Japanese word of the day: 日常 (Nichijō)

What does 日常 (Nichijō) mean?

日常 (Nichijō) [noun] — everyday; daily; ordinary; usual; routine; regular

Kanji details for 日 and 常

日 — day, sun, Japan, counter for days
Radical: sun, day 日

常 — usual, ordinary, normal, common, regular, continually, always, long-lasting
Radical: turban, scarf 巾

Example sentences with 日常 (Nichijō)

• 日常こそが人生の本当の宝物だ。

  (Nichijō koso ga jinsei no hontō no takaramono da.)

  🪙 Everyday life itself is life’s true treasure.

• このドラマ、日常会話の勉強にちょうどいいよ！

  (Kono dorama, nichijō kaiwa no benkyō ni chōdo ii yo!)

  🎭️ 　This drama is perfect for learning everyday conversation!

• 小さな幸せを見つけることが、日常を楽しむコツだ。

  (Chiisana shiawase o mitsukeru koto ga, nichijō o tanoshimu kotsu da.)

  🌄 Finding small joys is the key to enjoying everyday life.

日常 (Nichijō) in context

日常 (Nichijō) goes beyond the simple idea of "everyday." It captures the essence of routines, habits, and the natural rhythm of daily life. In contrast, 毎日 (Mainichi) refers to things that happen every single day, marking time rather than the flow or structure of life.

Key Differences:
毎日 (Mainichi): Time-focused, e.g., 毎日日本語を勉強する. (Mainichi nihongo o benkyō suru) “I study japanese every day”.
日常 (Nichijō): Lifestyle-focused, e.g., 日常生活 (nichijō seikatsu) “Daily life” or 日常会話 (nichijō kaiwa) “everyday conversation).

For a natural touch in Japanese, try phrases like:

• 「日常会話をもっと上手になりたい！」(nichijō kaiwa o motto jōzu ni naritai) "I want to get better at everyday conversation!" instead of just referencing 日本語 (nihongo) “Japanese”.

Use 日常 (Nichijō) when describing the broader context of life or routines, and 毎日 (Mainichi) for specific daily occurrences.