Days of the month · 1日–31日
Learn the special readings for dates 1–10, such as ついたち and ふつか. From 11 onward, most dates end in にち, with special forms for the 14th, 20th, and 24th. Also notice しち and く in dates ending in 7 and 9.
- When to use it
- Calendar dates, such as the fifth or twentieth of the month. Many readings also count a duration in days: 5日間 is five days. One day is an important exception: 一日 is いちにち as a duration, not ついたち.
- How many?
- 何日なんにち — what day of the month?
Rows in yellow are irregular forms that do not follow the counter’s usual pattern.
1–10 · Special date readings
- 1一日ついたちThe first day of the month
- 2二日ふつか
- 3三日みっか
- 4四日よっか
- 5五日いつか
- 6六日むいか
- 7七日なのか
- 8八日ようか
- 9九日ここのか
- 10十日とおか
11–19 · Watch for the 14th
- 11十一日じゅういちにち
- 12十二日じゅうににち
- 13十三日じゅうさんにち
- 14十四日じゅうよっかKeeps よっか in the reading
- 15十五日じゅうごにち
- 16十六日じゅうろくにち
- 17十七日じゅうしちにちAlso じゅうななにち
- 18十八日じゅうはちにち
- 19十九日じゅうくにちAlso じゅうきゅうにち
20–29 · Watch for the 20th and 24th
- 20二十日はつかSpecial reading: はつか
- 21二十一日にじゅういちにち
- 22二十二日にじゅうににち
- 23二十三日にじゅうさんにち
- 24二十四日にじゅうよっかKeeps よっか in the reading
- 25二十五日にじゅうごにち
- 26二十六日にじゅうろくにち
- 27二十七日にじゅうしちにち
- 28二十八日にじゅうはちにち
- 29二十九日にじゅうくにち
30–31 and the question form
- 30三十日さんじゅうにち
- 31三十一日さんじゅういちにち
- ?何日なんにちWhat day of the month?
Patterns to remember
- Learn dates 1–10 as whole words. Repeating them in order can help you remember the special forms.
- The 14th and 24th keep よっか: 14 = じゅうよっか, 24 = にじゅうよっか.
- The 20th has the special reading はつか. Learn it as a whole word.
- Most other dates use a number followed by にち. Learn the listed readings for dates ending in 7 and 9 as well.
Examples
- 誕生日(たんじょうび)は五月(ごがつ)三日(みっか)です。 — My birthday is May 3.
- 十四日(じゅうよっか)に会(あ)いましょう。 — Let's meet on the 14th.
- 今日(きょう)は何日(なんにち)ですか。 — What is today's date?