next day I went to the sea.

Simple use of 翌日 to sequence two past events.

翌日は休みです。

The next day is a holiday.

翌日 as the subject with the 'wa' particle.

パーティーの翌日に電話します。

I will call the day after the party.

Using 'no' to link a noun (party) to 翌日.

翌日は雨でした。

The next day was rainy.

Describing the state of the following day.

宿題は翌日出してください。

Please submit your homework the next day.

Using 翌日 as a deadline relative to the assignment day.

翌日の朝、早く起きました。

The next morning, I woke up early.

Using 'no' to specify the morning of the next day.

彼は翌日帰りました。

He went home the next day.

翌日 used as a temporal adverb.

翌日のテストは難しいです。

The next day's test is difficult.

翌日 modifying the noun 'test'.

注文した翌日に荷物が届いた。

The package arrived the day after I ordered it.

Relative time: order day + 1.

旅行の翌日は一日中寝ていました。

The day after the trip, I slept all day.

Using 翌日 to describe the aftermath of an event.

翌日の予定を確認しましょう。

Let's check the schedule for the next day.

Common business/planning phrase.

台風の翌日はとても暑くなった。

It became very hot the day after the typhoon.

Weather sequence.

翌日から新しい仕事を始めます。

I will start a new job from the next day.

Using 'kara' (from) with 翌日.

翌日の朝食はパンでした。

The next day's breakfast was bread.

Describing a specific meal in a sequence.

コンサートの翌日に友達に会った。

I met a friend the day after the concert.

Sequencing social events.

翌日の新聞にそのニュースが載った。

That news appeared in the next day's newspaper.

Standard media usage.

お申し込みの翌日より、サービスをご利用いただけます。

You can use the service starting from the day after your application.

Formal 'yori' (from) used instead of 'kara'.

会議の翌日までにレポートを提出してください。

Please submit the report by the day after the meeting.

Using 'made ni' (by/no later than) with 翌日.

翌日の天気予報は晴れ時々曇りです。

The weather forecast for the next day is sunny, occasionally cloudy.

Standard forecast phrasing.

彼は事故の翌日に退院した。

He was discharged from the hospital the day after the accident.

Objective reporting of medical events.

翌日の午後、重要な商談があります。

There is an important business meeting on the afternoon of the following day.

Combining 翌日 with a specific time of day (gogo).

翌日の始発列車で出発するつもりだ。

I plan to depart on the first train of the next day.

Using 翌日 to specify a particular transport link.

その事件の翌日、彼は姿を消した。

The day after that incident, he disappeared.

Narrative tension using 翌日.

翌日の準備を万全にしておこう。

Let's make sure the preparations for the next day are perfect.

Focusing on 'preparation' (junbi).

この薬は服用した翌日から効果が現れます。

The effects of this medicine appear starting from the day after you take it.

Technical/medical instruction.

翌日の株式市場は大幅に値下がりした。

The stock market fell significantly the following day.

Economic/financial reporting.

彼は敗北の翌日、現役引退を表明した。

The day after his defeat, he announced his retirement from active play.

Journalistic style for sports/public figures.

祭りの翌日は、町全体が静まり返っていた。

The day after the festival, the entire town was completely silent.

Descriptive narrative style.

翌日の朝刊で、その計画の詳細が明らかになった。

Details of the plan were revealed in the next day's morning edition.

Formal media terminology ('choukan' for morning paper).

翌日の再検査で、異常は見つからなかった。

In the re-examination the following day, no abnormalities were found.

Medical context with 'saikensa' (re-exam).

翌日の営業時間は、通常通り午前9時からです。

The business hours for the next day are from 9:00 AM as usual.

Customer service/information.

翌日の決勝戦に向けて、チームは練習に励んだ。

The team worked hard at practice toward the final match the next day.

Using 'ni mukete' (toward) with 翌日.

革命の翌日、広場には新しい旗が掲げられた。

The day after the revolution, a new flag was raised in the square.

Historical/literary narrative.

翌日の閣議で、新しい経済政策が承認される見通しだ。

It is expected that the new economic policy will be approved at the following day's cabinet meeting.

Formal political reporting with 'mitoushi' (outlook/prospect).

彼女はその告白の翌日、何事もなかったかのように振る舞った。

The day after that confession, she behaved as if nothing had happened.

Sophisticated character description.

翌日のシンポジウムでは、多岐にわたる議論が交わされた。

At the following day's symposium, a wide range of discussions took place.

Academic context with 'taki ni wataru' (wide-ranging).

翌日の紙面では、その監督の采配が厳しく批判された。

In the next day's newspaper columns, the manager's leadership was harshly criticized.

Using 'shimen' (page/column) in a media context.

