Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Day" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "day", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
おととい
おととい (ototoi)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
明後日
あさって (asatte)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "day" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between おととい and 明後日.
In Japanese, おととい (おととい (ototoi)) is typically associated with "the day before yesterday" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents Refers to two days before today. While 一昨日.
On the other hand, 明後日 (あさって (asatte)) maps to "the day after tomorrow" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents Refers to two days after today. This is the common form for 'the day after tomorrow' in both spoken and written Japanese.. A literal translation of "day" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "おととい"
おととい、友達と映画を見に行きました。
I went to see a movie with a friend the day before yesterday.
Bilingual Context for "明後日"
明後日、大阪へ出張に行きます。
I will go on a business trip to Osaka the day after tomorrow.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: " ＿＿＿ 、友達と映画を見に行きました。" (Meaning: "I went to see a movie with a friend the day before yesterday.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "おととい" fits here because it means "the day before yesterday" in the context of: "I went to see a movie with a friend the day before yesterday.". "明後日" represents "the day after tomorrow".