Time expressions in Japanese are words and phrases used to talk about when something happens, how often it happens, or how long it lasts. They are an essential part of everyday communication because almost every conversation involves discussing time, whether you are talking about your schedule, making plans, describing past events, or discussing future activities.
Japanese time expressions cover a wide range of topics. They include clock times such as “3 o’clock” and “7:30,” dates such as birthdays and holidays, days of the week, months, years, frequency expressions such as “always” and “sometimes,” duration expressions such as “for two hours,” and relative time expressions such as “today,” “tomorrow,” and “last week.”
You will encounter Japanese time expressions in almost every situation:
→ Talking about school schedules
→ Discussing work meetings
→ Making travel plans
→ Arranging appointments
→ Describing daily routines
→ Explaining past experiences
→ Talking about future goals
One of the biggest challenges for beginners is learning when to use the particle に with time expressions. Some expressions require に, while others do not. For example:
→ ７時に起きます。
(Shichi-ji ni okimasu.)
“I wake up at 7 o’clock.”
→ 今日勉強します。
(Kyō benkyō shimasu.)
“I will study today.”
In the first sentence, に is required because ７時 refers to a specific point in time. In the second sentence, 今日 does not use に because it is a relative time expression. Understanding this difference is one of the most important parts of mastering Japanese time expressions.
The good news is that Japanese follows clear patterns. Once you understand the main categories of time expressions and how they work with particles and verb tenses, talking about time becomes much easier.
Quick Overview of Japanese Time Expressions
| Type | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Clock Time | ３時 (san-ji) | 3 o’clock |
| Date | ５月１０日 (go-gatsu tōka) | May 10th |
| Day of the Week | 月曜日 (getsuyōbi) | Monday |
| Month | ８月 (hachi-gatsu) | August |
| Year | ２０２５年 (ni-sen ni-jū go-nen) | Year 2025 |
| Relative Time | 今日 (kyō) | Today |
| Relative Time | 明日 (ashita) | Tomorrow |
| Frequency | いつも (itsumo) | Always |
| Frequency | ときどき (tokidoki) | Sometimes |
| Duration | ２時間 (ni-jikan) | Two hours |
| Time Range | ９時から５時まで (ku-ji kara go-ji made) | From 9 to 5 |
| Approximate Time | ７時ごろ (shichi-ji goro) | Around 7 o’clock |
By the end of this guide, you will understand how Japanese speakers express exact times, dates, durations, frequencies, and relative time, as well as when to use important grammar elements such as に, から, まで, ごろ, and ころ.
What Are Time Expressions in Japanese?
Time expressions in Japanese are words, phrases, and grammatical structures used to indicate when an action happens, how often it happens, how long it lasts, or the relationship between one time period and another. They help speakers place events in time and are essential for building clear and natural Japanese sentences.
Whether you are talking about today’s plans, tomorrow’s schedule, last year’s trip, or a meeting at 3 o’clock, you will use time expressions. They appear constantly in everyday conversations, written Japanese, news reports, business communication, and JLPT exams.
Definition of Time Expressions
A time expression is any word or phrase that provides information about time.
Japanese time expressions can indicate:
→ A specific point in time
→ A date
→ A day of the week
→ A month
→ A year
→ A frequency
→ A duration
→ A time range
→ A relative point in time
Examples:
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 今 | ima | now |
| 今日 | kyō | today |
| 明日 | ashita | tomorrow |
| ３時 | san-ji | 3 o’clock |
| 月曜日 | getsuyōbi | Monday |
| ５月 | go-gatsu | May |
| 毎日 | mainichi | every day |
| ２時間 | ni-jikan | two hours |
Time expressions often appear near the beginning of a sentence, although Japanese word order allows some flexibility.
Examples:
→ 今日、日本語を勉強します。
(Kyō, Nihongo o benkyō shimasu.)
“I will study Japanese today.”
→ 明日、友達に会います。
(Ashita, tomodachi ni aimasu.)
“I will meet a friend tomorrow.”
→ ７時に起きます。
(Shichi-ji ni okimasu.)
“I wake up at 7 o’clock.”
In each sentence, the time expression tells us when the action takes place.
Why Time Expressions Matter in Japanese
Time expressions are among the most frequently used vocabulary items in Japanese.
Without them, it would be difficult to:
→ Talk about schedules
→ Arrange meetings
→ Discuss daily routines
→ Describe past experiences
→ Explain future plans
→ Understand announcements
→ Read timetables
→ Follow conversations
Consider the difference between these two sentences:
→ 日本語を勉強します。
(Nihongo o benkyō shimasu.)
“I study Japanese.”
→ 毎日、日本語を勉強します。
(Mainichi, Nihongo o benkyō shimasu.)
“I study Japanese every day.”
The second sentence provides much more information because the time expression 毎日 specifies frequency.
Another example:
→ 東京へ行きます。
(Tōkyō e ikimasu.)
“I will go to Tokyo.”
→ 来月、東京へ行きます。
(Raigetsu, Tōkyō e ikimasu.)
“I will go to Tokyo next month.”
The time expression 来月 tells us exactly when the action will happen.
Time expressions are also important because they often interact with Japanese grammar patterns such as:
→ に
→ から
→ まで
→ ごろ
→ ころ
→ 前
→ 後
Understanding these relationships is essential for producing natural Japanese.
Types of Time Expressions
Japanese time expressions can be divided into several major categories. Each category serves a different function and appears frequently in daily communication.
Exact Time Expressions
These indicate a specific point in time.
Examples:
→ ６時
(Roku-ji)
“6 o’clock”
→ ９時半
(Ku-ji han)
“9:30”
→ １２月２５日
(Jūni-gatsu nijūgo-nichi)
“December 25th”
Examples in sentences:
→ ６時に起きます。
(Roku-ji ni okimasu.)
“I wake up at 6 o’clock.”
→ １２月２５日に旅行します。
(Jūni-gatsu nijūgo-nichi ni ryokō shimasu.)
“I will travel on December 25th.”
Relative Time Expressions
These describe time relative to the present moment.
Examples:
→ 今日 (today)
→ 明日 (tomorrow)
→ 昨日 (yesterday)
→ 今週 (this week)
→ 来月 (next month)
Examples in sentences:
→ 今日、忙しいです。
(Kyō, isogashii desu.)
“I am busy today.”
→ 明日、学校へ行きます。
(Ashita, gakkō e ikimasu.)
“I will go to school tomorrow.”
Frequency Expressions
These indicate how often something happens.
Examples:
→ いつも (always)
→ よく (often)
→ ときどき (sometimes)
→ あまり～ない (not often)
→ 全然～ない (never)
Examples in sentences:
→ いつも日本語を勉強します。
(Itsumo Nihongo o benkyō shimasu.)
“I always study Japanese.”
