次

• Reading: つぎ
• Romaji: tsugi
• Kanji breakdown: 次 (tsugi/ji) — next, order, sequence
• Pronunciation: /tsɯ.ɡi/

Meaning

Next; following; subsequent. The one coming immediately after the current.

Extremely common in everyday Japanese. Used as a noun and adjective (次の). Appears in countless daily situations: 次の電車 (tsugi no densha, the next train), 次の日 (tsugi no hi, the next day). Also used to transition between topics in conversation.

Examples

1. 次の駅で降りてください。 Please get off at the next station.
2. 次は何をしますか。 What are we doing next?
3. 次の授業は三時からです。 The next class starts at three o'clock.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, transport, instructions

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 次 originally depicted a person opening their mouth to breathe or yawn, which evolved to mean 'in sequence' or 'next in order.'

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal