昨 日(きのう)

きのう

noun

yesterday

1. yesterday

The day before today. One of the most basic time expressions in Japanese.

昨日(きのう)は何(なに)をしましたか。

What did you do yesterday?

昨日(きのう)の天気(てんき)はよかったです。

Yesterday's weather was good.

の connects to following noun

昨日(きのう)映画(えいが)を見(み)ました。

I watched a movie yesterday.

Can be used without particle

昨日(きのう)は友達(ともだち)と一緒(いっしょ)に買(か)い物(もの)に行(い)きました。

Yesterday I went shopping with my friend.

昨日(きのう)の夜(よる)は疲(つか)れていたので、早(はや)く寝(ね)ました。

I was tired last night, so I went to bed early.

昨日(きのう) means 'yesterday' and is one of the most basic time expressions in Japanese.

Related words

おととい: day before yesterday
昨日(きのう): yesterday
今日(きょう): today
明日(あした): tomorrow
あさって: day after tomorrow

Common expressions

昨日(きのう)の夜(よる)/昨夜(さくや): last night
昨日(きのう)の朝(あさ): yesterday morning
昨日(きのう)から: since yesterday

Usage

Like other time nouns, 昨日(きのう) often appears without a particle: 昨日(きのう)買(か)いました (I bought it yesterday).

Pronunciation

昨日(さくじつ) is a more formal reading used in news and writing.

Related Words

Related: 今日(きょう) (today)

Related: 明日(あした) (tomorrow)

Related: ゆうべ (last night, yesterday evening)

Related: 今朝(けさ) (this morning)

Compare: 前日(ぜんじつ) (previous day, day before)

Related: おととい (day before yesterday)

Related: あさって (day after tomorrow)

Related: おととし (year before last)

basic

Added 2026.1.7 21:53 · Revised 2026.10.6 3:42

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