日子 rìzi day
day; a (calendar) date; days of one's life
How to remember 日子: 日 sun + 子 child = day.
Characters
How it is used
- Colloquial noun for both a calendar day and "life" more broadly: 过日子 (guò rìzi, to live one's life/get by day to day).
- 好日子 (hǎo rìzi) means good times or an auspicious occasion, like a wedding date, not just "a nice day."
- Compare 日期 (rìqī): 日期 is the neutral, formal calendar date (出生日期, date of birth), while 日子 carries a lived, personal feel.
Example sentences
- 明天是个大日子。 Míngtiān shì gè dà rìzi.Tomorrow's going to be a big day.
- 幸福的日子过去了。 Xìngfú de rìzi guòqù le.The happy days are gone.
- 多么晴朗的日子啊。 Duōme qínglǎng de rìzi a.What lovely weather!