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:

私は日本で生まれました。

Watashi wa Nihon de umaremashita

I was born in Japan.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 日本 (nihon) - proper name meaning "Japan"
• で (de) - particle indicating the place where the action took place
• 生まれました (umaremashita) - verb meaning "to be born" in the educated past

私は日本語を習っています。

Watashi wa Nihongo wo naratteimasu

I'm learning Japanese.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 日本語 (nihongo) - noun meaning "Japanese" or "Japanese language"
• を (wo) - Particle indicating the direct object of the sentence
• 習っています (naratteimasu) - verb meaning "I'm learning"

私は日本語の級を受けたいです。

Watashi wa Nihongo no kyuu wo uketai desu

I want to take a Japanese course.

I want to receive a Japanese class.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 日本語 (nihongo) - noun meaning "Japanese" or "Japanese language"
• の (no) - particle that indicates possession or relationship between nouns
• 級 (kyuu) - noun that means "level" or "class"
• を (wo) - Particle indicating the direct object of the sentence
• 受けたい (uketai) - verb in the desiderative form that means "to want to do" or "to wish to receive"
• です (desu) - auxiliary verb that indicates the polite form of the sentence

私は日本の郡に住んでいます。

Watashi wa Nihon no gun ni sunde imasu

I live in a county in Japan.

I live in a Japanese county.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 日本 (nihon) - proper name meaning "Japan"
• の (no) - particle that indicates possession or relationship between two things
• 郡 (gun) - noun that means "county"
• に (ni) - particle that indicates the action of being in a place
• 住んでいます (sundeimasu) - verb that means "to live"

私は明日の会議に欠席します。

Watashi wa ashita no kaigi ni kessei shimasu

I will be absent from tomorrow's meeting.

I will be absent from tomorrow's meeting.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 明日 (ashita) - substantive that means "tomorrow"
• の (no) - Particle indicating possession or relationship
• 会議 (kaigi) - noun meaning "gathering" or "meeting"
• に (ni) - particle that indicates destination or goal
• 欠席 (kesseki) - noun meaning "absence" or "lack"
• します (shimasu) - verb meaning "to do" or "to accomplish"

私は日本語を話すことができます。

Watashi wa nihongo o hanasu koto ga dekimasu

I can speak Japanese.

I can speak Japanese.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 日本語 (nihongo) - noun meaning "Japanese" or "Japanese language"
• を (wo) - Particle indicating the direct object of the sentence
• 話す (hanasu) - verb meaning "to talk" or "to converse"
• こと (koto) - noun indicating an abstract action or event
• が (ga) - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• できます (dekimasu) - verb meaning "to be able to" or "to be able to"

私は毎日日記を書く。

Watashi wa mainichi nikki o kaku

I write a diary every day.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 毎日 (mainichi) - adverb meaning "every day"
• 日記 (nikki) - noun meaning "diary"
• を (wo) - Particle indicating the direct object of the sentence
• 書く (kaku) - Verb meaning "to write"

私は毎日日記を書きます。

Watashi wa mainichi nikki wo kakimasu

I write a diary every day.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 毎日 (mainichi) - adverb meaning "every day"
• 日記 (nikki) - noun meaning "diary"
• を (wo) - Particle indicating the direct object of the sentence
• 書きます (kakimasu) - Verb meaning "to write"

私は毎日勉強します。

Watashi wa mainichi benkyō shimasu

I study every day.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 毎日 (mainichi) - adverb meaning "every day"
• 勉強 (benkyou) - noun meaning "study"
• します (shimasu) - verb that means "to do"

私は片言の日本語しか話せません。

Watashi wa katagoto no nihongo shika hanasemasen

I can only speak a single Japanese word.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 片言 (katanaga) - noun that means "limited speech"
• の (no) - particle that indicates possession or relationship between words
• 日本語 (nihongo) - noun meaning "Japanese"
• しか (shika) - particle that indicates exclusion or limitation
• 話せません (hanasemasen) - verb that means "I can't speak"