→ ときどき映画を見ます。
(Tokidoki eiga o mimasu.)
“I sometimes watch movies.”
Duration Expressions
These indicate how long an action lasts.
Examples:
→ １時間 (one hour)
→ ２日 (two days)
→ ３週間 (three weeks)
→ ５年 (five years)
Examples in sentences:
→ ２時間勉強しました。
(Ni-jikan benkyō shimashita.)
“I studied for two hours.”
→ 日本に３年間住みました。
(Nihon ni san-nenkan sumimashita.)
“I lived in Japan for three years.”
Time Range Expressions
These indicate a starting point and ending point.
Examples:
→ ９時から５時まで
(from 9 o’clock to 5 o’clock)
→ 月曜日から金曜日まで
(from Monday to Friday)
Examples in sentences:
→ ９時から５時まで働きます。
(Ku-ji kara go-ji made hatarakimasu.)
“I work from 9 to 5.”
→ 月曜日から金曜日まで学校があります。
(Getsuyōbi kara kin’yōbi made gakkō ga arimasu.)
“There is school from Monday to Friday.”
Summary Table
| Category | Example | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Exact Time | ３時 | Specifies a precise time |
| Date | ５月１０日 | Specifies a calendar date |
| Day of Week | 月曜日 | Identifies a day |
| Month | ８月 | Identifies a month |
| Year | ２０２５年 | Identifies a year |
| Relative Time | 今日 | Refers to time relative to now |
| Frequency | いつも | Shows how often something happens |
| Duration | ２時間 | Shows how long something lasts |
| Time Range | ９時から５時まで | Shows a start and end time |
| Approximate Time | ７時ごろ | Shows an approximate time |
Japanese time expressions form the foundation of everyday communication. They allow speakers to discuss schedules, routines, plans, events, and experiences with precision. Understanding the different categories of time expressions is the first step toward mastering Japanese conversations involving time.
Basic Time Vocabulary in Japanese
Before learning how to tell time, talk about dates, or use time-related grammar, it is important to build a strong foundation of basic time vocabulary. These words appear constantly in everyday Japanese and are among the first expressions that beginners encounter.
Japanese time vocabulary includes words for parts of the day, longer periods such as weeks and years, and common expressions that refer to the present, past, and future.
Morning, Afternoon and Night
Japanese divides the day into several commonly used periods. These words are essential for greetings, schedules, and daily conversations.
Examples:
→ おはようございます。
(Ohayō gozaimasu.)
“Good morning.”
→ 午後に勉強します。
(Gogo ni benkyō shimasu.)
“I study in the afternoon.”
→ 夜に映画を見ます。
(Yoru ni eiga o mimasu.)
“I watch movies at night.”
Some of the most important time-of-day words include:
→ 朝 (morning)
→ 午前 (A.M. / morning)
→ 昼 (daytime / noon)
→ 午後 (P.M. / afternoon)
→ 夕方 (evening)
→ 夜 (night)
Days, Weeks, Months and Years
Japanese uses specific vocabulary to describe larger periods of time.
Examples:
→ 今週
(Konshū)
“This week”
→ 来月
(Raigetsu)
“Next month”
→ 去年
(Kyonen)
“Last year”
These words are extremely common because they allow speakers to discuss plans, schedules, and events relative to the present.
Examples:
→ 来週、旅行します。
(Raishū, ryokō shimasu.)
“I will travel next week.”
→ 去年、日本へ行きました。
(Kyonen, Nihon e ikimashita.)
“I went to Japan last year.”
Common Time Words
In addition to specific dates and clock times, Japanese uses many everyday words to describe when something happens.
Examples:
→ 今 (now)
→ 今日 (today)
→ 明日 (tomorrow)
→ 昨日 (yesterday)
→ いつも (always)
→ ときどき (sometimes)
These expressions help speakers discuss routines, habits, and events in relation to time.
Examples:
→ 今、忙しいです。
(Ima, isogashii desu.)
“I am busy now.”
→ 今日、日本語を勉強します。
(Kyō, Nihongo o benkyō shimasu.)
“I will study Japanese today.”
→ ときどき寿司を食べます。
(Tokidoki sushi o tabemasu.)
“I sometimes eat sushi.”
Essential Japanese Time Vocabulary
| Japanese | Hiragana | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 今 | いま | ima | now |
| 今日 | きょう | kyō | today |
| 明日 | あした | ashita | tomorrow |
| 昨日 | きのう | kinō | yesterday |
| 朝 | あさ | asa | morning |
| 午前 | ごぜん | gozen | A.M. / morning |
| 昼 | ひる | hiru | noon / daytime |
| 午後 | ごご | gogo | P.M. / afternoon |
| 夕方 | ゆうがた | yūgata | evening |
| 夜 | よる | yoru | night |
| 今週 | こんしゅう | konshū | this week |
| 来週 | らいしゅう | raishū | next week |
| 先週 | せんしゅう | senshū | last week |
| 今月 | こんげつ | kongetsu | this month |
| 来月 | らいげつ | raigetsu | next month |
| 先月 | せんげつ | sengetsu | last month |
| 今年 | ことし | kotoshi | this year |
| 来年 | らいねん | rainen | next year |
| 去年 | きょねん | kyonen | last year |
| 毎日 | まいにち | mainichi | every day |
| 毎週 | まいしゅう | maishū | every week |
| 毎月 | まいつき | maitsuki | every month |
| 毎年 | まいとし | maitoshi | every year |
| いつも | いつも | itsumo | always |
| よく | よく | yoku | often |
| ときどき | ときどき | tokidoki | sometimes |
| 最近 | さいきん | saikin | recently |
| 将来 | しょうらい | shōrai | in the future |
| 昔 | むかし | mukashi | long ago / in the past |
| たった今 | たったいま | tatta ima | just now |
These words form the foundation of Japanese time-related vocabulary and appear constantly in daily conversations, JLPT exams, textbooks, and real-life communication. Learning them early makes it much easier to understand dates, schedules, frequency expressions, and more advanced time-related grammar patterns.
Relative Time Expressions in Japanese
Relative time expressions are words and phrases that describe time in relation to the present moment. Instead of referring to an exact date or clock time, they indicate whether something happens before, after, or during the current period.
These expressions are among the most frequently used words in everyday Japanese because people constantly talk about today, tomorrow, next week, last month, and next year.
Examples:
→ 今日、日本語を勉強します。
(Kyō, Nihongo o benkyō shimasu.)
“I will study Japanese today.”
→ 明日、友達に会います。
(Ashita, tomodachi ni aimasu.)
“I will meet a friend tomorrow.”
→ 来週、旅行します。
(Raishū, ryokō shimasu.)
“I will travel next week.”
One of the most important grammar rules for beginners is that relative time expressions usually do not use the particle に.
