Japanese days of week quiz: Learn weekday names with romaji
This quiz helps you learn and recall the Japanese days of the week using romaji, with instant feedback. After you finish, reinforce your skills with a days of the week quiz, build reading confidence with a hiragana quiz, or round out your calendar words with a months of the year quiz.
Study Outcomes
- Recall Nihongo Days of the Week -
Be able to recall and list all seven days of the week in nihongo roomaji, matching each to its English counterpart.
- Pronounce Japanese Roomaji Days -
Pronounce each day name accurately using Japanese roomaji, mastering tricky syllables and intonation.
- Recognize English Equivalents -
Identify the English meanings of each nihongo day name to reinforce your vocabulary retention and understanding.
- Differentiate Similar Roomaji Sounds -
Distinguish between days with similar pronunciations like kayoubi (Tuesday) and kinyoubi (Friday) to avoid common errors.
- Apply Days of Week in Japanese -
Use the days of the week in Japanese to craft simple sentences or dialogues for practical communication.
- Assess Your Vocabulary Mastery -
Gauge your proficiency with an interactive quiz format, identifying strengths and areas for further study.
Cheat Sheet
- Sino-Japanese Origins -
The days of the week in nihongo derive from classical Chinese astrology and elemental theory as documented by the Japan Foundation. GetsuyÅbi (月曜日) is "moon day" and SuiyÅbi (水曜日) "water day," giving nihongo days names a logical pattern that simplifies memorization.
- Romanization Rules & Macrons -
Understanding japanese roomaji days means applying Hepburn romanization rules, using macrons (e.g., kayÅbi and kin'yÅbi) to mark long vowels correctly as per the University of Tokyo's Japanese Language Center guidelines. Writing "kayÅbi" rather than "kayobi" ensures precise pronunciation by distinguishing the elongated vowel.
- Elemental Mnemonics -
Link the nihongo days names to English elements - Moon (Getsu), Fire (Ka), Water (Sui), Wood (Moku), Metal (Kin), Earth (Do), Sun (Nichi) - to boost recall through a simple elemental narrative. Saying "Moku the Woodpecker crashes midweek" creates a vivid visual for Wednesday (MokuyÅbi), demonstrating a playful mnemonic for days of week in japanese.
- Pronunciation Pitfalls -
Roomaji days of week practice should highlight common pitfalls like the double-y in kin'yÅbi (Friday) and the long Å in kayÅbi (Tuesday), as endorsed by NHK World-Japan pronunciation guides. Chanting "kin-yo-o-bi" in three beats helps learners lock in the rhythm and avoid underarticulation.
- Active Conversational Practice -
Integrate days of the week in nihongo into daily conversation by asking "Ashita wa nan-yÅbi desu ka?" (What day is tomorrow?) and confidently replying "GetsuyÅbi desu" (It's Monday). According to a Japan Foundation study on active recall, weaving nihongo days into tour schedules or class planning solidifies long-term retention.