Japanese - Daily Routine

いつも___のは___です。

Itsumo ___ no wa ___ desu.

I usually ___ at ___.

Meaning: I usually ___ at ___.

When to use: Use this to state a regular action and the time it happens. The first blank takes a verb phrase in plain form; the second blank is a specific time (with に).

Tip: Don't put the ます-form (e.g., 起きます) in the first blank; use the plain form 起きる instead.

いつも___のは何時ですか。

Itsumo ___ no wa nanji desu ka.

What time do you usually ___?

Meaning: What time do you usually ___?

When to use: Use this polite question to ask about the usual time for a routine action. Put a verb phrase in plain form in the blank.

___のは、___の前です。

___ no wa, ___ no mae desu.

I ___ before ___.

Meaning: I ___ before ___.

When to use: Say this to explain that one routine happens before another event or time. Put a verb phrase (plain form) in the first blank and an event/time in the second blank.

___のあとで、いつも___ます。

___ no ato de, itsumo ___masu.

After ___, I usually ___.

Meaning: After ___, I usually ___.

When to use: Use this to say what you do after an event. The first blank can be a noun or a plain-form verb plus の; the second blank is the verb stem before ます.

___は、たいてい___ます。

___ wa, taitei ___masu.

On ___, I usually ___.

Meaning: On ___, I usually ___.

When to use: Put a day of week or time period in the first blank (e.g., 週末、月曜日の朝), and the verb stem (before ます) in the second blank.

___から___まで忙しいです。

___ kara ___ made isogashii desu.

I'm busy from ___ to ___.

Meaning: I'm busy from ___ to ___.

When to use: Use から after the start time and まで after the end time to indicate a busy period.

___のに、___かかります。

___ no ni, ___ kakarimasu.

It takes me ___ to ___.

Meaning: It takes me ___ to ___.

When to use: Use this to describe how long a routine activity takes. Put a plain-form verb phrase in the first blank and a duration (e.g., 30分) in the second blank.

Tip: Beginners sometimes put ます-form in the first blank (e.g., 行きますのに); keep the first part in the plain form (行くのに).

毎日___ようにしています。

Mainichi ___ yō ni shite imasu.

I try to ___ every day.

Meaning: I try to ___ every day.

When to use: Use this to express a daily habit or goal; put a verb phrase in plain form in the blank.

___は、___にはふだんしません。

___ wa, ___ ni wa fudan shimasen.

I don't usually ___ on ___.

Meaning: I don't usually ___ on ___.

When to use: Use this to say an activity is not part of your usual routine on a specific day. Put the activity in the first blank and a day or time in the second blank.

___は、いつも何をしますか。

___ wa, itsumo nani o shimasu ka.

What do you usually do in the ___?

Meaning: What do you usually do in the ___?

When to use: Ask about someone's usual activity during a time period such as 朝、昼、夜、週末. Use は after the time word.

アラームは___に鳴ります。

arāmu wa ___ ni narimasu.

My alarm goes off at ___.

Meaning: My alarm goes off at ___.

When to use: Use に after a specific time (e.g., 6時に) when stating when an alarm rings.

___の準備をします。

___ no junbi o shimasu.

I get ready for ___.

Meaning: I get ready for ___.

When to use: Use の after what you prepare for (e.g., 仕事の準備、学校の準備) to say what you're getting ready for.

___ごろ家を出ます。

___ goro ie o demasu.

I leave home at about ___.

Meaning: I leave home at about ___.

When to use: Put a time before ごろ (e.g., 8時ごろ) to say when you leave home.