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日子 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
日子rìzidayHSK 4, n, 7 strokes, rank #971, Medium
日子rìzia (calendar) dateHSK 4, n, 7 strokes, rank #971, Medium
日子rìzidays of one's lifeHSK 4, n, 7 strokes, rank #971, Medium
rìzi(ri4zi5)ri zi T4
  1. 1day
  2. 2a (calendar) date
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March 24, 2026

日子rìzi(ri4zi5)

The term '日子' refers to a day or a calendar date, emphasizing the passage of time in everyday life. It can also denote the days of one's life, often used in contexts discussing routines, events, or the significance of time in personal experiences.

Strokes7Frequency#971DifficultyMedium
Cultural note

'日子' is often associated with traditional Chinese festivals and important dates, such as the Lunar New Year, reflecting the cultural significance of time in familial and social gatherings.

Memory tip

Imagine a bright sun ('日') shining down on a calendar ('子'), marking special days. The sun symbolizes the day itself, while the calendar represents the passage of time that these days signify.

Meanings of 日子

rìzi(ri4zi5)
1day
2a (calendar) date
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 日子

日子Simplified
7Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#971Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1

Podcast: 日子

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Podcast: 日子

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AI study notes for 日子

Quick Contrast

日子 (rìzi) vs 时候 (shíhòu) — use '日子' for specific days or dates, while '时候' refers to a period or point in time.

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include using '日子' in overly formal contexts where '日' may be more appropriate. It's generally informal and best used in everyday conversation when discussing time or experiences. Be careful with tone, as mispronouncing '日' can change the meaning.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 5 word, '日子' connects to other time-related vocabulary, such as '今天' (today) and '明天' (tomorrow). Focus on using it in phrases that describe plans or reflections on life.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse '日子' with '日期' (date), using them interchangeably. Remember, '日子' is more about the concept of days in life rather than specific calendar dates.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 日子

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Component characters

日rìsun
HSK 14 strokes日
View full entry
子zison
HSK 33 strokes子
View full entry

How to say day in Chinese

“day” in Chinese is日子rìzi

The term '日子' refers to a day or a calendar date, emphasizing the passage of time in everyday life. It can also denote the days of one's life, often used in contexts discussing routines, events, or the significance of time in personal experiences.

When to use 日子

Common mistakes include using '日子' in overly formal contexts where '日' may be more appropriate. It's generally informal and best used in everyday conversation when discussing time or experiences. Be careful with tone, as mispronouncing '日' can change the meaning.

日子 or something close to it

日子 (rìzi) vs 时候 (shíhòu) — use '日子' for specific days or dates, while '时候' refers to a period or point in time.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse '日子' with '日期' (date), using them interchangeably. Remember, '日子' is more about the concept of days in life rather than specific calendar dates.

Write 日子

日
子

Practice writing 日子 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar patterns of 日子

日子 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 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.

Exercise 1 of 4

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

虽然____过得很困苦,但也不能过一天是一天。

Even though life is hard, you can't just drift along day by day.

Example sentences for 日子 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
日子一天天过去,花粉干结成了硬块。

rìzi yī tiān tiān guòqù, huā fěn gān jié chéng le yìng kuài。

As the day goes on, the pollen dries up and becomes hard.
2
他靠每周领取的作为病残养老金的直接转账救济支票过日子。

tā kào měi zhōu lǐngqǔ de zuòwéi bìng cán yǎnglǎojīn de zhíjiē zhuǎnzhàng jiùjì zhīpiào guòrìzi。

He lived on an invalidity pension which came as a weekly giro.
3
他已经在为那个重要的日子调整状态了。

tā yǐjīng zài wèi nàge zhòngyào de rìzi tiáozhěng zhuàngtài le。

He is already getting in trim for the big day.
4
埃及人很有可能用不同长度的24小时来度量日子。

āi jí rén hěn yǒu kěnéng yòng bùtóng chángdù de24 xiǎoshí lái dù liáng rìzi。

The Egyptians probably measured their day in twenty-four hours of unequal length.
5
西部可能会有一段天气晴朗的日子。

xībù kěnéng huì yǒu yī duàn tiānqì qínglǎng de rìzi。

There is a chance of sunny spells in the West.
6
在临死的那些日子里,年迈的女王态度稍缓和了一些。

zài lín sǐ de nàxiē rìzi lǐ, niánmài de nǚ wáng tàidù shāo huǎnhé le yìxiē。

In her dying days the old Queen unbent a little.
7
我不想混日子,我想做点更有意义的事情。

wǒ bù xiǎng hùn rìzi, wǒ xiǎng zuò diǎn gèng yǒuyì yì de shìqing。

Instead of rushing at life, I wanted something more meaningful.
8
现在谁的日子更好过呢?

xiànzài shéide rìzi gènghǎo guò ne?

Who is making out better right now?
9
八口之家日子过得很拮据。

bā kǒu zhī jiā rìzi guò de hěn jié jù。

The family of eight was living in straitened circumstances .
10
八月份我们过了一星期酷热的日子.

bāyuè fèn wǒmen guò le yī xīngqī kù rè de rìzi.

We had a week of scorchers in August.

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Frequently asked questions about 日子

Yes, '日子' can refer to a specific date, but it is more commonly used in a general sense.

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