Question
My soccer teammates are asking whether to go for a drink after our practice session. However, I can’t as I have a date with my girlfriend. How do I say that in Japanese?
Answer by Professional Japanese Teacher
1. 彼女(かのじょ)とデートなんだ。
Kanojo to deeto nanda.
I have a date with my girlfriend.
2. 彼女(かのじょ)と約束(やくそく)があります。
Kanojo to yakusoku ga arimasu.
I have a date with my girlfriend.
The word for “date” is デート deeto, which was derived from the English word “date”. This word was originally used to express the date and time a man and a woman decide to meet.
“To go on a date” in Japanese is デートする deeto suru. You can use the first phrase if you are close with your teammates. If you are not so close with them, you can use the second phrase instead. Notice that we did not mention the word deeto in the second phrase.
The word 約束(やくそく) yakusoku means “promise” or “appointment”. The expression ～があります ga arimasu means “to have”, so the second phrase literally means “I have an appointment with my girlfriend”.
