Say Time and Clock in Japanese
Time is an essential part of everyday conversations. Learning how to ask and tell time in Japanese is a fundamental skill that’s extremely useful, whether for daily interactions or while traveling. This guide will walk you through how to talk about time in Japanese language, complete with sentence patterns, vocabulary, and examples for different scenarios.
1. Basic Sentence Patterns for Asking About Time
Here’s a simple guide to help you understand how to say time in Japanese and use it naturally in conversation:
今何時ですか。 (Ima nan-ji desu ka?)Meaning: "What time is it now?"
何時にですか。 (Nan-ji ni desu ka?)
Meaning: "At what time?" (Used to ask about the timing of an event or activity.)
何時に行きますか。 (Nan-ji ni ikimasu ka?)
Meaning: "What time are we leaving?"
Some key vocabulary related to time:
- 時間 (Jikan): Time
- 秒 (Byō): Second
- 分 (Fun): Minute
- 時 (Ji): Hour
- 時計 (Tokei): Clock in Japanese
2. Numbers and Telling the Time
Understanding how to count in Japanese is crucial for discussing time. Below are some basic numbers:
- 1: 一 (Ichi)
- 2: 二 (Ni)
- 3: 三 (San)
- 4: 四 (Yo or Shi)
- 5: 五 (Go)
- 6: 六 (Roku)
- 7: 七 (Nana or Shichi)
- 8: 八 (Hachi)
- 9: 九 (Kyū or Ku)
- 10: 十 (Jū)
When telling the time, add 時 (Ji) after the number for hours and 分 (Fun) for minutes. Examples:
- 7:00 = 七時 (Shichi-ji)
- 7:30 = 七時半 (Shichi-ji han)
- 7:15 = 七時十五分 (Shichi-ji jū go-fun)
Another useful concept is 前 (Mae), which means "before" or "to" when discussing time. It’s used to indicate how many minutes before the next hour. For instance:
3:55 = 四時五分前 (Yoji go-fun mae)
Meaning: Five minutes to four.
4:56 = 五時四分前 (Goji yon-pun mae)
Meaning: Four minutes to five.
3. Example Conversations in Different Situations
A. Asking the Current Time
A: 今何時ですか。 (Ima nan-ji desu ka?)
(What time is it now?)
B: 今は午後七時十分です。 (Ima wa gogo shichi-ji jū-fun desu.)
(It’s 7:10 PM now.)
B. Asking About Train Departure Time
A: 次の電車は何時に出ますか。 (Tsugi no densha wa nan-ji ni demasu ka?)
(When does the next train leave?)
B: 午前十時十分に出ます。 (Gozen jū-ji jū-pun ni demasu.)
(It leaves at 10:10 AM.)
C. Asking About Event Schedules
A: ライブショーは何時に始まりますか。 (Raibu shō wa nan-ji ni hajimarimasu ka?)
(What time does the live show start?)
B: 午後六時十二分に始まります。 (Gogo roku-ji jū ni-fun ni hajimarimasu.)
(It starts at 6:12 PM.)
D. Asking for the Time in an Emergency
A: 誰か時間を知っていますか。 (Dareka jikan o shitteimasu ka?)
(Does anyone know the time?)
B: ええ、今は五時半です。 (Ee, ima wa go-ji han desu.)
(Yes, it’s 5:30 now.)
4. Additional Tips
Use 午前 (Gozen) for AM and 午後 (Gogo) for PM.
To sound polite, add "すみません (Sumimasen)" before asking, e.g.,
すみません、今何時ですか。 (Sumimasen, ima nan-ji desu ka?)
(Excuse me, what’s the time now?)
Be clear when pronouncing numbers to avoid misunderstandings, especially when discussing schedules.
5. Conclusion
Learning how to ask and tell time in Japanese not only helps you manage schedules but also builds a strong foundation for communication. With these patterns and vocabulary, you can confidently engage in conversations. Practice in real-life situations to refine your skills and make your interactions smoother!