日

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. 今日は良い日です。▶ —
   Today is a good day.
2. 日が暮れる。▶ —
   The sun sets.

Collocations

Mnemonic

Hi-day (日) is "day / sun" — B + cluster (sun-mythology cluster, Japans national-name etymology). Homophones: (1) hi-day (日) B + cluster; (2) hi-fire (火) B + cluster separate entry; (3) hi-lamp (灯) archaic. Cluster: (1) Nihon / Nippon (origin of the sun = sunrise land — national name); (2) hinomaru (national flag, sun banner); (3) Amaterasu (sun goddess, Japans foundational myth); (4) hinode (sunrise). Korean nal / hae / taeyang parallel and Chinese ri / taiyang parallel; Japans sun-nation alignment unique.

Quick check

1. Etymology of Nihon?

   • Origin of the sun — the eastern land where the sun rises (from Chinas perspective); adopted as country name 7th century
   • Western naming
   • Tokyo
   • Recent