How do you say 'the day after tomorrow' in Japanese?

The day after tomorrow is 明後日, read as あさって (asatte) in casual speech or みょうごにち (myougonichi) in formal/written contexts. The day before yesterday is 一昨日 (おととい, ototoi).

Japanese Time Expressions: Today, Tomorrow, Morning, Later

Q: How do you say 'today' in Japanese?

Today is 今日, read as きょう (kyou) in everyday speech. The same kanji can also be read こんにち (konnichi), but only in the greeting こんにちは — never standalone. 今日は何日ですか (kyou wa nan-nichi desu ka) = What is today's date?

Q: How do you say 'last week' in Japanese?

Last week is 先週 (せんしゅう, senshuu). This week is 今週 (こんしゅう, konshuu), and next week is 来週 (らいしゅう, raishuu). The prefix pattern — 先 (last) · 今 (this) · 来 (next) — applies to weeks, months, and years.

Q: What is the word for 'recently' in Japanese?

The most common word is 最近 (さいきん, saikin), used for recent events over days or weeks. For something that just happened moments ago use さっき (sakki, informal) or 先ほど (さきほど, saki-hodo, formal).

Q: How do you say 'next month' in Japanese?

Next month is 来月 (らいげつ, raigetsu). This month is 今月 (こんげつ, kongetsu), and last month is 先月 (せんげつ, sengetsu). The same 先/今/来 prefix pattern used for weeks works here too.

Q: Do Japanese time words need a particle?

Relative time words like 今日, 明日, 来週 generally do NOT need a particle when they appear at the start of a sentence. However, the particle に is used for fixed, specific points in time: 月曜日に (on Monday), 3月3日に (on March 3rd). Never use に with 今日, 明日, or 昨日.

Japanese time expressions usually place the time word at the start of the clause without a particle. Today is 今日, tomorrow is 明日, this week is 今週, next month is 来月, and conversational timing words like さっき, もうすぐ, and あとで help you sound natural.

Need clock time as well? Pair this page with Time in Japanese for hours, minutes, AM/PM, and half past.

Time in Japanese Sakunen vs Kyonen

Quick Reference Chart

Type	Japanese	Reading	Meaning
Daily	今日	きょう	today
Daily	明日	あした	tomorrow
Week	今週	こんしゅう	this week
Month	来月	らいげつ	next month
Year	去年	きょねん	last year
Conversation	あとで	あとで	later
Conversation	さっき	さっき	a moment ago
Conversation	もうすぐ	もうすぐ	soon

Daily Time Words

English	日本語	Reading	Romaji
The day before yesterday	一昨日	おととい	ototoi
Yesterday	昨日	きのう	kinō
Today	今日	きょう	kyō
Tomorrow	明日	あした / あす	ashita / asu
The day after tomorrow	明後日	あさって	asatte
Every day	毎日	まいにち	mainichi

あした and あす both mean tomorrow. あす is more formal and common in news or written Japanese. あした is the everyday spoken form.

Week Time Words

English	日本語	Reading	Romaji
Last week	先週	せんしゅう	senshuu
This week	今週	こんしゅう	konshuu
Next week	来週	らいしゅう	raishuu
Every week	毎週	まいしゅう	maishuu
Week (duration)	週間	しゅうかん	shuukan
For two weeks	二週間	にしゅうかん	ni-shuukan

Month Time Words

English	日本語	Reading	Romaji
Last month	先月	せんげつ	sengetsu
This month	今月	こんげつ	kongetsu
Next month	来月	らいげつ	raigetsu
Every month	毎月	まいつき	maitsuki
For 3 months	三ヶ月	さんかげつ	san-kagetsu

Years — This Year, Last Year, Next Year

English	日本語	Reading	Romaji
Last year	去年	きょねん	kyonen
This year	今年	ことし	kotoshi
Next year	来年	らいねん	rainen
Every year	毎年	まいとし / まいねん	maitoshi / mainen
For 2 years	二年間	にねんかん	ni-nenkan

去年 (kyonen) is everyday speech for "last year." 昨年 (sakunen) means the same but is more formal — common in news, business, and written Japanese.

