何日

§ What 何日 means

The Japanese word 何日 (nan'nichi or nanoka) directly translates to "what day of the month?" It's an essential phrase for asking about dates in Japanese. You'll use this word frequently when talking about schedules, appointments, or simply trying to figure out what day it is.

Definition

What day of the month?

It's important to note that 何日 has two main pronunciations depending on how it's used. When asking "what day of the month?", you typically pronounce it as "nan'nichi." However, when referring to the 7th day of the month, it's pronounced "nanoka." We'll get into that distinction later. For now, focus on its primary use as a question word.

§ When to use 何日

You'll use 何日 anytime you need to ask about a specific date. Think of situations like:

• Asking when an event is scheduled.
• Confirming someone's birthday.
• Inquiring about a holiday.
• Simply asking what today's date is.

It's a straightforward word, but mastering its usage, especially with the different pronunciations, is key to sounding natural in Japanese.

§ Examples of 何日 in use

Let's look at some practical examples to see how 何日 functions in sentences. Notice how it's used to ask for a specific date.

Hint: What day is today?

Hint: Your birthday is what day?

Hint: The meeting is on what day?

As you can see, 何日 is always placed in the position where the specific date would normally go in the sentence. It's a direct substitute for the answer you're looking for. This makes it quite intuitive once you get the hang of it.

§ Common mistakes to avoid

One common mistake learners make is confusing 何日 with "what day of the week?" which uses a different word: 何曜日 (nan'yōbi). While both are about time, they ask for different specific pieces of information.

何日 (nan'nichi)

What day of the month?

何曜日 (nan'yōbi)

What day of the week?

Keep these distinct to avoid misunderstandings. You wouldn't want to ask for the date when you meant to ask if it's Monday or Tuesday!

Understanding 何日 is a foundational step in discussing dates in Japanese. Keep practicing with these examples, and you'll be asking about specific days of the month with confidence in no time.

§ Understanding 何日 (nan nichi)

You've learned that 何日 (nan nichi) means 'what day of the month?' This is a crucial phrase for daily life in Japan, whether you're at work, school, or just talking to friends. Let's look at how it's actually used in different situations.

The key thing to remember is that 何日 is specifically for asking about the date. It's not for asking 'what day of the week?' (that's 何曜日 - nan youbi) or 'how many days?' (also 何日, but the context makes it clear).

§ 何日 at Work

In a work environment, knowing how to ask about dates is essential for scheduling, deadlines, and planning. You'll often hear 何日 in formal or semi-formal settings.

Definition

What day of the month?

Hint: The meeting is what day of the month?

Hint: The report deadline was what day of the month?

§ 何日 at School

At school, you'll use 何日 for exam dates, project due dates, or school events. It's a common question among students and teachers.

Definition

What day of the month?

Hint: The test is from what day of the month?

Hint: The cultural festival is on what day of the month?

• When asking about specific dates, you might also hear:

• 今月何日？ (Kon shuu nan nichi?) - What day this month?

• 来月何日？ (Rai getsu nan nichi?) - What day next month?

§ 何日 in News and General Conversation

You'll also encounter 何日 in news reports, especially when discussing event dates, anniversaries, or future plans. In general conversation, it's a casual way to clarify dates.

Definition

What day of the month?

Hint: The event will be held on what day of the month?

Hint: Your birthday is what day of the month?

By understanding these common scenarios, you'll be able to use 何日 confidently and understand it when you hear it. Practice asking and answering with different dates, and it will become second nature.

§ Don't confuse it with 何曜日 (Nan youbi)

Many beginners mix up 何日 (nan nichi) with 何曜日 (nan youbi). Remember, 何日 asks for the specific date (e.g., the 1st, the 2nd, the 30th), while 何曜日 asks for the day of the week (e.g., Monday, Tuesday, Sunday).

DEFINITION

何曜日 (nan youbi): What day of the week?

If you want to know the date, use 何日. If you want to know the day of the week, use 何曜日. Simple as that.

§ Using the correct counter for days

The biggest hurdle with 何日 is remembering that many of the days of the month have irregular readings, especially for the first ten days. You can't just attach 「日 (nichi)」 to the number. This is where most learners get tripped up.

Here's a quick reference for the irregular readings:

• 1st: 一日 (ついたち - tsuitachi)
• 2nd: 二日 (ふつか - futsuka)
• 3rd: 三日 (みっか - mikka)
• 4th: 四日 (よっか - yokka)
• 5th: 五日 (いつか - itsuka)
• 6th: 六日 (むいか - muika)
• 7th: 七日 (なのか - nanoka)
• 8th: 八日 (ようか - youka)
• 9th: 九日 (ここのか - kokonoka)
• 10th: 十日 (とおか - tooka)
• 14th: 十四日 (じゅうよっか - juuyokka)
• 20th: 二十日 (はつか - hatsuka)
• 24th: 二十四日 (にじゅうよっか - nijuuyokka)

For other days, you generally attach 「日 (nichi)」 to the number. For example, 11th is 十一日 (juuichi nichi), 12th is 十二日 (juuni nichi), etc. When asking "What day of the month?" using 何日 (nan nichi), you're asking for one of these specific readings.

Notice how 七日 (nanoka) is used for the 7th, not 七日 (nana nichi). This is the kind of detail you need to pay attention to.

§ Don't confuse it with duration (何日間 - Nan nichi kan)

Another common mistake is to confuse 何日 (nan nichi), asking for a specific date, with 何日間 (nan nichi kan), which asks for a duration – "how many days?".

DEFINITION

何日間 (nan nichi kan): How many days (duration)?

If you want to know how long something lasts, use 何日間. If you want to know the date, use 何日. These are distinct questions, and using the wrong one will lead to confusion.

§ What Day of the Month?

The Japanese word for 'what day of the month?' is 何日 (なんにち - nannichi). You'll use this a lot when asking about dates. It's pretty straightforward, but Japanese has a couple of different ways to talk about dates, so let's get into the specifics.