時間 ( = jikan) : Time Related Japanese Part 2

timerelated

Cookie : 「ねえ、もう朝の5時だよ!起きて、起きて!」

= Nee, mou asa no goji dayo! Okite, okite!

= Hey, it’s already five in the morning. Wake up, already!

Hi everyone! I am Cookie.

僕は早起きです。(= Boku wa hayaoki desu. )  I am an early riser.

There is an old saying in Japanese

:u:

早起きは三文の徳 ( = Hayaoki wa sanmon no toku.) = The early bird catches the worm.

I hope I can get extra dog treats as a reward for getting up early. (^з<)

Today’s lesson is for beginners. I will teach you “time” related words and expressions.

 

Maggie sensei once made a lesson on 時の日本語(=Toki no nihongo). In this lesson I will just focus on how to tell time in Japanese.

First “time” in Japanese is

:u:

 !star! 時間 = じかん= jikan

Note: 時間 ( = jikan) also has a meaning of “hour(s)

★Telling time in Japanese

In English, 3:20 is “three twenty”.

You just say two numbers,  “3” = three, and “20”.= twenty.

In Japanese, you have to say 3時20分= sanji nijuppun

:rrrr: 3+ ( = ji) = hour and 20 + ( = pun) = minutes.

 number + number ( + number )

=number – ji + + number-fun/bun  ( + number + byou)

=numberhour + numberminutes + numberseconds

 !star! hour : number + (=ji)

*1:00 = 一時= 1時 = いちじ= ichi-ji

*2:00 = 二時= 2時 = にじ= ni-ji

*3:00 = 三時= 3時 = さんじ= san-ji

*4:00 = 四時= 4時 = よじ= yo-ji

*5:00 = 五時= 5時 = ごじ= go-ji

*6:00 = 六時= 6時 =ろくじ=  roku-ji

*7:00 = 七時= 7時 = しちじ/ななじ= shichi-ji / nanaji

*8:00 = 八時= 8時 = はちじ = hachi-ji

*9:00 = 九時= 9時 =くじ=  ku-ji

*10:00 = 十時= 10時 =じゅうじ= juu-ji

*11:00 =十一時= 11時 = じゅういちじ= juuichi-ji

*12:00 = 十二時= 12時 = じゅうにじ= juuni-ji

Now I think you all know how to count in Japanese but when you tell time, you only use certain way of reading

(Ex. You read 4 as “よん=yon” “=yo” or “=shi” but when you tell time, you read it “=yo”.

:rrrr: 四時= 4時=よじ= yoji = 4:00

And you read 9:00 as (=ku) not “きゅう=kyuu” 

 :rrrr: 九時=9時=くじ= kuji = 9:00

 !star! minutes : number + (fun/pun)

The way you read is ふん (=fun), ぷん (=pun) or っぷん (=ppun)

*1分 =いっぷん=  ippun = one minute

*2分 =にふん= ni-fun = two minutes

*3分 =さんぷん = san-pun = three minutes

*4分 =よんぷん = yon-pun = four minutes

*5分 = ごふん= go-fun = five minutes

*6分 = ろっぷん=  roppun = six minutes

*7分 = ななふん= nana-fun = seven minutes

*8分 = はっぷん= happun = eight minutes

*9分 =きゅうふん=  kyuu-fun = nine minutes

*******
*10分 = じっぷん(じゅっぷん)= jippun ( juppun) = ten minutes

*20分 =にじっぷん(じゅっぷん)=  nijippun( nijuppun0 = twenty minutes

*30分 =さんじっぷん(さんじゅっぷん)=  sanjippun(sanjuppun) =thirty  minutes

*40分 = よんじっぷん(よんじゅっぷん)=yonjippun( yonjuppun)= forty minutes

*50分 =ごじっぷん(ごじゅっぷん) = gojippun (gojuppun)= fifty minutes

*60分 = ろくじっぷん(ろくじゅっぷん)= rokujippun (rokujuppun)= sixty minutes

Ex. 55分 = ごじゅうごふん= gojuugo-fun = fifty minutes

Ex. 41分 =よんじゅういっぷん=  younju ippun = fort-one minutes

Ex. 32分 =さんじゅうにふん=  sanjuuni-fun = thirty-two minutes

 

