Meanings of 日
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About 日
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Podcast: 日
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AI Study Notes for 日
月 (yuè) - use 日 (rì) for 'day' or 'sun', while 月 (yuè) refers to 'month' or 'moon'.
Learners often confuse 日 (rì) with 号 (hào), which also relates to dates but indicates a specific number. Use 日 (rì) for days of the month and in phrases like '今天是几号？' (What is today's date?). Remember, 日 is more formal in usage compared to other words for 'day.'
At HSK Level 2, focus on using 日 (rì) in context with numbers to discuss dates, as this will enhance your ability to talk about time effectively. It connects to other time-related vocabulary such as 星期 (xīngqī – week) and 月 (yuè – month).
Learners often mistakenly use 日 (rì) to refer to days of the week; instead, use 星期 (xīngqī) for that purpose. For example, saying '今天是星期日' (Today is Sunday) is correct, but avoid using just 日 to indicate the day of the week.
Pronunciation of 日
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Jason Explains 日 to You
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Learning Lab
Knowing 日 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
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Etymology of 日
Pictograph of the sun.
The sun
Origin
What kind of character is 日?
Decomposition of 日
Parts
Which of these is part of 日?
How to say sun in Chinese
“sun” in Chinese is日
The character 日 (rì) primarily means 'sun' or 'day.' It is commonly used to refer to the daytime, as well as to denote specific dates in the calendar. In addition, it serves as an abbreviation for Japan (日本), highlighting its significance in both daily life and geographical context.
When to use 日
Learners often confuse 日 (rì) with 号 (hào), which also relates to dates but indicates a specific number. Use 日 (rì) for days of the month and in phrases like '今天是几号？' (What is today's date?). Remember, 日 is more formal in usage compared to other words for 'day.'
日 or something close to it
月 (yuè) - use 日 (rì) for 'day' or 'sun', while 月 (yuè) refers to 'month' or 'moon'.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 日 (rì) to refer to days of the week; instead, use 星期 (xīngqī) for that purpose. For example, saying '今天是星期日' (Today is Sunday) is correct, but avoid using just 日 to indicate the day of the week.
Write 日
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Practice writing 日 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 日
日 functions as a number. It almost always combines with a measure word before a noun (三个人, 五本书). Standalone numbers are rare outside of math or counting. It carries 6 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
2026年3月10____。
March 10, 2026.
Example Sentences for 日 (16)
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Word Family of 日
Characters with 日
What does 是 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 日
You can say '今天是十月二日' (Today is October 2nd) to indicate a specific date.
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