翌日の昼下がり、彼はようやく重い口を開いた。

In the early afternoon of the following day, he finally began to speak.

Literary temporal expression ('hirusagari').

翌日の取引開始直後、円相場は急騰した。

Immediately after the start of trading the following day, the yen exchange rate surged.

High-level financial reporting.

翌日の法廷で、新証拠が提出されることになった。

It was decided that new evidence would be submitted in court the following day.

Legal context with 'houtei' (courtroom).

条約調印の翌日、国境付近の緊張は一気に緩和された。

The day after the treaty was signed, tensions near the border eased at once.

Diplomatic/historical precision.

翌日の検証作業により、システムの脆弱性が特定された。

Through the verification work the following day, the system's vulnerability was identified.

Technical/cybersecurity terminology.

その惨劇の翌日、世界中のメディアがこのニュースをトップで報じた。

The day after that tragedy, media around the world reported this news as their top story.

Global journalistic context.

翌日の追悼式には、数千人の市民が参列した。

Thousands of citizens attended the memorial service the following day.

Formal social/commemorative event.

翌日の社説は、政府の対応の遅れを痛烈に告発した。

The following day's editorial bitingly accused the government of a delayed response.

Using 'shasetsu' (editorial) and 'touretsu' (biting/harsh).

翌日の観測データは、前日の予測を覆すものだった。

The observation data from the following day overturned the previous day's predictions.

Scientific/empirical context.

翌日の取締役会で、彼の解任が正式に決定した。

His dismissal was formally decided at the board of directors meeting the following day.

Corporate legal context ('torishimariyaku-kai').

翌日の舞台挨拶で、主演俳優は感極まって涙を流した。

At the stage greeting the following day, the lead actor was overcome with emotion and wept.

Entertainment industry terminology ('butai aisatsu').

Synonyms

次の日明くる日翌朝明日翌々日

Antonyms

前日昨日

Common Collocations

翌日の朝

翌日発送

翌日配送

翌日以降

翌日に控える

翌日の紙面

翌日配達

翌日未明

翌日分

翌日返却

Common Phrases

翌日には

— By the next day (emphasizing the speed or change).

翌日には熱が下がった。

翌日から

— Starting from the next day.

翌日から学校が始まった。

翌日まで

— Until the next day.

翌日まで待ってください。

翌日も

— Also on the next day (continuing an action).

翌日も雨が降り続いた。

翌日になって

— When the next day came (indicating a shift in situation).

翌日になって、ようやく連絡が来た。

翌日というのに

— Even though it is the next day (often expressing surprise).

結婚式の翌日というのに、彼は働いている。

翌日早々

— Very early the next day.

翌日早々、彼は旅立った。

翌日付けで

— Dated as of the next day.

翌日付けの書類を作成する。

翌日限り

— Only for the next day.

このチケットは翌日限り有効です。

翌日回し

— Postponing something to the next day.

仕事を翌日回しにする。

Often Confused With

翌日 vs 明日 (Ashita)

Ashita is 'tomorrow' from today; Yokujitsu is 'the next day' from any reference point.

翌日 vs 休日 (Kyuujitsu)

Sounds similar but means 'holiday.' Be careful in listening.

翌日 vs 先日 (Senjitsu)

Means 'the other day' (past), whereas Yokujitsu is 'the following day' (relative forward).

Idioms & Expressions

"翌日のことは翌日に"

— Don't worry about tomorrow until it comes; take one day at a time.

あまり悩みすぎず、翌日のことは翌日に考えよう。

Casual/Philosophical

"翌日を期す"

— To look forward to the next day (often after a failure, hoping for a comeback).

今日の負けを糧に、翌日を期す。

Literary/Motivations

"翌日知らず"

— Not knowing what the next day brings (living dangerously or uncertainly).

翌日知らずの生活を送る。

Literary

"翌日を待たずして"

— Without even waiting for the next day (happening very quickly).

発表の翌日を待たずして、商品は完売した。

Formal/Written

"翌日の糧"

— Food/sustenance for the next day (metaphorically: motivation).

この経験が翌日の糧になる。

Literary

"翌日の夢"

— A dream for the next day/future.

彼は翌日の夢を語った。

Poetic

"翌日の風"

— The 'wind' of the next day (changing circumstances).

翌日の風がどう吹くか分からない。

Idiomatic

"翌日の太陽"

— The sun of the next day (hope).

翌日の太陽は必ず昇る。

Poetic

"翌日を数える"

— Counting down to the next day (anticipation).

遠足を楽しみにして翌日を数える。

Child-friendly

"翌日の自分"

— One's future self (the next day).

翌日の自分に期待する。

Casual/Modern

Easily Confused

翌日 vs 明日 (Ashita)

Both translate to 'the next day' in some contexts.

