Translation and Meaning of: 明日 - ashita

If you are studying Japanese, you have certainly come across the word Tomorrow"tomorrow". But do you know where it came from, how its kanji was created, or how the Japanese use it in their daily lives? In this article, we will explore the etymology, the meaning, and even some tips for memorizing this essential word. Moreover, you will discover how it appears in common expressions and why it is so present in Japanese culture. Here at I love Japanese., the largest online Japanese dictionary, you can also find ready-made sentence examples to include in your Anki and boost your studies!

The origin and etymology of 明日

The word Tomorrow There is an intriguing story. The kanji 明 means "bright" or "clear," while 日 represents "day." Together, they convey the idea of "the day that is coming." However, the pronunciation あした does not come directly from the reading of these ideograms — in fact, it is a kun'yomi reading, meaning it is the way the Japanese originally pronounced the word before the introduction of Chinese characters.

Some linguists believe that あした may have originated from the ancient expression 朝 (あした), which meant "morning." Over time, the meaning evolved to refer to the next day, maintaining the association with dawn. Interesting, isn't it? This connection to the light of the new day helps to understand why the kanji 明 was chosen to represent the concept.

Use in everyday life and popular expressions

In Japan, Tomorrow it's a word used in daily life, applicable in both casual conversations and more formal contexts. One of the most common phrases is See you tomorrow., which means "see you tomorrow." If you have ever watched a dorama or anime, you have probably heard this expression being used when characters say goodbye.

Another interesting use is in the expression Tomorrow's wind will blow tomorrow.a proverb that means "tomorrow is another day" — something like "each day has its own problems." This phrase reflects a common mindset in Japan of not worrying excessively about the future, as everything can change. Notice how the language carries cultural aspects?

Tips for memorization and curiosities

A fun way to remember Tomorrow is to associate the kanji 明 (bright) with the idea of a "new day arriving". Imagine the sun rising after a dark night — this image can help solidify the meaning. Another tip is to create flashcards with sentences like Let's meet tomorrow. — "let's meet tomorrow".

Did you know that in some regional dialects of Japan, あした can be pronounced slightly differently? In Okinawa, for example, you might hear "achaa" instead of the standard. These variations show how rich and diverse the Japanese language is. So, are you ready to use 明日 in your next conversations in Japanese?

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

  • 明日 (Asu) - tomorrow
  • 明日 (Ashita) - tomorrow

Related words

明後日

asate

the day after tomorrow

明くる

akuru

next; Following

明日

Romaji: ashita
Kana: あした
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n4, jlpt-n5

Translation / Meaning: tomorrow

Meaning in English: tomorrow

Definition: The period between the end of one day and the beginning of the next.

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How to Write in Japanese - (明日) ashita

See below a step-by-step guide on how to write the word by hand in Japanese. (明日) ashita:

Example Sentences - (明日) ashita

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
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
私たちは明日の試合に向けて張り切っています。

Watashitachi wa ashita no shiai ni mukete harikitte imasu

We are excited and excited for tomorrow's game.

We are excited for tomorrow's match.

  • 私たちは - We
  • 明日 - Tomorrow
  • の - Possessive particle
  • 試合 - Game
  • に - Destination particle
  • 向けて - towards
  • 張り切っています - We're excited
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
私は明日学校に行く予定です。

Watashi wa ashita gakkou ni iku yotei desu

I have plans to go to school tomorrow.

I go to school tomorrow.

  • 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
  • は (wa) - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case "I"
  • 明日 (ashita) - adverb meaning "tomorrow"
  • 学校 (gakkou) - noun meaning "school"
  • に (ni) - particle that indicates the destination of the action, in this case "to school"
  • 行く (iku) - verb meaning "to go"
  • 予定 (yotei) - Noun that means "plan" or "schedule"
  • です (desu) - auxiliary verb that indicates the polite or formal form of the sentence

Other Words of this Type: noun

See other words from our dictionary that are also: noun

急速

kyuusoku

Quick (for example, progress)

要請

yousei

claim; demand; request; request

あっち

achi

far away

故障

koshou

smash; failure; accident; out of order

乾電池

kandenchi

Dry cell; battery