Note: Again pay attention to the way you read the number. (4時 = yoji but 4分 = yon pun, etc.)
Also can be read ふん ( = fun)、ぷん ( = pun)、っぷん ( = pun)

How to read 10分 correctly :

It is said that the correct way of  reading  10分 is じっぷん(=jippun) and TV or radio announcers are supposed to read it じっぷん(=jippun) as well. But in conversation, many people use じゅっぷん(=juppun)

 !star! second(s): number + =びょう= byou

*1秒 =いちびょう=  ichi-byou = one second

*2秒 =にびょう= ni-byou = two seconds

*3秒 =さんびょう=  san-byou = three seconds

*5秒 = ごびょう= go-byou = five seconds

*6秒 =ろくびょう=  roku-byou = six seconds

*7秒 = ななびょう= nana-byou = seven seconds

*8秒 = はちびょう= hachi-byou = eight seconds

*9秒 = きゅうびょう= kyuu-byou = nine seconds

*10秒 =じゅうびょう=  juu-byou = ten seconds

************************************************************

When you describe the length / duration of time, you add ( = kan)

*10秒間 = じゅうびょうかん=juubyoukan = for 10 seconds / 10 seconds

*3分間 = さんぷんかん=for three minutes/ three minutes

*5時間 =ごじかん= gojikan = for five hours / five hours

Ex.カップヌードルにお湯を入れて3分間待ちます。

= Kappu nuudoru ni oyu wo irete sanpunkan machimasu.

= Add boiling water to a portion of Cup Noodles and  wait for three minutes.

Ex. マレーシアまでの飛行時間は8時間30分です。

= Mareishia made no hikoujikan wa hachijikan sanjuppun desu.

= The flight for Malaysia is 8 hours and 30 minutes.

Ex.2時間3分10秒

= nijikan sanpun juubyou

= two hours three minutes and ten seconds

 !star! How to tell a time

Ex. 今、何時ですか?

= Ima, nanji desu ka?

= What time is it now?
:u:
(casual)

Ex. 今、何時?

= Ima, nanji?

= What time is it now?

Ex. 今、3時です。

= Ima, sanji desu.

= It’s three o’clock now.

Ex. 5時です。

= Goji desu.

= It’s five o’clock

Ex. 6時30分です。

= Rokuji sanjuppun desu.

= It’s six thirty.

Note: We also say 30分 ( = sanjuppun) as ( = han)  “a half”

:rrrr: 6:30 = 6時半 = roku-ji han

*1:05 (= ichiji gofun)

:rrrr: You can also say 1時5分過ぎ ( = ichiji gofun sugi) Five past one.

*2:10 =2時10分 ( = niji juppun)

:rrrr:2時10分過ぎ ( = Niji juppun sugi) Ten past two

*7:50 = 7時50分 =  ( = shichiji gojuppun / nanaji gojuppun)

:rrrr:8時10分前 = hachiji juppun mae = Ten to eight

*2:45 = 2時45分 = niji yonjuugofun

:rrrr:3時15分前 = sanji juugofun mae = a quarter to three

Note: It is pretty common to use 24-hour notation in Japan. (Especially in written form).

Instead of *5:00 PM→you’ll say, 17:00 ( = juunanaji or goji)

Instead of *08:00 PM →you’ll say, 20:00 ( = nijuuji or hachiji)

*午前 = gozen = in the morning, a.m, AM, A.M.

*午後 = gogo = in the afternoon, p.m. PM, P.M.

Ex. 午前8時 = gozen hachiji = 8:00 AM

Ex. 午後6時 = gogo rokuji = 6:00 PM

 !onpu! How to say 12:00 and 24:00/0:00

*12:00 = juuniji or 正午=shougo = noon / 昼の12時 = hiru no juuniji

*00:00 = 零時= reiji /  午前0時= gozen reiji /正子=shoushi (not so common)

/ 夜中の12時 = yonaka no juuniji

 !yflower! Time ( + (=no) )+ noun

* = asa = morning

Ex. 6時= asa no rokuji = six in the morning

* = hiru = daytime/ afternoon

 :rrrr: polite お昼 = ohiru

* = yoru = night/ evening

Ex. 10時= yoru no juuji = ten in the evening

**************

Ex. 10時新幹線に乗った。

= Juuji no shinkansen ni notta.