Conversational Timing Words

English	日本語	Reading	Notes
Now	今	いま	Use freely — no particle needed
Soon / shortly	もうすぐ	もうすぐ	Near future
Already	もう	もう	もう食べました = I already ate
Not yet	まだ	まだ	まだ食べていない = haven't eaten yet
Still	まだ	まだ	まだ勉強中 = still studying
Recently	最近	さいきん	days/weeks timeframe
A moment ago	さっき	さっき	Casual; さきほど is formal
The other day	この間	このあいだ	Vague past; within days/weeks
Immediately	すぐ	すぐ	すぐ来てください = come right away
Eventually / someday	いつか	いつか	Unspecified future

Example Sentences

日本語	Translation
昨日、図書館で勉強しました。	Yesterday I studied at the library.
来週、テストがあります。	There is a test next week.
先月、日本語の授業を始めました。	Last month I started Japanese classes.
今年こそ N5 に合格したいです。	This year I really want to pass N5.
もうすぐ春休みです。	Spring break is coming soon.
まだ宿題が終わっていません。	I haven't finished my homework yet.
最近、日本語のドラマをよく見ます。	Recently I often watch Japanese dramas.

5 Common Mistakes with Japanese Time Expressions

Adding に after 今日 / 明日 / 昨日. These words do NOT take the particle に. Say 今日勉強します ✓, not 今日に勉強します ✗. Fixed calendar points (曜日、日付) take に; relative words (today, tomorrow) do not.
Using こんにちは as a standalone word for "today." 今日 (きょう) means today. こんにちは is only the greeting "hello/good afternoon" — it cannot be used as a noun.
Confusing もう (already) with まだ (still/not yet). もう食べました = I already ate. まだ食べていません = I haven't eaten yet. Same context, opposite meaning.
Using 去年 in formal writing. For formal reports, emails, and news use 昨年 (さくねん) instead of 去年 (きょねん). Both mean "last year" but 昨年 is the written register.
Saying 明日に for "on tomorrow." 明日、会議があります ✓ — no particle. Adding に makes it sound like a learner error; Japanese time adverbs stand alone at the front of the sentence.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you say "today" in Japanese?

今日, read きょう (kyou) in conversation. It appears at the start of the sentence without a particle: 今日は忙しいです = I'm busy today.

How do you say "last week" in Japanese?

先週 (せんしゅう, senshuu). The prefix 先 means "preceding" and combines with 週 (week), 月 (month), and other time units for "last ___."

What is the word for "recently" in Japanese?

最近 (さいきん, saikin) covers the past days to weeks. For something moments ago: さっき (casual) or 先ほど (formal).

How do you say "next month" in Japanese?

来月 (らいげつ, raigetsu). Pattern: 先月 (last month) → 今月 (this month) → 来月 (next month). The 来 prefix always signals the future unit.

How do you say "the day after tomorrow"?

明後日, read あさって (asatte) casually or みょうごにち (myougonichi) formally. The day before yesterday is 一昨日 (おととい, ototoi).

Do Japanese time words need a particle?

Relative words like 今日・明日・昨日・来週 do NOT take に. Fixed time points (specific days of the week, dates) DO take に: 月曜日に (on Monday), 3日に (on the 3rd).

Keep studying

Days in JapaneseYoruLearn guide →Sakunen vs KyonenYoruLearn guide →Telling Time in JapaneseYoruLearn guide →

Drill Time Expressions with YoruLearn

The YoruLearn app reinforces relative time vocabulary through adaptive spaced-repetition flashcards and fill-in-the-blank drills — so 先週・来月・去年 come naturally in conversation.

Get on iOS Join Android waitlist Days in Japanese

Related Study Pages

Days in JapaneseWeekdays, month dates, and relative day words. Sakunen vs KyonenFormal vs everyday “last year”. Days of the Month1日 to 31日 with irregular readings. Telling TimeHours, minutes, AM/PM in Japanese.

Sources and Editorial Notes

Relative time words are presented with their common beginner meanings. Real conversation can add nuance through context, register, and the relationship between speakers.