Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Day" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "day", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
曜日
ようび (youbi)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
おととい
おととい (ototoi)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "day" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 曜日 and おととい.
In Japanese, 曜日 (ようび (youbi)) is typically associated with "day of the week" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents Used to ask or state which day of the week it is.
On the other hand, おととい (おととい (ototoi)) maps to "the day before yesterday" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents Refers to two days before today. While 一昨日. A literal translation of "day" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "曜日"
今日は何曜日ですか。
What day of the week is it today?
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.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "今日は何 ＿＿＿ ですか。" (Meaning: "What day of the week is it today?")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "曜日" fits here because it means "day of the week" in the context of: "What day of the week is it today?". "おととい" represents "the day before yesterday".