Examples:
→ 今日勉強します。 ✅
(Kyō benkyō shimasu.)
“I will study today.”
→ 明日学校へ行きます。 ✅
(Ashita gakkō e ikimasu.)
“I will go to school tomorrow.”
Incorrect:
→ 今日に勉強します。 ❌
→ 明日に学校へ行きます。 ❌
Because these expressions are relative to the present moment, Japanese normally does not require に.
Today, Tomorrow and Yesterday
These are the most commonly used relative time expressions in Japanese.
Examples:
→ 今日 (today)
→ 明日 (tomorrow)
→ 昨日 (yesterday)
Additional useful expressions:
→ おととい (the day before yesterday)
→ あさって (the day after tomorrow)
Examples in sentences:
→ 今日は忙しいです。
(Kyō wa isogashii desu.)
“I am busy today.”
→ 明日テストがあります。
(Ashita tesuto ga arimasu.)
“There is a test tomorrow.”
→ 昨日映画を見ました。
(Kinō eiga o mimashita.)
“I watched a movie yesterday.”
→ おととい東京へ行きました。
(Ototoi Tōkyō e ikimashita.)
“I went to Tokyo the day before yesterday.”
→ あさって友達と会います。
(Asatte tomodachi to aimasu.)
“I will meet a friend the day after tomorrow.”
This Week, Next Week and Last Week
Japanese uses consistent patterns for expressing weeks relative to the present.
Examples:
→ 今週 (this week)
→ 来週 (next week)
→ 先週 (last week)
Examples in sentences:
→ 今週は忙しいです。
(Konshū wa isogashii desu.)
“I am busy this week.”
→ 来週旅行します。
(Raishū ryokō shimasu.)
“I will travel next week.”
→ 先週京都へ行きました。
(Senshū Kyōto e ikimashita.)
“I went to Kyoto last week.”
Additional examples:
→ 今週試験があります。
(Konshū shiken ga arimasu.)
“There is an exam this week.”
→ 来週新しい仕事を始めます。
(Raishū atarashii shigoto o hajimemasu.)
“I will start a new job next week.”
This Month, Next Month and Last Month
These expressions are used to discuss events within monthly periods.
Examples:
→ 今月 (this month)
→ 来月 (next month)
→ 先月 (last month)
Examples in sentences:
→ 今月は忙しいです。
(Kongetsu wa isogashii desu.)
“I am busy this month.”
→ 来月日本へ行きます。
(Raigetsu Nihon e ikimasu.)
“I will go to Japan next month.”
→ 先月新しい本を買いました。
(Sengetsu atarashii hon o kaimashita.)
“I bought a new book last month.”
Additional examples:
→ 今月たくさん勉強します。
(Kongetsu takusan benkyō shimasu.)
“I will study a lot this month.”
→ 来月引っ越します。
(Raigetsu hikkoshimasu.)
“I will move next month.”
This Year, Next Year and Last Year
These expressions are extremely common in conversations about goals, achievements, and life events.
Examples:
→ 今年 (this year)
→ 来年 (next year)
→ 去年 (last year)
Examples in sentences:
→ 今年日本語を勉強しています。
(Kotoshi Nihongo o benkyō shiteimasu.)
“I am studying Japanese this year.”
→ 来年日本へ行きたいです。
(Rainen Nihon e ikitai desu.)
“I want to go to Japan next year.”
→ 去年大学を卒業しました。
(Kyonen daigaku o sotsugyō shimashita.)
“I graduated from university last year.”
Additional examples:
→ 今年は忙しい年です。
(Kotoshi wa isogashii toshi desu.)
“This is a busy year.”
→ 来年新しい仕事を始めます。
(Rainen atarashii shigoto o hajimemasu.)
“I will start a new job next year.”
Large Table of Relative Time Expressions
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 今 | ima | now |
| 今日 | kyō | today |
| 明日 | ashita | tomorrow |
| 昨日 | kinō | yesterday |
| おととい | ototoi | the day before yesterday |
| あさって | asatte | the day after tomorrow |
| 今朝 | kesa | this morning |
| 今晩 | konban | tonight |
| 今週 | konshū | this week |
| 来週 | raishū | next week |
| 先週 | senshū | last week |
| 今月 | kongetsu | this month |
| 来月 | raigetsu | next month |
| 先月 | sengetsu | last month |
| 今年 | kotoshi | this year |
| 来年 | rainen | next year |
| 去年 | kyonen | last year |
| 最近 | saikin | recently |
| このごろ | kono goro | these days |
| 将来 | shōrai | in the future |
| 昔 | mukashi | long ago |
| その後 | sono ato | after that |
| その前 | sono mae | before that |
| 今回 | konkai | this time |
| 次回 | jikai | next time |
Relative Time Expressions and the Particle に
One of the most important rules in Japanese grammar is that relative time expressions generally do not require the particle に.
Examples:
| Expression | に Needed? | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 今日 | No | 今日勉強します。 |
| 明日 | No | 明日学校へ行きます。 |
| 昨日 | No | 昨日映画を見ました。 |
| 今週 | No | 今週忙しいです。 |
| 来週 | No | 来週旅行します。 |
| 先週 | No | 先週京都へ行きました。 |
| 今月 | No | 今月働きます。 |
| 来月 | No | 来月引っ越します。 |
| 先月 | No | 先月本を買いました。 |
| 今年 | No | 今年勉強しています。 |
| 来年 | No | 来年日本へ行きます。 |
| 去年 | No | 去年卒業しました。 |
Correct:
→ 今日勉強します。
“I will study today.”
→ 来週旅行します。
“I will travel next week.”
→ 去年日本へ行きました。
“I went to Japan last year.”
Incorrect:
→ 今日に勉強します。 ❌
→ 来週に旅行します。 ❌
→ 去年に日本へ行きました。 ❌
As a general rule, relative time expressions already contain a time reference relative to the present moment, so Japanese usually does not require the particle に with them.
Exact Time Expressions in Japanese
Exact time expressions refer to specific points in time such as clock times, dates, and scheduled events. Unlike relative time expressions such as 今日 (today) or 来週 (next week), exact time expressions identify a precise moment when an action occurs.
In Japanese, exact times are commonly used with the particle に because they refer to a specific point in time.
Examples:
→ ７時に起きます。
(Shichi-ji ni okimasu.)
“I wake up at 7 o’clock.”
→ ３時に会議があります。
(San-ji ni kaigi ga arimasu.)
“There is a meeting at 3 o’clock.”
→ １０時に寝ます。
(Jū-ji ni nemasu.)
“I go to bed at 10 o’clock.”
Understanding how Japanese expresses hours, minutes, and seconds is essential for everyday conversations, schedules, transportation, appointments, and JLPT exams.
Telling the Time
Japanese tells time using a straightforward structure.
