Japanese grammar

What does 曜日（days of the week） mean? Japanese grammar N5

曜日（days of the week） means the days of the week.

Quick facts
Level (estimated, JLPT framework)	N5
Structure	月曜日・火曜日・水曜日・木曜日・金曜日・土曜日・日曜日
Romaji	yōbi
Meaning	the days of the week

How to use it

Stating the day of the week.

Day names combine the Five Elements + 曜日: 月(moon)=Monday, 火(fire)=Tuesday, 水(water)=Wednesday, 木(wood)=Thursday, 金(metal)=Friday, 土(earth)=Saturday, 日(sun)=Sunday.
Memory tip for Vietnamese learners: these characters share the same Sino-Vietnamese root readings still used in Vietnamese today — the same historical source as their on-readings.
Asking the day: 「今日は何曜日ですか。」

Examples

今日(きょう)は金曜日(きんようび)です。
Today is Friday.
日曜日(にちようび)に休(やす)みます。
I rest on Sunday.

Common mistakes

Wrong今日(きょう)は何(なに)曜日(ようび)ますか。

Correct今日(きょう)は何(なに)曜日(ようび)ですか。

曜日 is a noun, so it takes です, not ます.

Related patterns

All N5 grammar →