Meanings of 日
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About 日
Podcast: 日
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
Drill the tone of 日 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Etymology of 日
Pictograph of the sun.
The sun
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 日
Pictograph of the sun.
- 1The giveawayThe sun
- 2On the record aspictographic — someone drew the thing itself.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 日? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 日?
Decomposition of 日
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component 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.
Complete the Sentence
2026年3月10____。
March 10, 2026.
Example Sentences for 日 (16)
Word Family of 日
Compound Meaning
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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