Basic pattern:
→ Hour + 時 (じ)
Examples:
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| １時 | ichi-ji | 1:00 |
| ２時 | ni-ji | 2:00 |
| ３時 | san-ji | 3:00 |
| ４時 | yo-ji | 4:00 |
| ５時 | go-ji | 5:00 |
| ６時 | roku-ji | 6:00 |
| ７時 | shichi-ji | 7:00 |
| ８時 | hachi-ji | 8:00 |
| ９時 | ku-ji | 9:00 |
| １０時 | jū-ji | 10:00 |
| １１時 | jūichi-ji | 11:00 |
| １２時 | jūni-ji | 12:00 |
Examples in sentences:
→ １時に昼ご飯を食べます。
(Ichi-ji ni hirugohan o tabemasu.)
“I eat lunch at 1:00.”
→ ７時に起きます。
(Shichi-ji ni okimasu.)
“I wake up at 7:00.”
→ １１時に寝ます。
(Jūichi-ji ni nemasu.)
“I go to bed at 11:00.”
Hours
The Japanese counter 時 (じ) is used to express hours.
Some hour readings are irregular and must be memorized.
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| ５時 | go-ji | 5 o’clock |
| ６時 | roku-ji | 6 o’clock |
| ７時 | shichi-ji | 7 o’clock |
| ８時 | hachi-ji | 8 o’clock |
| ９時 | ku-ji | 9 o’clock |
| １０時 | jū-ji | 10 o’clock |
| １１時 | jūichi-ji | 11 o’clock |
| １２時 | jūni-ji | 12 o’clock |
Notice these irregular readings:
→ ４時 = yo-ji
→ ７時 = shichi-ji
→ ９時 = ku-ji
Examples:
→ 会議は９時に始まります。
(Kaigi wa ku-ji ni hajimarimasu.)
“The meeting starts at 9 o’clock.”
→ 学校は８時に始まります。
(Gakkō wa hachi-ji ni hajimarimasu.)
“School starts at 8 o’clock.”
Minutes
Minutes are expressed using the counter 分 (ふん / ぷん).
Several readings are irregular because of pronunciation changes.
Common minute readings:
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| １分 | ippun | 1 minute |
| ５分 | go-fun | 5 minutes |
| １０分 | juppun | 10 minutes |
| １５分 | jūgo-fun | 15 minutes |
| ２０分 | nijuppun | 20 minutes |
| ３０分 | sanjuppun | 30 minutes |
| ４５分 | yonjūgo-fun | 45 minutes |
| ５０分 | gojūppun | 50 minutes |
Half past the hour uses 半 (はん).
Examples:
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| ２時半 | ni-ji han | 2:30 |
| ６時半 | roku-ji han | 6:30 |
| ９時半 | ku-ji han | 9:30 |
Examples in sentences:
→ ２時半に会いましょう。
(Ni-ji han ni aimashō.)
“Let’s meet at 2:30.”
→ 電車は５時４５分に出ます。
(Densha wa go-ji yonjūgo-fun ni demasu.)
“The train leaves at 5:45.”
→ 授業は８時１５分に始まります。
(Jugyō wa hachi-ji jūgo-fun ni hajimarimasu.)
“The class starts at 8:15.”
Seconds
Seconds are expressed using 秒 (びょう).
The reading is very regular compared with minutes.
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| １秒 | ichi-byō | 1 second |
| ２秒 | ni-byō | 2 seconds |
| ５秒 | go-byō | 5 seconds |
| １０秒 | jū-byō | 10 seconds |
| ３０秒 | sanjū-byō | 30 seconds |
| ６０秒 | rokujū-byō | 60 seconds |
Examples:
→ １０秒待ってください。
(Jū-byō matte kudasai.)
“Please wait 10 seconds.”
→ ３０秒で終わりました。
(Sanjū-byō de owarimashita.)
“It finished in 30 seconds.”
Common Exact Time Examples
1:00
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| １時 | ichi-ji | 1:00 |
Example:
→ １時に昼ご飯を食べます。
(Ichi-ji ni hirugohan o tabemasu.)
“I eat lunch at 1:00.”
2:30
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| ２時半 | ni-ji han | 2:30 |
Example:
→ ２時半に会議があります。
(Ni-ji han ni kaigi ga arimasu.)
“There is a meeting at 2:30.”
5:45
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| ５時４５分 | go-ji yonjūgo-fun | 5:45 |
Example:
→ 電車は５時４５分に出ます。
(Densha wa go-ji yonjūgo-fun ni demasu.)
“The train departs at 5:45.”
11:15
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| １１時１５分 | jūichi-ji jūgo-fun | 11:15 |
Example:
→ 授業は１１時１５分に終わります。
(Jugyō wa jūichi-ji jūgo-fun ni owarimasu.)
“The class ends at 11:15.”
Exact Time Expressions and the Particle に
Unlike most relative time expressions, exact clock times usually require the particle に.
Examples:
→ ７時に起きます。
“I wake up at 7:00.”
→ ３時に会います。
“I will meet someone at 3:00.”
→ １１時１５分に授業が終わります。
“The class ends at 11:15.”
Table:
| Time Expression | に Needed? |
|---|---|
| ７時 | Yes |
| ３時３０分 | Yes |
| １１時１５分 | Yes |
| 今日 | No |
| 明日 | No |
| 来週 | No |
This distinction between exact and relative time expressions is one of the most important grammar rules in Japanese time-related expressions.
How to Tell Time in Japanese
Being able to ask for and tell the time is one of the most practical Japanese skills. Whether you are checking a train schedule, arranging a meeting, attending a class, or asking for directions, you will frequently need to discuss exact times.
Japanese uses a straightforward system based on:
→ Hours (時)
→ Minutes (分)
→ Seconds (秒)
→ A.M. (午前)
→ P.M. (午後)
Most exact times are followed by the particle に when used in sentences because they refer to specific points in time.
Examples:
→ ７時に起きます。
(Shichi-ji ni okimasu.)
“I wake up at 7 o’clock.”
→ ９時に仕事を始めます。
(Ku-ji ni shigoto o hajimemasu.)
“I start work at 9 o’clock.”
Asking the Time
The most common way to ask for the time in Japanese is:
→ 今何時ですか。
(Ima nan-ji desu ka.)
“What time is it now?”
This expression is used in both casual and formal situations.
Examples:
Conversation 1
A: 今何時ですか。
(Ima nan-ji desu ka.)
“What time is it now?”
B: ３時です。
(San-ji desu.)
“It’s 3 o’clock.”
Conversation 2
A: 今何時ですか。
(Ima nan-ji desu ka.)
“What time is it now?”
B: ７時半です。
(Shichi-ji han desu.)
“It’s 7:30.”
