Translation and Meaning of: 日 - hi

Etymology and Definition of 「日」 (hi)

The word 「日」 (hi) in Japanese generally refers to the concept of "day" or "sun". Its etymology traces back to classical Chinese characters, where the kanji 「日」 symbolized the sun, thus representing illumination and the daily cycle. It is one of the most fundamental kanjis in Japanese, often appearing in combination with other kanjis to form words related to time and light.

Origin and Use of 「日」 in Japanese Culture

The origin of the use of 「日」 can be traced back to the use of kanji writing from China, incorporated into Japanese through cultural and commercial influences over a thousand years ago. In the Japanese language, this kanji plays a crucial role not only in the conception of time but also in Japanese cultural identity, as seen in terms like 「日本」 (Nihon), which means "Japan" and literally translates as "origin of the sun."

Variations and Applications of the Word

• "Sunday" - the day of the sun.
• "Every day"
• "Today" (kyou) - today, incorporating the concept of the current day.

Each of these variations shows how 「日」 is integrated to create new meanings, always related to time or light. The versatility of the kanji 「日」 in the Japanese language makes it an essential and ubiquitous component in everyday communication.

Being such an ancient and integral kanji, 「日」 has a depth that goes beyond simple representations of time. It encapsulates the natural cycle, the passage of time, and even cultural identity, as in the case of Japan being known as the "Land of the Rising Sun." It is fascinating to observe how a single character can carry so much meaning and history within itself.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 日 (にち) - dia, sol
• 日 (ひ) - dia, sol
• 曜日 (ようび) - day of the week (when used as part of the word to designate a specific day)
• 日 (か) - day, sun (a more specific or poetic usage)
• 実 (じつ) - reality, truth (they do not have the same basic meaning but can be used in certain contexts related to real days)
• 日 (じつ) - day, common in more formal expressions

日

Romaji: hi
Kana: ひ
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n3

Translation / Meaning: sun; sunlight; day

Meaning in English: sun;sunshine;day

Definition: Time division for a day.

Example Sentences - (日) hi

See below some example sentences:

明日は成るべく早く来てください。

Ashita wa narubeku hayaku kite kudasai

Please come as early as possible tomorrow

If possible, please come as early as you can tomorrow

• 明日 (あした, ashita) - tomorrow
• なるべく (narubeku) - as soon as possible, if you can
• 早く (はやく, hayaku) - early, quickly
• 来てください (きてください, kite kudasai) - please come

私は毎日新聞を講読しています。

Watashi wa mainichi shinbun o koudoku shiteimasu

I read the newspaper every day.

I am reading the newspaper every day.

• 私 - personal pronoun "I"
• は - Topic particle
• 毎日 - "every day"
• 新聞 - "newspaper"
• を - direct object particle
• 講読 - "read aloud; read in public"
• しています - polite form of the verb "to do" in the present continuous

私は日本語を勉強しています。

Watashi wa Nihongo o benkyou shiteimasu

I'm studying Japanese.

I'm studying Japanese.

• 私 - means "I" in Japanese.
• は - is a grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "I".
• 日本語 - means "Japanese" in Japanese.
• を - is a grammatical particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence, in this case, "Japanese".
• 勉強 - means "study" in Japanese.
• しています - is a conjugation of the verb "suru" which indicates action in progress, in this case, "I'm studying".

私たちは明日の会議のために部屋を仕切ります。

Watashitachi wa ashita no kaigi no tame ni heya o shikirimasu

We're going to share a room for tomorrow's meeting.

We will join the room for tomorrow's meeting.

• 私たち - we
• 明日 - tomorrow
• 会議 - meeting
• ために - for
• 部屋 - living room/bedroom
• 仕切ります - divide/separate

明日の天気予報を確認しました。

Ashita no tenki yohou wo kakunin shimashita

I checked the weather forecast for tomorrow.

I checked the weather forecast for tomorrow.

• 明日の - tomorrow
• 天気 - time
• 予報 - forecast
• を - object particle
• 確認 - confirmation
• しました - made

日焼けした肌が美しいです。

Nisshoku shita hada ga utsukushii desu

Tanned skin is beautiful.

Tanned skin is beautiful.

• 日焼けした - means "tanned"
• 肌 - means "skin"
• が - subject particle
• 美しい - means "beautiful"
• です - Verb "to be" in polite form

願いが叶う日を待ち望んでいます。

Negai ga kanau hi wo machi nozondeimasu

I look forward to the day when my desire will come true.

I am waiting for the day when my desire will come true.

• 願いが叶う日を - Day when my wish will come true
• 待ち望んでいます - I am eagerly waiting

饂飩は日本の伝統的な食べ物です。

Udon wa Nihon no dentō teki na tabemono desu

Udon is a traditional Japanese food.

Udon is a traditional Japanese food.

• 饂飩 - Udon, a type of Japanese noodle
• は - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 日本 - Japan
• の - grammatical particle that indicates possession or relationship
• 伝統的な - Traditional
• 食べ物 - food
• です - verb to be in the polite form

集金は明日行います。

Shuukin wa ashita okonaimasu

The money collection will be done tomorrow.

Let's collect money tomorrow.

• 集金 - collecting money
• は - Topic particle
• 明日 - tomorrow
• 行います - carry out, do

醤油は日本の伝統的な調味料です。

Shouyu wa Nihon no dentouteki na choumiryou desu

Soy sauce is a traditional Japanese seasoning.

• 醤油 - shoyu (soy sauce)
• は - Topic particle
• 日本 - Nihon (Japan)
• の - Possessive particle
• 伝統的な - dentoutekina (traditional)
• 調味料 - choumiryou (condiment)
• です - desu (verb to be)