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:

茶の湯は日本の伝統的な茶道の儀式です。

Chanoyu wa Nihon no dentōteki na sadō no gishiki desu

Chanoyu is a traditional ritual of the Japanese tea ceremony.

Canoyu is a traditional Japanese tea ceremony.

• 茶の湯 (Chanoyu) - Tea ceremony
• は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 日本 (Nihon) - Japan
• の (no) - Particle indicating possession or relationship
• 伝統的な (dentōteki na) - Traditional
• 茶道 (chadō) - Tea path
• の (no) - Particle indicating possession or relationship
• 儀式 (gishiki) - Ceremony, ritual
• です (desu) - polite way of being

竹は日本の伝統的な素材です。

Take wa Nihon no dentō-teki na sozai desu

Bamboo is a traditional material in Japan.

Bamboo is a traditional Japanese material.

• 竹 (take) - means "bamboo" in Japanese
• は (wa) - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 日本 (nihon) - means "Japan" in Japanese
• の (no) - grammatical particle that indicates possession or relationship
• 伝統的な (dentōteki na) - adjective meaning "traditional"
• 素材 (sozai) - means "material" in Japanese
• です (desu) - Verb "to be" in the present tense

私たちは明日朝早く着く予定です。

Watashitachi wa ashita asa hayaku tsuku yotei desu

We have plans to arrive early tomorrow morning.

We will arrive early tomorrow morning.

• 私たちは - We
• 明日 - Tomorrow
• 朝 - Morning
• 早く - early
• 着く - to arrive
• 予定 - Planned
• です - and

私は努めて日本語を勉強しています。

Watashi wa tsutomete Nihongo wo benkyou shiteimasu

I am striving to study Japanese.

I'm working hard to study Japanese.

• 私 - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case "I"
• 努めて - verb meaning "to strive" or "to work hard"
• 日本語 - noun meaning "Japanese", the Japanese language
• を - object particle indicating the direct object of the action, in this case "study"
• 勉強しています - compound verb meaning "to be studying", in the present continuous tense

私は明日休める。

Watashi wa ashita yasumeru

I can rest tomorrow.

I will rest tomorrow.

• 私 - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 明日 - substantive that means "tomorrow"
• 休める - verb meaning "to be able to rest"

私の生年月日は何ですか？

Watashi no seinen gappi wa nan desu ka?

What is my date of birth?

What is my date of birth?

• 私 - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• の - Japanese particle that indicates possession or relationship
• 生年月日 - Japanese compound noun meaning "date of birth"
• は - Japanese particle indicating the subject of the sentence
• 何 - Japanese interrogative pronoun meaning "what"
• ですか - Japanese expression indicating a polite question

私は日本語を教わることができますか？

Watashi wa nihongo wo osowaru koto ga dekimasu ka?

Can I be taught in Japanese?

Can I learn Japanese?

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that marks the topic of the sentence
• 日本語 (nihongo) - noun meaning "Japanese"
• を (wo) - Particle that marks the direct object of the sentence
• 教わる (osowaru) - verb that means "to learn"
• こと (koto) - noun that means "thing"
• が (ga) - Particle that marks the subject of the sentence
• できますか (dekimasu ka) - Expression that means "is it possible?" or "can you?"

私は毎日祈りを唱えます。

Watashi wa mainichi inori o tonaemasu

I pray every day.

I pray every day.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that marks the topic of the sentence
• 毎日 (mainichi) - adverb meaning "every day"
• 祈り (inori) - noun meaning "prayer"
• を (wo) - Particle that marks the direct object of the sentence
• 唱えます (tonaemasu) - verb meaning "to recite" or "to chant"

私は明日新しい本を買います。

Watashi wa ashita atarashii hon wo kaimasu

I'm going to buy a new book tomorrow.

I'm going to buy a new book tomorrow.

• 私 (watashi) - signifies "I" in Japanese
• は (wa) - topic particle in Japanese, indicates that the subject of the sentence is "me"
• 明日 (ashita) - means "tomorrow" in Japanese
• 新しい (atarashii) - means "new" in Japanese
• 本 (hon) - means "book" in Japanese
• を (wo) - object particle in Japanese, indicates that "book" is the direct object of the sentence
• 買います (kaimasu) - means "to buy" in Japanese, and is the verb in the sentence

私は明日試験があります。

Watashi wa ashita shiken ga arimasu

I have an exam tomorrow.

I have an exam tomorrow.

• 私 (watashi) - signifies "I" in Japanese
• は (wa) - Japanese topic particle
• 明日 (ashita) - means "tomorrow" in Japanese
• 試験 (shiken) - means "test/examination" in Japanese
• が (ga) - Subject particle in Japanese.
• あります (arimasu) - means "to have/exist" in Japanese