Japanese symbol for “eve”

前日

ぜんじつ

Romaji: zenjitsu

previous day; day before; eve; prior day

In Japanese, eve is 前日, read ぜんじつ (zenjitsu).

Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.

Meanings

adv, n previous day; day before; eve; prior day; preceding day

Written forms: 前日. Readings: ぜんじつ、まえび.

Kanji and stroke order

前

in front, before

on: ゼン
kun: まえ、-まえ

9 strokes · JLPT 4

日

day, sun, Japan

on: ニチ、ジツ
kun: ひ、-び、-か

4 strokes · JLPT 4

Other Japanese words for “eve”

Word	Reading	Meaning
間際	まぎわ magiwa	the point just before ...; the point of (doing); the verge (of)
前夜祭	ぜんやさい zen'yasai	event held the night before another event; eve (of a festival) (e.g. Christmas Eve)
イブ	イブ ibu	eve (esp. Christmas Eve); the night before
前夜	ぜんや zen'ya	night before (Christmas, etc.); eve (of festival, major event, etc.)

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

Word	Reading	Meaning
名前	なまえ namae	name
以前	いぜん izen	before; prior to; ago
お前	おまえ omae	you
前回	ぜんかい zenkai	previous time; last time; previous installment
午前	ごぜん gozen	morning; a.m.
当たり前	あたりまえ atarimae	natural; reasonable; obvious
今日	きょう kyou	today; this day
日本	にほん nihon	Japan