Useful question expressions:
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 今何時ですか。 | ima nan-ji desu ka | What time is it now? |
| 何時ですか。 | nan-ji desu ka | What time is it? |
| 会議は何時ですか。 | kaigi wa nan-ji desu ka | What time is the meeting? |
| 電車は何時ですか。 | densha wa nan-ji desu ka | What time is the train? |
| 授業は何時に始まりますか。 | jugyō wa nan-ji ni hajimarimasu ka | What time does class start? |
Examples:
→ 会議は何時ですか。
(Kaigi wa nan-ji desu ka.)
“What time is the meeting?”
→ 授業は何時に始まりますか。
(Jugyō wa nan-ji ni hajimarimasu ka.)
“What time does class start?”
Saying the Time
When answering, Japanese follows a simple pattern.
Basic structure:
→ Hour + 時です
Examples:
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| １時です。 | ichi-ji desu | It is 1:00. |
| ３時です。 | san-ji desu | It is 3:00. |
| ７時です。 | shichi-ji desu | It is 7:00. |
| ９時です。 | ku-ji desu | It is 9:00. |
| １１時です。 | jūichi-ji desu | It is 11:00. |
Examples:
→ 今は５時です。
(Ima wa go-ji desu.)
“It is 5 o’clock now.”
→ 今は９時です。
(Ima wa ku-ji desu.)
“It is 9 o’clock now.”
Expressing Half Past the Hour
Japanese uses 半 (はん) to mean “half.”
Pattern:
→ Hour + 半
Examples:
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| １時半 | ichi-ji han | 1:30 |
| ２時半 | ni-ji han | 2:30 |
| ７時半 | shichi-ji han | 7:30 |
| ９時半 | ku-ji han | 9:30 |
Examples:
→ 今は２時半です。
(Ima wa ni-ji han desu.)
“It is 2:30.”
→ 電車は７時半に出ます。
(Densha wa shichi-ji han ni demasu.)
“The train leaves at 7:30.”
Expressing Exact Minutes
Pattern:
→ Hour + 時 + Minutes + 分
Examples:
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| ５時１５分 | go-ji jūgo-fun | 5:15 |
| ８時２０分 | hachi-ji nijuppun | 8:20 |
| １１時１５分 | jūichi-ji jūgo-fun | 11:15 |
| ５時４５分 | go-ji yonjūgo-fun | 5:45 |
Examples:
→ 今は１１時１５分です。
(Ima wa jūichi-ji jūgo-fun desu.)
“It is 11:15.”
→ 電車は５時４５分に出ます。
(Densha wa go-ji yonjūgo-fun ni demasu.)
“The train leaves at 5:45.”
AM and PM
Japanese distinguishes between A.M. and P.M. using two important words:
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 午前 | gozen | A.M. |
| 午後 | gogo | P.M. |
These words appear before the time.
Examples:
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 午前７時 | gozen shichi-ji | 7:00 A.M. |
| 午前９時 | gozen ku-ji | 9:00 A.M. |
| 午後１時 | gogo ichi-ji | 1:00 P.M. |
| 午後３時 | gogo san-ji | 3:00 P.M. |
| 午後８時 | gogo hachi-ji | 8:00 P.M. |
Examples:
→ 午前７時に起きます。
(Gozen shichi-ji ni okimasu.)
“I wake up at 7:00 A.M.”
→ 午後３時に会議があります。
(Gogo san-ji ni kaigi ga arimasu.)
“There is a meeting at 3:00 P.M.”
→ 午後８時に帰ります。
(Gogo hachi-ji ni kaerimasu.)
“I return home at 8:00 P.M.”
Useful Time Expressions
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 今 | ima | now |
| 今何時ですか。 | ima nan-ji desu ka | What time is it now? |
| 何時ですか。 | nan-ji desu ka | What time is it? |
| 時 | ji | hour / o’clock |
| 分 | fun / pun | minute |
| 秒 | byō | second |
| 半 | han | half |
| 午前 | gozen | A.M. |
| 午後 | gogo | P.M. |
Real-Life Conversations
Asking for the Time
A: 今何時ですか。
(Ima nan-ji desu ka.)
“What time is it now?”
B: ５時です。
(Go-ji desu.)
“It’s 5 o’clock.”
Meeting a Friend
A: 何時に会いますか。
(Nan-ji ni aimasu ka.)
“What time shall we meet?”
B: ２時半に会いましょう。
(Ni-ji han ni aimashō.)
“Let’s meet at 2:30.”
Asking About Class
A: 授業は何時に始まりますか。
(Jugyō wa nan-ji ni hajimarimasu ka.)
“What time does class start?”
B: 午前９時に始まります。
(Gozen ku-ji ni hajimarimasu.)
“It starts at 9:00 A.M.”
Common Time Examples
| Time | Japanese | Romaji |
|---|---|---|
| 1:00 | １時 | ichi-ji |
| 2:30 | ２時半 | ni-ji han |
| 5:45 | ５時４５分 | go-ji yonjūgo-fun |
| 11:15 | １１時１５分 | jūichi-ji jūgo-fun |
| 7:00 A.M. | 午前７時 | gozen shichi-ji |
| 3:00 P.M. | 午後３時 | gogo san-ji |
| 8:30 P.M. | 午後８時半 | gogo hachi-ji han |
By mastering these patterns, you can comfortably ask for the time, understand schedules, discuss appointments, and communicate about daily activities in natural Japanese.
Days of the Week in Japanese
The days of the week are among the most important time expressions in Japanese. They are used when discussing schedules, appointments, classes, work, travel plans, and daily activities.
Japanese day names are based on elements of nature and celestial bodies. Each day ends with the word 曜日 (ようび, yōbi), which means “day of the week.”
Learning the days of the week is essential because they are commonly used with the particle に when referring to a specific day.
Examples:
→ 月曜日に学校へ行きます。
(Getsuyōbi ni gakkō e ikimasu.)
“I go to school on Monday.”
→ 金曜日に友達と会います。
(Kin’yōbi ni tomodachi to aimasu.)
“I will meet my friend on Friday.”
Days of the Week Table
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 月曜日 | getsuyōbi | Monday |
| 火曜日 | kayōbi | Tuesday |
| 水曜日 | suiyōbi | Wednesday |
| 木曜日 | mokuyōbi | Thursday |
| 金曜日 | kin’yōbi | Friday |
| 土曜日 | doyōbi | Saturday |
| 日曜日 | nichiyōbi | Sunday |
Meaning Behind the Days
Although not necessary for everyday communication, understanding the origin of the day names can make them easier to remember.
| Japanese | Literal Meaning |
|---|---|
| 月曜日 | Moon Day |
| 火曜日 | Fire Day |
| 水曜日 | Water Day |
| 木曜日 | Wood Day |
| 金曜日 | Gold/Metal Day |
| 土曜日 | Earth Day |
| 日曜日 | Sun Day |
This system is similar to the origins of weekday names in several other languages.
