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.

TIME SEQUENCE:

  • 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).

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

basic
Added 2026.1.7 21:53 · Revised 2026.2.19 11:19
00500/00859_kinou