How to say the day before yesterday in Japanese
In Japanese, expressing the day before yesterday can be done using a combination of words that convey the time frame and the specific day. Understanding how to say this phrase is particularly useful when discussing past events or when trying to be precise about dates. Here’s a breakdown of how to express “the day before yesterday” in Japanese.
The Japanese word for “day” is “日” (hi). To indicate the day before, you can use the word “前” (mae), which means “before.” Combining these two words, you get “前日” (zenji), which translates to “the day before.” To specify that it is the day before yesterday, you can add “昨日” (kinou), which means “yesterday.”
Therefore, the phrase “the day before yesterday” in Japanese can be expressed as “昨日の前日” (kinou no zenji). This phrase literally means “yesterday’s day before,” which accurately conveys the intended meaning.
Alternatively, you can use the phrase “二日前” (ni ma en), which means “two days before.” This expression is often used to refer to the day before yesterday, as it implies a time frame of two days prior to the current date.
When speaking or writing in Japanese, it’s important to consider the context and the level of formality. In more formal situations, using “昨日の前日” (kinou no zenji) might be more appropriate. However, “二日前” (ni ma en) is a commonly used phrase that is understood by most Japanese speakers and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
In summary, to say “the day before yesterday” in Japanese, you can use either “昨日の前日” (kinou no zenji) or “二日前” (ni ma en). Both expressions are effective and will be understood by Japanese speakers.
