Translation and Meaning of: 一昨日 - ototoi

On this page, we will study the meaning of the Japanese word 一昨日 (ototoi) and its translation into English. Let's see their different meanings, example phrases, explanations, etymology and the similar words.

Romaji: ototoi

Kana: おととい

Type: noun

L: jlpt-n2, jlpt-n5

一昨日

Translation / Meaning: the day before yesterday

Meaning in English: day before yesterday

Definition: The day before yesterday.

Sumário
- Etymology
- Vocabulary
- Writing
- Phrases

Explanation and Etymology - (一昨日) ototoi

The word 「一昨日」 (ototoi) is a Japanese term that means "the day before yesterday" or "two days ago." This word is commonly used in everyday conversation to refer to a day that comes before the day prior to the current one. In Japanese vocabulary, specific terms exist to indicate specific moments in time, and 「一昨日」 is an example of this, providing a concise way to refer to a specific period without the need for multiple words.

As for the etymology of 「一昨日」, it is composed of the characters 「一」 (ichi) meaning "one" or "first," 「昨」 (saku) referring to "yesterday," and 「日」 (bi), which means "day." Thus, the word can literally be interpreted as "one day before yesterday." There is another kanji form for "to suffer" that can be used, which is 「おんじつ」, but it is less common in daily use and more found in formal or ancient texts.

In the Japanese language, there are many precise terms to describe specific times, a practice that dates back to the traditional culture of Japan, which places great value on the passage of time and daily and seasonal transitions. The use of words like 「一昨日」 not only makes communication more efficient but also reflects the attention to detail that is characteristic of the Japanese language. In fact, such words help create a clear temporal context, whether in everyday conversations or in literature.