Monday (月曜日)
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 月曜日 | getsuyōbi | Monday |
Examples:
→ 月曜日に仕事があります。
(Getsuyōbi ni shigoto ga arimasu.)
“I have work on Monday.”
→ 月曜日は忙しいです。
(Getsuyōbi wa isogashii desu.)
“Monday is busy.”
Tuesday (火曜日)
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 火曜日 | kayōbi | Tuesday |
Examples:
→ 火曜日に日本語を勉強します。
(Kayōbi ni Nihongo o benkyō shimasu.)
“I study Japanese on Tuesday.”
→ 火曜日は休みです。
(Kayōbi wa yasumi desu.)
“Tuesday is a day off.”
Wednesday (水曜日)
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 水曜日 | suiyōbi | Wednesday |
Examples:
→ 水曜日にテストがあります。
(Suiyōbi ni tesuto ga arimasu.)
“There is a test on Wednesday.”
→ 水曜日は会議があります。
(Suiyōbi wa kaigi ga arimasu.)
“There is a meeting on Wednesday.”
Thursday (木曜日)
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 木曜日 | mokuyōbi | Thursday |
Examples:
→ 木曜日に映画を見ます。
(Mokuyōbi ni eiga o mimasu.)
“I watch a movie on Thursday.”
→ 木曜日は授業があります。
(Mokuyōbi wa jugyō ga arimasu.)
“There is a class on Thursday.”
Friday (金曜日)
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 金曜日 | kin’yōbi | Friday |
Examples:
→ 金曜日に友達と会います。
(Kin’yōbi ni tomodachi to aimasu.)
“I will meet a friend on Friday.”
→ 金曜日はとても忙しいです。
(Kin’yōbi wa totemo isogashii desu.)
“Friday is very busy.”
Saturday (土曜日)
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 土曜日 | doyōbi | Saturday |
Examples:
→ 土曜日に買い物へ行きます。
(Doyōbi ni kaimono e ikimasu.)
“I go shopping on Saturday.”
→ 土曜日は働きません。
(Doyōbi wa hatarakimasen.)
“I do not work on Saturday.”
Sunday (日曜日)
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 日曜日 | nichiyōbi | Sunday |
Examples:
→ 日曜日に家族と過ごします。
(Nichiyōbi ni kazoku to sugoshimasu.)
“I spend time with my family on Sunday.”
→ 日曜日は休みです。
(Nichiyōbi wa yasumi desu.)
“Sunday is a holiday.”
Useful Weekly Expressions
Japanese also has common expressions related to weekdays.
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 平日 | heijitsu | weekday |
| 週末 | shūmatsu | weekend |
| 毎週 | maishū | every week |
| 今週 | konshū | this week |
| 来週 | raishū | next week |
| 先週 | senshū | last week |
Examples:
→ 週末に旅行します。
(Shūmatsu ni ryokō shimasu.)
“I will travel on the weekend.”
→ 毎週月曜日に勉強します。
(Maishū getsuyōbi ni benkyō shimasu.)
“I study every Monday.”
→ 来週の火曜日に会いましょう。
(Raishū no kayōbi ni aimashō.)
“Let’s meet next Tuesday.”
Days of the Week and the Particle に
Specific days of the week commonly use the particle に when indicating when an action takes place.
Examples:
→ 月曜日に学校へ行きます。
“I go to school on Monday.”
→ 水曜日に会議があります。
“There is a meeting on Wednesday.”
→ 金曜日に友達と会います。
“I will meet a friend on Friday.”
Table:
| Expression | に Needed? |
|---|---|
| 月曜日 | Usually Yes |
| 火曜日 | Usually Yes |
| 水曜日 | Usually Yes |
| 木曜日 | Usually Yes |
| 金曜日 | Usually Yes |
| 土曜日 | Usually Yes |
| 日曜日 | Usually Yes |
Understanding the days of the week is an important step toward discussing schedules, appointments, classes, work routines, and travel plans in Japanese. These words appear frequently in everyday conversations and are essential vocabulary for JLPT N5 learners.
Months in Japanese
The names of the months in Japanese are much easier to learn than the days of the week because they follow a very regular pattern. Unlike English month names such as January, February, and March, Japanese months are formed by combining a number with the counter 月 (がつ, gatsu), which means “month.”
Because of this predictable system, once you know the Japanese numbers from 1 to 12, you can easily learn all twelve months.
Examples:
→ １月 (January)
→ ５月 (May)
→ １０月 (October)
→ １２月 (December)
Japanese months are used when discussing birthdays, holidays, schedules, travel plans, academic calendars, and business events.
Examples:
→ ８月に日本へ行きます。
(Hachi-gatsu ni Nihon e ikimasu.)
“I will go to Japan in August.”
→ ３月に卒業します。
(San-gatsu ni sotsugyō shimasu.)
“I will graduate in March.”
Months of the Year in Japanese
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| １月 | ichi-gatsu | January |
| ２月 | ni-gatsu | February |
| ３月 | san-gatsu | March |
| ４月 | shi-gatsu | April |
| ５月 | go-gatsu | May |
| ６月 | roku-gatsu | June |
| ７月 | shichi-gatsu | July |
| ８月 | hachi-gatsu | August |
| ９月 | ku-gatsu | September |
| １０月 | jū-gatsu | October |
| １１月 | jūichi-gatsu | November |
| １２月 | jūni-gatsu | December |
Understanding the Pattern
The formation rule is simple:
Number + 月 (gatsu)
Examples:
| Number | Month |
|---|---|
| １ + 月 | １月 (ichi-gatsu) |
| ５ + 月 | ５月 (go-gatsu) |
| ８ + 月 | ８月 (hachi-gatsu) |
| １２ + 月 | １２月 (jūni-gatsu) |
Unlike Japanese dates, months have very few irregular readings.
The only readings that learners should pay special attention to are:
→ ４月 = shi-gatsu
→ ７月 = shichi-gatsu
→ ９月 = ku-gatsu
These differ slightly from some other number readings used in Japanese.
January (１月)
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| １月 | ichi-gatsu | January |
Examples:
→ １月は寒いです。
(Ichi-gatsu wa samui desu.)
“January is cold.”
→ １月に新しい仕事を始めます。
(Ichi-gatsu ni atarashii shigoto o hajimemasu.)
“I will start a new job in January.”
February (２月)
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| ２月 | ni-gatsu | February |
Examples:
→ ２月は短い月です。
(Ni-gatsu wa mijikai tsuki desu.)
“February is a short month.”
→ ２月に旅行します。
(Ni-gatsu ni ryokō shimasu.)
“I will travel in February.”
