Translation and Meaning of: 二十日 - hatsuka

Etymology and Definition

The word 「二十日」 (hatsuka) is a Japanese expression used to designate the twentieth day of the month. The etymology of the word is composed of two kanji: 「二十」, which means "twenty", and 「日」, which means "day". The combined reading of the kanji forms the term hatsuka. The use of this term is quite common in the Japanese calendar and holds particular importance in counting days, due to the unique reading system that differs from other numbers.

Origin and Cultural Use

In Japanese culture, the reading of numbers and days of the month can vary. The term hatsuka has a special reading, different from other common numeral words. This peculiarity comes from the ancient Japanese counting system, where certain dates have traditional names. This practice is a cultural remnant that highlights the importance of the past in contemporary Japanese society, with some dates of the month being pronounced in a particular way, such as 「一日」 (tsuitachi) for the first day, instead of using 「一の日」 (ichi no hi).

Contexts of Use and Variations

In addition to its use in calendars, hatsuka can be found in various contexts, especially those involving dates and deadlines in daily activities. For example, in rental contracts or specific events that occur on the twentieth day. It is also worth mentioning that the reading of sentences containing numerals can change based on the context, therefore, mastering the terminology and understanding its uses are essential for fluency in the Japanese language.

• Calendars: Indication of the date in monthly calendars.
• Events: Commonly used in letters and invitations for events that occur on the twentieth day of the month.
• Stories and Traditions: In some traditions, mentioning an important event that happened on the twentieth of a certain month.

Understanding the etymology and eclectic use of 「二十日」 is fundamental for those who wish to deepen their knowledge of the Japanese language, especially in reading and writing dates in formal and informal texts.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 廿日 (はつか) - Twenty days
• 二十日 (にじゅうにち) - Twenty days

二十日

Romaji: hatsuka
Kana: はつか
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n5

Translation / Meaning: twenty days; twentieth (day of month)

Meaning in English: twenty days;twentieth (day of the month)

Definition: Day 20. Used to count the days of the month.

Example Sentences - (二十日) hatsuka

See below some example sentences:

二十日は私の誕生日です。

Nijuunichi wa watashi no tanjoubi desu

The 20th is my birthday.

Twenty days is my birthday.

• 二十日 - means "20th" in Japanese
• は - Japanese topic particle
• 私 - Japanese personal pronoun meaning "I"
• の - Possession particle in Japanese
• 誕生日 - means "birthday" in Japanese
• です - verb "to be" in Japanese, which indicates a statement or declaration