Ashita is deictic (anchored to 'now'). Yokujitsu is relative (anchored to a narrative point).

Tomorrow is Monday (Ashita). He died on Monday, and the next day (Yokujitsu) was the funeral.

翌日 vs 後日 (Gojitsu)

Both refer to time after an event.

Yokujitsu is specifically the very next day. Gojitsu is any day in the future.

I'll see you the next day (Yokujitsu). I'll see you some other day (Gojitsu).

翌日 vs 翌々日 (Yokuyokujitsu)

Similar kanji and sound.

Yokujitsu is +1 day. Yokuyokujitsu is +2 days.

Next day (Yokujitsu) vs. Day after next (Yokuyokujitsu).

翌日 vs 明くる日 (Akuru hi)

Same meaning.

Yokujitsu is formal/neutral/business. Akuru hi is literary/poetic.

The report was filed the next day (Yokujitsu). The hero woke the next day (Akuru hi).

翌日 vs 次日 (Tsugibi)

Logical combination of 'next' and 'day'.

Tsugibi is not a standard word. Use 'Tsugi no hi' or 'Yokujitsu'.

Always use 翌日 instead of making up 'Tsugibi'.

Sentence Patterns

[Event] の翌日

テストの翌日

翌日に [Verb]

翌日に帰る

翌日から [Verb]

翌日から働く

翌日までに [Verb]

翌日までに書く

翌日の [Noun]

翌日の新聞

翌日になってようやく [Verb]

翌日になってようやく分かった

翌日を待たずして [Verb]

翌日を待たずして解決した

翌日付けの [Noun]

翌日付けの通達

Word Family

Nouns

翌朝 (next morning)

翌晩 (next evening)

翌週 (next week)

翌月 (next month)

翌年 (next year)

翌々日 (day after next)

明日 (tomorrow)

後日 (later date)

次日 (next day - less common)

来日 (coming to Japan - unrelated but similar kanji 'nichi')

来月 (next month)

How to Use It

frequency

Extremely high in written media, business, and formal storytelling.

Common Mistakes

Using 翌日 to mean 'tomorrow' in casual speech. → 明日 (Ashita)
In casual talk, 'yokujitsu' sounds overly formal and slightly strange when 'ashita' is the natural choice.
Saying 'Ashita no yokujitsu' for the day after tomorrow. → 明後日 (Asatte)
It's redundant. Use 'asatte' for two days from now.
Confusing 翌日 (yokujitsu) with 休日 (kyuujitsu). → 翌日 (yokujitsu)
They sound similar but mean 'next day' vs 'holiday.' Mishearing this can ruin your schedule!
Using 翌日 for 'next business day' on a Friday. → 翌営業日 (Yoku-eigyou-bi)
Yokujitsu means the literal next day (Saturday). Use yoku-eigyou-bi for Monday.
Writing 翌 with the wrong radical. → 翌 (with 羽 at the bottom)
Beginners often forget the 'wings' radical or write it incorrectly.

Tips

Business Emails

When confirming a meeting follow-up, use 'yokujitsu' to sound professional. For example: 'Uchiawase no yokujitsu ni gijiroku o soufu shimasu' (I will send the minutes the day after the meeting).

Linking with 'No'

Always use the particle 'no' when 翌日 is preceded by another noun. 'Ryokou no yokujitsu' (The day after the trip).

Learn the Family

Don't just learn 翌日. Learn 翌週 (next week) and 翌月 (next month) at the same time. The 'yoku-' logic is consistent across all of them.

Avoid Over-formality

If you're at a bar with friends, stick to 'tsugi no hi.' Using 'yokujitsu' might make you sound like you're reading from a textbook.

News Keywords

In Japanese news, 'yokujitsu' is a keyword for sequencing events. When you hear it, pay attention to what changed from the 'previous' day mentioned.

Kanji Balance

When writing 翌, make sure the top 'stand' part isn't too large, or the 'wings' at the bottom will look cramped. Balance is key in Japanese calligraphy.

Service Standards

Look for '翌日配送' (Next-day delivery) in Japanese shops. It's a sign of high-quality service.

Flying Time

The 'wings' in 翌 represent time flying to the next 'day' (日). This visual helps you remember the kanji's meaning.

Relative vs Absolute

Always ask yourself: 'Am I talking about tomorrow from NOW, or the day after an EVENT?' If it's an event, use 翌日.

Short 'Tsu'

Keep the 'tsu' in 'jitsu' very short. It shouldn't have a strong 'u' sound at the end.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Yoku' as 'Yoke'—the next day is 'yoked' or tied to the current one. 'Jitsu' is just 'day' (like in Sun-day/Nichi-yobi). So, the yoked day is the next day!