March (３月)
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| ３月 | san-gatsu | March |
Examples:
→ ３月に卒業します。
(San-gatsu ni sotsugyō shimasu.)
“I will graduate in March.”
→ ３月は忙しいです。
(San-gatsu wa isogashii desu.)
“March is busy.”
April (４月)
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| ４月 | shi-gatsu | April |
Examples:
→ ４月に学校が始まります。
(Shi-gatsu ni gakkō ga hajimarimasu.)
“School starts in April.”
→ ４月は桜がきれいです。
(Shi-gatsu wa sakura ga kirei desu.)
“The cherry blossoms are beautiful in April.”
May (５月)
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| ５月 | go-gatsu | May |
Examples:
→ ５月に引っ越します。
(Go-gatsu ni hikkoshimasu.)
“I will move in May.”
→ ５月は暖かいです。
(Go-gatsu wa atatakai desu.)
“May is warm.”
June (６月)
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| ６月 | roku-gatsu | June |
Examples:
→ ６月に試験があります。
(Roku-gatsu ni shiken ga arimasu.)
“There is an exam in June.”
→ ６月は雨が多いです。
(Roku-gatsu wa ame ga ōi desu.)
“There is a lot of rain in June.”
July (７月)
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| ７月 | shichi-gatsu | July |
Examples:
→ ７月に海へ行きます。
(Shichi-gatsu ni umi e ikimasu.)
“I will go to the beach in July.”
→ ７月は暑いです。
(Shichi-gatsu wa atsui desu.)
“July is hot.”
August (８月)
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| ８月 | hachi-gatsu | August |
Examples:
→ ８月に日本へ行きます。
(Hachi-gatsu ni Nihon e ikimasu.)
“I will go to Japan in August.”
→ ８月は夏休みです。
(Hachi-gatsu wa natsuyasumi desu.)
“August is summer vacation.”
September (９月)
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| ９月 | ku-gatsu | September |
Examples:
→ ９月に新学期が始まります。
(Ku-gatsu ni shingakki ga hajimarimasu.)
“A new school term starts in September.”
→ ９月は少し涼しいです。
(Ku-gatsu wa sukoshi suzushii desu.)
“September is a little cool.”
October (１０月)
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| １０月 | jū-gatsu | October |
Examples:
→ １０月に祭りがあります。
(Jū-gatsu ni matsuri ga arimasu.)
“There is a festival in October.”
→ １０月は過ごしやすいです。
(Jū-gatsu wa sugoshiyasui desu.)
“October is comfortable.”
November (１１月)
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| １１月 | jūichi-gatsu | November |
Examples:
→ １１月に出張します。
(Jūichi-gatsu ni shucchō shimasu.)
“I will go on a business trip in November.”
→ １１月は寒くなります。
(Jūichi-gatsu wa samuku narimasu.)
“It becomes cold in November.”
December (１２月)
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| １２月 | jūni-gatsu | December |
Examples:
→ １２月に休暇を取ります。
(Jūni-gatsu ni kyūka o torimasu.)
“I will take a vacation in December.”
→ １２月はとても忙しいです。
(Jūni-gatsu wa totemo isogashii desu.)
“December is very busy.”
Months and the Particle に
When referring to a specific month, Japanese commonly uses the particle に.
Examples:
→ ３月に卒業します。
“I will graduate in March.”
→ ８月に旅行します。
“I will travel in August.”
→ １２月に日本へ行きます。
“I will go to Japan in December.”
Table:
| Month Expression | に Needed? |
|---|---|
| １月 | Usually Yes |
| ３月 | Usually Yes |
| ７月 | Usually Yes |
| １０月 | Usually Yes |
| １２月 | Usually Yes |
The Japanese month system is one of the most regular parts of Japanese vocabulary. Once you know the numbers from one to twelve and the word 月 (gatsu), you can immediately recognize and use all twelve months of the year.
Dates in Japanese
Japanese dates are one of the most important time expressions used in everyday communication. They appear in schedules, calendars, appointments, birthdays, travel plans, business documents, and official forms.
Unlike months, Japanese dates contain many irregular readings that must be memorized. However, once you understand the basic structure and common patterns, reading and writing dates becomes much easier.
A Japanese date is normally written using:
→ Year (年)
→ Month (月)
→ Day (日)
Examples:
→ ２０２５年５月１０日
(Ni-sen nijūgo-nen go-gatsu tōka)
“May 10, 2025”
→ ２０２４年１２月２５日
(Ni-sen nijūyon-nen jūni-gatsu nijūgo-nichi)
“December 25, 2024”
One of the most important things to remember is that Japanese follows a different order from English.
Japanese order:
→ Year → Month → Day
English order:
→ Month → Day → Year
Days of the Month
Days of the month use the counter 日 (にち), but many dates have unique readings that do not follow a simple numerical pattern.
Examples:
→ １日 (tsuitachi)
→ ２日 (futsuka)
→ ３日 (mikka)
→ １０日 (tōka)
→ ２０日 (hatsuka)
Because of these irregular forms, learners usually memorize the dates individually.
Complete Date Table
| Date | Japanese | Romaji |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | １日 | tsuitachi |
| 2nd | ２日 | futsuka |
| 3rd | ３日 | mikka |
| 4th | ４日 | yokka |
| 5th | ５日 | itsuka |
| 6th | ６日 | muika |
| 7th | ７日 | nanoka |
| 8th | ８日 | yōka |
| 9th | ９日 | kokonoka |
| 10th | １０日 | tōka |
| 11th | １１日 | jūichi-nichi |
| 12th | １２日 | jūni-nichi |
| 13th | １３日 | jūsan-nichi |
| 14th | １４日 | jūyokka |
| 15th | １５日 | jūgo-nichi |
| 16th | １６日 | jūroku-nichi |
| 17th | １７日 | jūshichi-nichi |
| 18th | １８日 | jūhachi-nichi |
| 19th | １９日 | jūku-nichi |
| 20th | ２０日 | hatsuka |
| 21st | ２１日 | nijūichi-nichi |
| 22nd | ２２日 | nijūni-nichi |
| 23rd | ２３日 | nijūsan-nichi |
| 24th | ２４日 | nijūyokka |
| 25th | ２５日 | nijūgo-nichi |
| 26th | ２６日 | nijūroku-nichi |
| 27th | ２７日 | nijūshichi-nichi |
| 28th | ２８日 | nijūhachi-nichi |
| 29th | ２９日 | nijūku-nichi |
| 30th | ３０日 | sanjū-nichi |
| 31st | ３１日 | sanjūichi-nichi |
Irregular Date Readings
Several dates have special readings that do not follow the standard pattern.