= I took the ten o’clock (shinkansen) bullet train

Ex.午前11時飛行機

= Gozen juuichiji no hikouki

The 11 a.m. flight

Ex. 9時電車に乗る。

= Kuji no densha ni noru.

= to take the 9 o’clock train.

 

:purple: at = ( = ni)

Ex. 明日の午後5時会議があります。

= Ashita no gogo goji ni kaigi ga arimasu.

= I have a meeting at 5pm tomorrow.

Ex. 夜8時半駅前で待ち合わせしよう。

= Yoru hachiji han ni ekimae de machiawase shiyou.

= Let’s get together at 8:30 in front of the station.

 :qq: When you emphasize the time には ( = niwa)

Ex. 毎朝、6時には、起きます。

= Maiasa, rokuji niwa,  okimasu.

= I get up at six every morning.

Ex. 今日は疲れているから11時には寝たい。

= Kyouwa tsukarete iru kara juuichiji niwa netai.

= I am so tired today that I want to go to bed at (by)  eleven o’clock.

 :jjj: from = から ( = kara)

Ex. 今日の12時からチケットが発売される。

= Kyou no juuniji kara chiketto ga hatsubai sareru.

= They will start to sell tickets from twelve today.

Ex. 「嵐にしやがれ」は何時から始まるの?

= “Arashi ni shiyagare” wa nanji kara hajimaru no?

= What time does it start (the TV show) “Arashi ni shiyagare”?

 :yy: until = まで (迄) ( = made)

Ex. 今朝は11時まで寝ていた。

= Kesa wa juuichiji made nete ita.

= I slept until eleven today.

Ex. あの店は9時から17:00まで開いています。

= Ano mise wa kuji kara goji made aite imasu.

= That store is open from nine to five.

 :n: by = までには ( = madeniwa)

Ex. 明日の3時までには仕事を終わらせないといけない。

= Asu (Ashita) no sanji madeniwa shigoto wo owarasenai to ikenai.

= I have to finish my work by three tomorrow.

 :kkk: around = = goro /   = gurai/ kurai

Ex. 彼はいつも1時にやってきます。

= Kare wa itsumo ichijigoro ni yatte kimasu.

= He always come around one.

Ex. 3時には迎えにきます。

= Sanji gurai niwa mukae ni kimasu.

= I will pick you (or someone) up around three.

 :k: past = 過ぎ= sugi

Ex. 6時過ぎには家にいます。

= Rokuji sugi niwa ie ni imasu.

= I will be home after six.

Ex.もう8時過ぎだ。

= Mou hachiji sugida.

= It is already passed eight.

 :s: before = = mae

Ex. 10時にはそちらに着きます。

= Juuji mae niwa sochira ni tsukimasu.

= I will be there before ten.

!yflower!after  = = go

Ex. 1時間に会いましょう。

=Ichijikan go ni aimashou.

= I will see you in an hour.

 !yflower! just = ちょうど = choudo

Ex. 今、5時ちょうどです。

= Ima, goji choudo desu.

= It’s five o’clock sharp.

 :mm: exactly = きっかり= kikkari

Ex. きっかり4時には伺います。

= Kikkari yoji niwa ukagaimasu.

or

4時きっかりには伺います。

= Yoji kikkari niwa ukagaimasu.

= I will be there 4:00 on the dot.

 :ii: on time, with punctuality = 時間通り= jikan doori

Ex. 電車は時間通りに横浜に着いた。

= Densha wa jikan doori ni Yokohama ni tsuita.

= The train arrived in Yokohama on time.

******************************
!star! Other time related expressions

*to have time

= 時間がある = jikan ga aru

*not to have time

= 時間がない = jikan ga nai

Ex. 今日はあまり時間がないのでまた明日話しましょう。

= Kyou wa amari jikan ga nai node mata ashita hanashimashou.

= I don’t have much time today so let’s talk about it tomorrow.

Ex. 今、時間がありますか?

= Ima, ikan ga arimasu ka?

= Do you have time?

(casual)  :u: 

Ex. 今、時間ある?

= Ima, jikan aru?

= You got time?

Ex. 時間はたっぷりあるのにお金がない。

= Jikan wa tappuri aru noni okane ga nai.

= I have plenty of time but no money.

*to take time = 時間がかかる = jikan ga kakaru

Ex. ハワイから日本まで飛行機で9時間位かかります。

= Hawai kara nihon made hikouki de kujikan gurai kakarimasu.