Visual Association

Imagine a calendar where one page is being flipped to the next. The word 翌日 is written on the new page. The 'wings' radical in 翌 can be seen as the page 'flying' over to the next day.

Word Web

Time Calendar Sequence Formal Writing News Schedule Tomorrow

Challenge

Try to write three sentences about your last vacation using 翌日 to link the events of Day 1 and Day 2.

Word Origin

The word is of Sino-Japanese origin (Kango). It uses the Onyomi readings of the kanji. 'Yoku' (翌) comes from Middle Chinese roots meaning 'to follow' or 'bright/next,' and 'Jitsu' (日) is the standard word for 'day' or 'sun.'

Original meaning: The following day or the day the sun rises next.

Japonic (Sino-Japanese vocabulary layer).

Cultural Context

No specific sensitivities; it is a neutral temporal term.

English speakers often say 'the next day' or 'tomorrow' interchangeably in stories, but Japanese learners must be careful to use 'yokujitsu' for relative time and 'ashita' for absolute time.

Often seen in the 'time skip' titles of anime like 'One Piece' or 'Naruto'. Frequently used in the opening lines of news reports on NHK. A common word in Haruki Murakami novels to transition between surreal events.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Travel Planning

翌日の予定 (Next day schedule)
翌日に出発 (Depart the next day)
翌日のホテル (Next day's hotel)
翌朝の便 (Next morning flight)

Online Shopping

翌日配送 (Next-day delivery)
翌日発送 (Next-day shipping)
翌日届く (Arrives next day)
翌日指定 (Specify next day)

Medical/Health

手術の翌日 (Day after surgery)
翌日の診察 (Next day check-up)
翌日から服用 (Take from next day)
翌日の体調 (Next day's condition)

News/Incidents

事件の翌日 (Day after the incident)
翌日の記者会見 (Next day press conference)
翌日の新聞 (Next day's paper)
翌日未明 (Early hours of next day)

Work/Office

翌日までに提出 (Submit by next day)
翌日の会議 (Next day's meeting)
翌営業日 (Next business day)
翌日回しにする (Postpone to next day)

Conversation Starters

"旅行の翌日は何をしましたか？ (What did you do the day after your trip?)"

"パーティーの翌日は疲れましたか？ (Were you tired the day after the party?)"

"注文の翌日に荷物が届きましたか？ (Did the package arrive the day after you ordered it?)"

"翌日の天気はどうなると思いますか？ (What do you think the weather will be like the next day?)"

"大切な日の翌日は、いつもどう過ごしますか？ (How do you usually spend the day after an important day?)"

Journal Prompts

昨日の出来事と、その翌日に感じたことを書いてください。 (Write about yesterday's events and how you felt the day after.)

理想的な休日の翌日は、どのように過ごしたいですか？ (How would you like to spend the day after an ideal holiday?)

大きな目標を達成した翌日、あなたは何をしますか？ (What will you do the day after achieving a big goal?)

初めて日本に来た日の翌日の思い出を教えてください。 (Tell me about your memories of the day after you first came to Japan.)

もし翌日が世界最後の日だとしたら、何をしますか？ (If the next day were the last day of the world, what would you do?)

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Technically yes, but it sounds very stiff. In daily conversation, always use 'ashita' if you mean the day after today. Use 'yokujitsu' when you are telling a story about something that happened in the past or describing a schedule relative to another event.

They mean the same thing, but 'yokujitsu' is more formal and common in writing/business. 'Tsugi no hi' is more casual and common in speech. For example, in a business email, use 'yokujitsu.' When talking to a friend, use 'tsugi no hi.'

Yes, 'yokujitsu' literally means the next calendar day. If you specifically mean the next 'working' day, you should use 'yoku-eigyou-bi' (翌営業日).

The kanji 翌 consists of the 'stand' (立) radical on top and the 'wings' (羽) radical on the bottom. It has 11 strokes. It's important to keep the bottom part balanced.

Yes, in many cases, especially in writing or news headlines, 'yokujitsu' can act as an adverb without 'ni.' For example: 'Yokujitsu, kare wa nige-dashita' (The next day, he ran away).

It means the day after the next day (two days after the reference point). The double 'yoku' indicates an extra step forward in time.

Yes, very often! You will frequently see a black screen with the white text '翌日' to indicate that the story has moved to the next day.

Yes, the word is 'zenjitsu' (前日). It is the formal counterpart to 'yokujitsu' and means 'the day before.'

No, that is redundant and confusing. Just use 'asatte' (the day after tomorrow) if you mean two days from now.

Yes, it is common in JLPT N4 and N3 levels, particularly in the reading section where you have to understand the timeline of a story or an announcement.