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Tag: basic japanese time grammar rules
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How to Tell Time in Japanese
How to Ask and Tell Time in Japanese
ใใใซใกใฏ๏ผ(Konnichiwa!) If youโve ever wondered how to ask or tell time in Japanese, youโve come to the right place! Mastering time expressions is essential for everyday conversations, making plans, or simply understanding schedules in Japan. In this guide, weโll dive deep into the vocabulary, grammar, and practice to ensure you ace your time-telling skills.
1. Asking the Time in Japanese
To ask someone what time it is in Japanese, use the following sentence:
ไปใไฝๆใงใใ๏ผ (ใใพใใชใใใงใใ๏ผ / Ima, nanji desu ka?)
Translation: โWhat time is it now?โYou can also modify the sentence to ask about specific events or times. For example:
- ๆ ็ป (ใใใ/eiga) ใฏ ไฝๆใงใใ๏ผ
“What time is the movie?” - ๆใใฏใ (ใใใใฏใ/asagohan) ใฏ ไฝๆใงใใ๏ผ
“What time is breakfast?”
When answering, youโll simply state the time using the format [Hour] + ๆ (ใ/ji) + [Minute] + ๅ (ใตใ/fun). Letโs explore this in more detail below.
2. How to Tell Time in Japanese
Telling time in Japanese is straightforward once you learn the pattern. The structure is:
[Hour] + ๆ (ใ/ji) + [Minute] + ๅ (ใตใ/fun)
Hereโs a breakdown of hours and minutes.
Hours
- 1 o’clock: ใใกใ (ichiji)
- 2 o’clock: ใซใ (niji)
- 3 o’clock: ใใใ (sanji)
โฆand so on up to 12 o’clock.
Minutes
Minutes in Japanese follow this pattern but note some unique pronunciations:
- 1 minute: ใใฃใทใ (ippun)
- 2 minutes: ใซใตใ (nifun)
- 3 minutes: ใใใทใ (sanpun)
- 4 minutes: ใใใทใ (yonpun)
- 5 minutes: ใใตใ (gofun)
- 10 minutes: ใใ ใฃใทใ (juppun)
- 30 minutes: ใใใใ ใฃใทใ (sanjuppun)
AM and PM
Japanese uses ๅๅ (ใใใ/gozen) for AM and ๅๅพ (ใใ/gogo) for PM.
- 3:15 AM โ ใใใ ใใใ ใใ ใใใตใ (gozen sanji juu go fun)
- 7:30 PM โ ใใ ใใกใ ใใใใ ใฃใทใ (gogo shichiji sanjuppun)
3. Essential Time-Related Vocabulary
General Time Words
- ไปๆฅ (ใใใ/kyou): Today
- ๆๆฅ (ใใใ/ashita): Tomorrow
- ๆจๆฅ (ใใฎใ/kinou): Yesterday
- ไป (ใใพ/ima): Now
- ๆ (ใ/ji): Hour
- ๅ (ใตใ/fun): Minute
- ็ง (ใณใใ/byou): Second
Parts of the Day
- ๅๅ (ใใใ/gozen): AM
- ๅๅพ (ใใ/gogo): PM
- ๆ (ใใ/asa): Morning
- ๆผ (ใฒใ/hiru): Afternoon
- ๅคๆน (ใใใใ/yuugata): Evening
- ๅค (ใใ/yoru): Night
Duration Words
- ๏ฝๆ้ (ใใใ/jikan): For ~ hours
- Example: 2ๆ้ (ใซใใใ/nijikan): For 2 hours
- ๏ฝๅ้ (ใตใใใ/funkan): For ~ minutes
- Example: 30ๅ้ (ใใใใ ใฃใทใใใ/sanjuppunkan): For 30 minutes
4. Practice Questions
Letโs see how much youโve learned! Try translating these times into Japanese or English. Answers are provided below.
Questions
- What is 10:45 PM in Japanese?
- Translate ใใ ใฏใกใ ใใตใ into English.
- How do you say โ2:30 AMโ in Japanese?
- If someone says ใใพ ใใ ใใ ใฃใทใ ใงใ, what time is it?
5. Answers
- ใใ ใใ ใใ ใใใใ ใใใตใ (gogo juuji yonjuugo fun)
- 8:05 PM
- ใใใ ใซใ ใใใใ ใฃใทใ (gozen niji sanjuppun)
- 4:10
6. Tips for Mastering Japanese Time Expressions
- Practice daily: Look at the clock and say the time aloud in Japanese.
- Listen to native speakers: Watch Japanese TV shows or YouTube videos to hear time-related expressions in real-life contexts.
- Flashcards: Create flashcards for hours, minutes, and time-specific vocabulary.
- Roleplay: Practice asking and answering time-related questions with a friend or language partner.
Conclusion
Now youโre ready to confidently ask and tell time in Japanese! Time expressions are a key part of everyday conversation, and with practice, youโll become fluent in no time. If you found this guide helpful, subscribe to my blog or check out my YouTube channel for more Japanese lessons. ใพใใญ๏ผ(Matane!)
If you enjoyed this lesson, be sure to check out more posts like this on my blog atย My Language Classes. Donโt forget toย subscribeย myย YouTube channelย and follow me onย Instagramย for the latest language learning tips and lessons. Leave a comment below to share your thoughts, or ask any questions you have about nouns.
Happy learning! ๐
๐ Continue Learning Japanese
- ๆ ็ป (ใใใ/eiga) ใฏ ไฝๆใงใใ๏ผ