Translation and Meaning of: 水曜 - suiyou

If you are learning Japanese or simply curious about the language, you may have come across the word 水曜[すいよう]. It is part of everyday life in Japan and frequently appears in calendars, planners, and daily conversations. In this article, we will explore its meaning, origin, and how it is used in Japanese culture. Additionally, we will see tips for memorizing it and interesting facts that go beyond the dictionary.

What does 水曜[すいよう] mean?

水曜[すいよう] is the Japanese word for "Wednesday". It is part of the naming system for the days of the week in Japan, which follows a logic based on elements of nature and celestial bodies. While in Portuguese the days of the week have origins linked to Roman gods and planets, in Japanese this influence comes from Chinese astrology.

The kanji 水 (sui) means "water," while 曜 (you) refers to "day of the week." Together, they form the term that represents the day associated with the planet Mercury in Eastern tradition. This pattern is repeated on other days, such as 火曜 (Tuesday, day of Mars) and 木曜 (Thursday, day of Jupiter).

How is 水曜 used in Japan?

In everyday Japanese life, 水曜 appears in both formal and informal contexts. You will see it in calendars, business hours of establishments, and TV schedules. Many restaurants and shops have specific promotions for this day, known as 水曜セール (suiyou sēru, "Wednesday sale").

An interesting feature is that, unlike Portuguese, the days of the week in Japanese are rarely abbreviated in writing. While in Portuguese we use "qua" for Wednesday, in Japanese 水曜 usually appears in full, even in informal contexts like text messages.

Tips for memorizing 水曜

For those learning Japanese, associating 水 (mizu - water) with Mercury can be a challenge. An effective technique is to create a mental image: imagine the planet Mercury covered with oceans (even though in reality it is dry). This visual association helps to remember that 水曜 (suiyō) is Mercury's day, that is, Wednesday.

Another strategy is to note that the days of the week in Japanese follow the order of the planets in the ancient solar system. 水曜 comes after 火曜 (Mars) and before 木曜 (Jupiter), maintaining the sequence Mercury-Venus-Earth-Mars-Jupiter. This pattern can serve as a "mental map" to memorize the entire week.

Trivia about 水曜

In Japanese pop culture, 水曜 appears with some frequency. One example is the drama 水曜日のダウンタウン (Suíyoubi no Downtown), a popular TV show that airs on Wednesdays. The title cleverly plays with the day of the broadcast, highlighting how the word is rooted in the media's daily life.

In traditional Japanese astrology, people born on 水曜 are considered communicative and adaptable, traits associated with Mercury. This belief, while not taken seriously by everyone, still occasionally appears in magazines and horoscopes.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 水曜日 (Suiyoubi) - Wednesday
• 火曜日 (Kayoubi) - Tuesday
• 木曜日 (Mokuyoubi) - Thursday
• 金曜日 (Kinyoubi) - Friday
• 土曜日 (Doyoubi) - Saturday
• 日曜日 (Nichiyoubi) - Sunday
• 月曜日 (Getsuyoubi) - Monday

水曜

Romaji: suiyou
Kana: すいよう
Type: Noun
L: jlpt-n2

Translation / Meaning: Wednesday

Meaning in English: Wednesday

Definition: The day of the week that falls between Tuesday and Thursday.

Example Sentences - (水曜) suiyou

See below some example sentences:

水曜日は私の一番好きな曜日です。

Suiyoubi wa watashi no ichiban suki na youbi desu

Wednesday is my favorite day of the week.

• 水曜日 - Wednesday
• は - Topic particle
• 私の - my
• 一番 - the best/number one
• 好きな - favorite
• 曜日 - day of the week
• です - Verb to be/estar