Studying Japanese is filled with little however necessary issues you should be taught. Writing the date is one in all them. It’s not going to get you excited (until it does, and in that case, no matter floats your boat)! However you do have to know learn how to do it.
Fortunately, mastering this ability doesn’t take a lot work. So, you may shortly cross it off your record and get again to the enjoyable stuff – like learning vocabulary to look at anime, studying proverbs to boost your conversations, and remembering slang to know informal conversations.
On this article, you’ll be taught all the things you should know to put in writing the date in Japanese. Let’s get began…
Vital kanji for writing the date in Japanese
There are three kanji characters you’ll use to put in writing the date:
- 年 (ねん, nen) = 12 months
- 月 (がつ, gatsu) = month
- 日 (にち, nichi) = day
Normally, you’ll use numbers when writing the date. However typically, you’ll see kanji numbers, too. You don’t want to make use of these when writing the date, however it’s necessary to pay attention to them.
The order of Japanese dates
While you write a date in Japanese, begin with the 12 months, then the month, then the day. It may be a barely totally different order than you’re used to. However it’s simple to recollect because it strikes from the biggest time frame (a 12 months) to the smallest (a day).
write the 12 months in each the brand new and conventional approach
There are two methods to put in writing the 12 months in Japanese: One you’re in all probability used to (utilizing the widespread calendar used around the globe) and one which’s distinctive to Japan (the period names).
When utilizing the widespread calendar, you solely want so as to add the kanji for “12 months” (年) after the numbers. For instance, 2025 = 2025年.
The period identify system is a bit more difficult as a result of it displays the reign of the present emperor. The present period is 令和 (れいわ, reiwa), which started in 2019 when the present emperor took the throne. So, 2019 was the primary 12 months of the Reiwa period referred to as 令和元年 (reiwa gan nen). “元年” (がんねん, gan nen) means the primary 12 months of an period.
The present 12 months, 2025, is Reiwa 7 (令和7年) as a result of it’s the seventh 12 months of the Reiwa period. The Reiwa period will finish when the subsequent emperor takes the throne. Remembering which 12 months of the present period we’re in may be difficult. However for assist, you may verify on this Japanese 12 months converter.
It’s widespread in Japan to make use of the period identify when writing your birthday on official kinds, so it’s good to know a number of the earlier eras, too. Listed below are the dates of the 2 earlier eras:
- 平成 (へいせい, Heisei): 1989–2019
- 昭和 (しょうわ, Shōwa): 1926–1989
In the event you had been born earlier than 1989, you had been born within the Shōwa period. In the event you had been born after 1989 however earlier than 2019, you had been born within the Heisei period. To write down a 12 months within the conventional system, you write the identify of the period, adopted by the variety of the 12 months and the kanji for “12 months.” For instance, for those who had been born within the 12 months 2000, your delivery 12 months is 平成12年 as a result of 2000 was the twelfth 12 months of the Heisei period. Or for those who had been born in 1980, your delivery 12 months is 昭和55年 as a result of 1980 was the fifty fifth 12 months of the Shōwa period. You should utilize the 12 months converter linked above that will help you discover your delivery 12 months.
It’s a complicated system for non-Japanese individuals. However you’ll often come throughout the period names on official paperwork, TV information, and different locations. So it’s a good suggestion to have a basic understanding of the system. In the event you want some extra assist, why not be taught Japanese on-line with a Preply tutor?
write the month in Japanese
Months in Japanese are easy. Take the variety of the month and add 月 (がつ, gatsu), which suggests month, to the top. There are not any particular phrases or names you should bear in mind. Listed below are the months of the 12 months.
- 1月 (いちがつ, ichi gatsu) = January
- 2月 (にがつ, ni gatsu) = February
- 3月 (さんがつ, san-gatsu) = March
- 4月 (しがつ, shi gatsu) = April
- 5月 (ごがつ, go gatsu) = Could
- 6月 (ろくがつ, roku gatu) = June
- 7月 (しちがつ, shichi gatsu) = July
- 8月 (はちがつ, hachi gatsu) = August
- 9月 (くがつ, ku gatsu) = September
- 10月 (じゅうがつ, jū gatsu) = October
- 11月 (じゅういちがつ, jūichi gatsu) = November
- 12月 (じゅうにがつ, jūni gatsu) = December
write the day in Japanese
Simply over half of the times comply with a easy sample of including 日 (にち, nichi), which suggests “day,” after the variety of the day. For instance, 21日 (にじゅういちにち, nijūichi nichi) = the twenty first.
The remaining days of the month don’t comply with this sample. They give the impression of being the identical with a quantity adopted by 日. However the best way you say them adjustments. In the event you’ve realized Japanese counters earlier than, these exceptions can be acquainted. Listed below are all of the exceptions to the above rule:
- 1日 (ついたち, tsuitachi) = the first
- 2日 (ふつか, futsuka) = the 2nd
- 3日 (みっか, mikka) = the third
- 4日 (よっか, yokka) = the 4th
- 5日 (いつか, itsuka) = the fifth
- 6日 (むいか, muika) = the sixth
- 7日 (なのか, nanoka) = the seventh
- 8日 (ようか, yōka) = the eighth
- 9日 (ここのか, kokonoka) = the ninth
- 10日 (とおか, tōka) = the tenth
- 14日 (じゅうよっか, jūyokka) = the 14th
- 20日 (はつか, hatsuka) = the twentieth
- 24日 (にじゅうよっか, nijūyokka) = the twenty fourth
New 12 months’s Eve and New 12 months’s Day even have distinctive names:
- New 12 months’s Eve: 大晦日 (おおみそか, ōmisoka)
- New 12 months’s Day: 元日 (がんじつ, ganjitsu)
write the total date in Japanese
Now that you understand the order and phrases of Japanese dates, you may mix them to put in writing the total date.
On the time of writing, the date is January 8, 2025. Listed below are the 2 methods you may write at the moment’s date in Japanese.
The brand new approach
2025年1月8日 (にじゅうごねん いちがつ ようか, nijūgo nen ichi gatsu yōka)
The standard approach
令和7年1月8日 (れいわ ななねん いちがつ ようか, nijūgo nen ichi gatsu yōka)
Be taught to put in writing the date in Japanese
Now you understand how to put in writing (and browse) the date in Japanese! In the event you ever dwell in Japan, you’ll spend loads of time filling in kinds. Fortunately, with the information from this text you must be capable to confidently fill in any kinds you come throughout. Plus, you may speak about dates in your on-line Japanese classes and begin watching Japanese information and present occasion exhibits for further follow!