16

If I say:

16日[以降]{いこう}参加できません。

It means I cannot participate after the 16th.

However, what about on the 16th? Is it also implied that I cannot participate on the 16th either? Or, that I can participate on the 16th, but not after?

Ringil
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wip
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    Not a duplicate, but related: http://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/1765/do-%E4%BB%A5%E4%B8%8A-and-%E4%BB%A5%E4%B8%8B-include-the-number-preceding-them –  Dec 04 '12 at 04:46

1 Answers1

19

Yes, it is inclusive. All the similar phrases that use 以 are inclusive: 以内、以前、以上、以下、以来. However, unfortunately a lot of people do not know this and use them carelessly without thinking.

If you wanted to express "After the 16th but not including it", you could say:

16日の翌日から参加できません。

However, I would be more inclined to say:

17日以降参加できません。

Troyen
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Jesse Good
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  • I trust your answer. By the way how would you express "After the 16th but not including it" ? – wip Dec 04 '12 at 05:45
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    In your particular example, you could say: 16日の翌日から参加できません。However, I would be more inclined to say 17日以降参加できません。 – Jesse Good Dec 04 '12 at 07:11
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    Another way to say “I cannot participate after Feb. 16, exclusive” is 16日までしか参加できません: “I can participate only until Feb. 16, inclusive.” – Tsuyoshi Ito Feb 11 '13 at 02:19