At a Glance
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 週末 | shuumatsu | weekend |
| 土日 | donichi | Saturday and Sunday (casual) |
| 休日 | kyuujitsu | day off / holiday |
| 連休 | renkyuu | consecutive days off |
“週末、何してた？” — “What did you do on the weekend?” This is one of the most common conversation-starters in Japanese. Knowing how to talk about weekends, days off, and holiday plans is essential for building real friendships and having natural conversations. This guide covers all the vocabulary you need.
Yuka週末、何か予定ある？
Shuumatsu, nanika yotei aru?
Do you have any plans for the weekend?
Rei特にないよ。家でゆっくりしようかな。
Tokuni nai yo. Ie de yukkuri shiyou kana.
Nothing in particular. I think I’ll take it easy at home.
週末 vs 土日 vs 休日 — Which Word to Use
These three words all relate to days off, but they are not always interchangeable.
| Word | Meaning | Register | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 週末（しゅうまつ） | Weekend | Neutral | Specifically Sat–Sun; most common |
| 土日（どにち） | Saturday and Sunday | Casual | Literally “Sat-Sun”; used in speech |
| 休日（きゅうじつ） | Day off / holiday | Formal/neutral | Includes public holidays, not just weekends |
| 連休（れんきゅう） | Consecutive holidays | Neutral | e.g., Golden Week (ゴールデンウィーク) |
週末（しゅうまつ） is your go-to word for “weekend.” It is used in both casual and formal situations and always refers to Saturday and Sunday.
土日（どにち） is more casual and direct. You’ll hear this in everyday conversation: “土日は仕事があります” (I work on weekends).
休日（きゅうじつ） is broader — it covers any non-working day, including national holidays (祝日, shukujitsu). It appears on calendars and official notices.
Weekend Conversation Phrases
Here are natural phrases for asking about and describing weekend plans.
A: 週末何してる？
A: Shuumatsu nani shiteru?
A: What are you doing on the weekend?
B: 週末に一緒にハイキングしませんか？
B: Shuumatsu ni issho ni haikingu shimasen ka?
B: Would you like to go hiking together on the weekend?
C: 週末はゆっくりした。
C: Shuumatsu wa yukkuri shita.
C: I took it easy over the weekend.
D: 連休に旅行する予定です。
D: Renkyuu ni ryokou suru yotei desu.
D: I plan to travel during the long weekend.
What to Do on Weekends — Plans Vocabulary
Here is a useful vocabulary set for describing weekend activities.
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 出かける | dekakeru | to go out |
| 家でゴロゴロする | ie de gorogoro suru | to laze around at home |
| 遠出する | toode suru | to take a trip / go far out |
| 旅行する | ryokou suru | to travel |
| ゆっくりする | yukkuri suru | to relax / take it slow |
| 買い物に行く | kaimono ni iku | to go shopping |
| 友達と会う | tomodachi to au | to meet up with friends |
| のんびりする | nonbiri suru | to take it easy / unwind |
Yuka連休は遠出して温泉に行きたいな。
Renkyuu wa toode shite onsen ni ikitai na.
I want to take a trip to a hot spring during the long weekend.
Reiいいね！私は家でゴロゴロするつもり。
Ii ne! Watashi wa ie de gorogoro suru tsumori.
Nice! I plan to laze around at home.
28 Weekend Example Sentences
Here are practical sentences covering a range of weekend scenarios — from relaxing at home to making plans with friends.
1. 週末は何も予定がない。 — I have no plans this weekend.
2. 土日はずっと寝ていた。 — I slept all of Saturday and Sunday.
3. 今週の週末は忙しい。 — This weekend is busy.
4. 休日に勉強するのが好きです。 — I like studying on days off.
5. 連休に海外旅行した。 — I traveled abroad during the long holidays.
6. 週末に映画を見に行かない？ — Want to see a movie on the weekend?
7. 週末はいつも友達と会っている。 — I always meet up with friends on weekends.
8. 先の週末は本当に楽しかった。 — Last weekend was really fun.
Quick Quiz
1. What is the most common word for “weekend” in Japanese?
Answer: 週末（しゅうまつ）
2. What does 土日 refer to?
Answer: Saturday and Sunday (casual expression)
3. How do you say “to laze around at home” in Japanese?
Answer: 家でゴロゴロする（いえでごろごろする）
4. What is the difference between 休日 and 週末?
Answer: 休日 includes public holidays and any day off; 週末 specifically means Saturday–Sunday weekend
5. How do you say “consecutive holidays” in Japanese?
Answer: 連休（れんきゅう）
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