Vocabulary for Telling Time: Hours, Minutes, and Seconds in Japanese
Learning how to express time in Japanese is essential, whether you're studying the language or preparing for a trip. In this guide, we’ll explore how to say hours, minutes, and seconds in Japanese, complete with kanji, romaji, and examples for clarity. Let’s dive in!
Hours (時 - Ji)
To tell the hour, add 時 (ji) after the number. However, some numbers have special readings you should pay attention to.
Examples:
- 1時 (ichi-ji) = 1 o’clock
- 2時 (ni-ji) = 2 o’clock
- 3時 (san-ji) = 3 o’clock
- 4時 (yo-ji) = 4 o’clock (not yon-ji)
- 5時 (go-ji) = 5 o’clock
- 6時 (roku-ji) = 6 o’clock
- 7時 (shichi-ji) = 7 o’clock (not nana-ji)
- 8時 (hachi-ji) = 8 o’clock
- 9時 (ku-ji) = 9 o’clock (not kyuu-ji)
- 10時 (juu-ji) = 10 o’clock
- 11時 (juu-ichi-ji) = 11 o’clock
- 12時 (juu-ni-ji) = 12 o’clock
- What time is it? → 何時 (nan-ji)
💡 Tip: Be cautious with the pronunciation of 4, 7, and 9 o’clock, as they differ from the standard readings of these numbers.
AM and PM: 午前 (Gozen) and 午後 (Gogo)
To distinguish between AM and PM, use 午前 (gozen) for morning times (12:00 AM to 11:59 AM) and 午後 (gogo) for afternoon and evening times (12:00 PM to 11:59 PM).
Examples:
- 午前1時 (gozen ichi-ji) = 1:00 AM
- 午前10時 (gozen juu-ji) = 10:00 AM
- 午後1時 (gogo ichi-ji) = 1:00 PM
- 午後10時 (gogo juu-ji) = 10:00 PM
- Minutes (分 - Fun/Pun)
For minutes, use 分 (fun or pun) after the number. The pronunciation depends on the number: some use fun, while others use pun.
Examples:
- 1分 (ip-pun) = 1 minute
- 2分 (ni-fun) = 2 minutes
- 3分 (san-pun) = 3 minutes
- 4分 (yon-pun) = 4 minutes
- 5分 (go-fun) = 5 minutes
- 6分 (rop-pun) = 6 minutes
- 7分 (nana-fun) = 7 minutes
- 8分 (hap-pun) = 8 minutes
- 9分 (kyuu-fun) = 9 minutes
- 10分 (jup-pun) = 10 minutes
- 15分 (juu-go-fun) = 15 minutes
- 20分 (ni-jup-pun) = 20 minutes
- 30分 (san-jup-pun) = 30 minutes
To ask how many minutes:
何分 (nan-pun) = How many minutes?
💡 Tip: Be mindful of irregular readings like 1, 6, 8, 10, and multiples of 10 (e.g., 20, 30, etc.), as they use pun instead of fun.
Half Past: 半 (Han)
For "half past" the hour, use 半 (han) instead of specifying 30 minutes.
Examples:
- 10時半 (juu-ji han) = 10:30 (half past ten)
- 12時半 (juu-ni-ji han) = 12:30 (half past twelve)
Seconds (秒 - Byou)
To count seconds, add 秒 (byou) after the number. The readings are straightforward, but watch for exceptions like 4 and 9.
Examples:
- 1秒 (ichi-byou) = 1 second
- 2秒 (ni-byou) = 2 seconds
- 3秒 (san-byou) = 3 seconds
- 4秒 (yon-byou) = 4 seconds (not shi-byou)
- 5秒 (go-byou) = 5 seconds
- 6秒 (roku-byou) = 6 seconds
- 7秒 (nana-byou) = 7 seconds (or shichi-byou)
- 8秒 (hachi-byou) = 8 seconds
- 9秒 (kyuu-byou) = 9 seconds (not ku-byou)
- 10秒 (juu-byou) = 10 seconds
- What second? → 何秒 (nan-byou)
💡 Tip: Unlike minutes, seconds follow standard readings except for minor adjustments with 4 and 9.
Final Thoughts
Mastering Japanese time expressions—whether hours, minutes, or seconds—is an essential step in improving your language skills. Whether you're asking for the time, scheduling a meeting, or learning how to say "half past ten," this vocabulary will help you communicate effectively and sound natural. Practice using these terms in real-life situations or during your studies to reinforce your learning!