日(にち)

にち
counter
day (counter), date
1. counter for days
Counts the number of days. Used after a number to indicate a duration in days.
三(さん)日(にち)かかった。
It took three days.
旅行(りょこう)は五(いつ)日間(かかん)だった。
The trip was five days long.
〜日間(にちかん) is used for duration: 'for ~ days.'
2. date of the month
Indicates the day of the month when used after a number. Days 1 through 10 and the 20th have special native Japanese readings.
今日(きょう)は十五(じゅうご)日(にち)だ。
Today is the 15th.
誕生日(たんじょうび)は何(なん)日(にち)ですか。
What day (date) is your birthday?
給料(きゅうりょう)は毎月(まいつき)二十五(にじゅうご)日(にち)に振(ふ)り込(こ)まれる。
Salary is deposited on the 25th of every month.

日(にち) is the standard counter for days and dates.

COUNTING PATTERN (duration):

  • 1: 一日(いちにち)
  • 2: 二日(ふつか)
  • 3: 三日(みっか)
  • 4: 四日(よっか)
  • 5: 五日(いつか)
  • 6: 六日(むいか)
  • 7: 七日(なのか)
  • 8: 八日(ようか)
  • 9: 九日(ここのか)
  • 10: 十日(とおか)
  • 14: 十四日(じゅうよっか)
  • 20: 二十日(はつか)
  • 24: 二十四日(にじゅうよっか)

For 11 and above (except 14, 20, 24), use the on'yomi pattern: 十一日(じゅういちにち), 十五日(じゅうごにち), etc.

DATES VS. DURATION:

  • Dates 1st through 10th use the same native readings as duration counting: 一日(ついたち) (1st), 二日(ふつか) (2nd), etc.
  • Exception: the 1st of the month is 一日(ついたち), but one day (duration) is 一日(いちにち)

RELATED COUNTERS:

  • 〜日間(にちかん): emphasizes duration (for ~ days)
  • 〜日目(にちめ): ordinal (the ~th day)

Related Words

Related: 日(ひ) (native reading)
general
Added 2026.2.22 15:48
12500/12732_nichi