= It takes nine hours from Hawaii to Japan by airplane.

Ex. 家から学校まで30分かかります。

= Ie kara gakkou made sanjuppun kakarimasu.

= It takes 30 minutes from my house to school.

Ex. 会社から駅までどの位かかりますか?

= Kaisha kara eki made donogurai kakarimasu ka?

= How long does it take to get from your company to the station?

Ex. 家まで歩いて、何分かかる?

= Ie made nanpun kakaru?

= How long does it take to get to your house on foot?

Ex. 大体、10分ぐらいかかります。

= Daitai, juppun gurai kakarimasu.

= It takes about 10 minutes.

Ex.そこまで自転車で行くと何時間かかりますか?

= Sokomade jitensha de iku to nanjikan kakarimasu ka?

= If I go there by bike, how long will it take?

*to pass time = 時間が経つ = jikan ga tatsu

Ex. 時間が経ったら楽になるでしょう。

= Jikan  ga tattara raku ninaru deshou.

= It will pass with time.

 :rrrr: For literal expression, you use = toki = (the concept of) time/ time in general

Ex. 時が経つのは早いもの

= Toki ga tatsu no wa hayai mono.

= Time flies.

Ex. 時は金なり

= Toki wa kane nari.

= Time is money.

maggie-senseiマギー先生より = Maggie Sensei yori= From Maggie Sensei

Cookie先生はいつも早起きだよね。

= Cookie sensei wa itsumo hayaoki dayone.

= Cookie Sensei always gets up early.

でもゆかりがかわいそうだからもう少し寝せてあげてね。

***

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= Demo Yukari ga kawaisou dakara mousukoshi nesete agetene.

= But I feel sorry for Yukari so please let her sleep a little more.



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10 Comments

  1. O|¯|_ 日本語の時間はむずかしいです. Ever since high school telling time in Japanese was the hardest for me, but this lesson actually helped me to better understand it. Thank you!!

    1. @Courtney

      日本語、難しいですか? Don’t give up. :D
      I’m glad to hear this lesson helped you a little to understand how to tell time more.

      1. Japanese isn’t too difficult but between kanji and telling time it is the hardest. But I really love Japanese so I will work hard! :-D

  2. hello maggie-sama.

    At first, In can understand english, but I can’t speak well for this reason meggie-sensei try to understand me, please.

    I’m sory for I asked you in this topic a question this like.

    There are two sentenses below. And I don’t know which one is correct.

    1- Watashi wa Tokyo ga suki.

    2- Watashi wa Tokyo wo suki.

    Can you help me Maggie-sensei?

    1. @Kar

      Hello Kar,
      1- Watashi wa Tokyo ga suki.
      2- Watashi wa Tokyo wo suki.

      “~wo suki” is not wrong but “~ ga suki” is more natural.

  3. こんにちは、マギー先生!

    とても役の立つレッスンありがとうございました!
    「きっかり」「ちょうど」に関して質問があるんですが、”Every day at exactly the same time”はなんと言いますか?例えば “You must take this medicine at exactly the same time every day”.
    あとは、”Exactly ~days” eg. Exactly 10 daysは「きっかり10日間・ちょうど10日間」になりますか?

    1. @Lava

      こんにちは、Lava!
      「きっかり」と「ちょうど」は類語なので同じ様に正確さを表す時に使えます。

      ”Every day at exactly the same time”
      毎日、きっかり同じ時間に
      毎日、ちょうど同じ時間に

      Exactly 10 days

      きっかり10日間
      ちょうど10日間

      違いがあるとしたら「ちょうど」は”丁度いい=ちょうどいい=convenient”という意味があるので使う時に話し手が都合がいいと思う気持ちが入ることがあります。

      ちょうど100円あった (The speaker needs 100 yen so it was perfect・convenient.)
      きっかり100円あった ( just stressing the amount)

      You must call someone exactly at ten o’clock.
      10時ちょうどに電話をしなければなりません。
      10時きっかりに電話をしなければなりません。

      この二つの文章も全く同じ意味なのですが気持ち的にきっかりの方が時間の正確さを強調している様に私には思えます。

      次の文は「ちょうど」を使うこともできますが、「きっかり」の方が自然です。
      “You must take this medicine at exactly the same time every day”.
      毎日、きっかり同じ時間にこの薬を飲まなければいけません。

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