These are the dates that learners usually find most challenging.
| Date | Japanese | Romaji |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | １日 | tsuitachi |
| 2nd | ２日 | futsuka |
| 3rd | ３日 | mikka |
| 4th | ４日 | yokka |
| 5th | ５日 | itsuka |
| 6th | ６日 | muika |
| 7th | ７日 | nanoka |
| 8th | ８日 | yōka |
| 9th | ９日 | kokonoka |
| 10th | １０日 | tōka |
| 14th | １４日 | jūyokka |
| 20th | ２０日 | hatsuka |
| 24th | ２４日 | nijūyokka |
These dates should be memorized individually because they appear frequently in everyday communication.
Examples:
→ 私の誕生日は８月８日です。
(Watashi no tanjōbi wa hachi-gatsu yōka desu.)
“My birthday is August 8th.”
→ 会議は５月２０日です。
(Kaigi wa go-gatsu hatsuka desu.)
“The meeting is on May 20th.”
→ 試験は６月１４日です。
(Shiken wa roku-gatsu jūyokka desu.)
“The exam is on June 14th.”
Writing Dates Correctly
Japanese dates are written from the largest time unit to the smallest.
Standard format:
→ Year + Month + Day
Pattern:
→ 年 → 月 → 日
Examples:
| English Date | Japanese Date | Romaji |
|---|---|---|
| May 10, 2025 | ２０２５年５月１０日 | ni-sen nijūgo-nen go-gatsu tōka |
| August 8, 2024 | ２０２４年８月８日 | ni-sen nijūyon-nen hachi-gatsu yōka |
| December 25, 2025 | ２０２５年１２月２５日 | ni-sen nijūgo-nen jūni-gatsu nijūgo-nichi |
| January 1, 2026 | ２０２６年１月１日 | ni-sen nijūroku-nen ichi-gatsu tsuitachi |
| July 20, 2025 | ２０２５年７月２０日 | ni-sen nijūgo-nen shichi-gatsu hatsuka |
Examples in sentences:
→ 私の誕生日は２０００年３月５日です。
(Watashi no tanjōbi wa ni-sen-nen san-gatsu itsuka desu.)
“My birthday is March 5, 2000.”
→ 会議は２０２５年５月１０日にあります。
(Kaigi wa ni-sen nijūgo-nen go-gatsu tōka ni arimasu.)
“The meeting is on May 10, 2025.”
→ 学校は２０２６年４月１日に始まります。
(Gakkō wa ni-sen nijūroku-nen shi-gatsu tsuitachi ni hajimarimasu.)
“School starts on April 1, 2026.”
Japanese Date Order
One of the biggest differences between Japanese and English dates is the order of information.
Comparison:
| Language | Order |
|---|---|
| Japanese | Year → Month → Day |
| English | Month → Day → Year |
Examples:
| English | Japanese |
|---|---|
| May 10, 2025 | ２０２５年５月１０日 |
| December 25, 2024 | ２０２４年１２月２５日 |
| July 20, 2026 | ２０２６年７月２０日 |
This large-to-small structure is common throughout Japanese and is also used for addresses and other forms of organization.
Dates and the Particle に
Specific dates usually use the particle に because they refer to exact points in time.
Examples:
→ ５月１０日に会います。
(Go-gatsu tōka ni aimasu.)
“I will meet you on May 10.”
→ １２月２５日に旅行します。
(Jūni-gatsu nijūgo-nichi ni ryokō shimasu.)
“I will travel on December 25.”
→ １月１日に新年を祝います。
(Ichi-gatsu tsuitachi ni shinnen o iwaimasu.)
“We celebrate the New Year on January 1.”
Dates are among the most common exact time expressions in Japanese, and mastering their readings is essential for handling calendars, schedules, appointments, birthdays, and JLPT N5 grammar.
Years in Japanese
Years are an important part of Japanese time expressions because they allow speakers to discuss birthdays, historical events, future plans, school years, business activities, and personal experiences. Japanese years are generally easy to read because they follow a predictable numerical pattern.
To express a year, Japanese adds the counter 年 (ねん, nen) after the number.
Pattern:
→ Number + 年
Examples:
→ ２０２５年
→ １９９０年
→ ２０００年
→ ２０３０年
Unlike Japanese dates, years have very few irregular readings, making them one of the easiest time expressions to learn.
Reading Years
Years are read by combining the number with 年 (nen).
Examples:
| Year | Japanese | Romaji |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | １９９０年 | sen kyūhyaku kyūjū-nen |
| 2000 | ２０００年 | ni-sen-nen |
| 2005 | ２００５年 | ni-sen go-nen |
| 2010 | ２０１０年 | ni-sen jū-nen |
| 2020 | ２０２０年 | ni-sen nijū-nen |
| 2025 | ２０２５年 | ni-sen nijūgo-nen |
| 2030 | ２０３０年 | ni-sen sanjū-nen |
| 2050 | ２０５０年 | ni-sen gojū-nen |
Examples in sentences:
→ 私は２００１年に生まれました。
(Watashi wa ni-sen ichi-nen ni umaremashita.)
“I was born in 2001.”
→ ２０２５年に日本へ行きます。
(Ni-sen nijūgo-nen ni Nihon e ikimasu.)
“I will go to Japan in 2025.”
→ ２０１８年に大学を卒業しました。
(Ni-sen jūhachi-nen ni daigaku o sotsugyō shimashita.)
“I graduated from university in 2018.”
Common Year Expressions
Japanese frequently uses relative year expressions when discussing the present, past, and future.
These expressions are used much more often in everyday conversation than specific calendar years.
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 今年 | kotoshi | this year |
| 来年 | rainen | next year |
| 去年 | kyonen | last year |
| 一昨年 | ototoshi | the year before last |
| 再来年 | sarainen | the year after next |
| 毎年 | maitoshi / mainen | every year |
| 年末 | nenmatsu | end of the year |
| 年始 | nenshi | beginning of the year |
| 新年 | shinnen | New Year |
| 来年度 | rainendo | next fiscal/academic year |
Examples:
→ 今年は忙しいです。
(Kotoshi wa isogashii desu.)
“I am busy this year.”
→ 来年日本語を勉強します。
(Rainen Nihongo o benkyō shimasu.)
“I will study Japanese next year.”
→ 去年東京へ行きました。
(Kyonen Tōkyō e ikimashita.)
“I went to Tokyo last year.”
→ 一昨年大学を卒業しました。
(Ototoshi daigaku o sotsugyō shimashita.)
“I graduated from university the year before last.”
→ 再来年日本で働きたいです。
(Sarainen Nihon de hatarakitai desu.)
“I want to work in Japan the year after next.”
Talking About Historical Years
When discussing history, important events, or specific periods in time, Japanese uses the same year structure.
Pattern:
→ Year + 年
Examples:
→ １９４５年 (1945)
→ １９６４年 (1964)
→ ２００８年 (2008)
→ ２０２０年 (2020)
Examples in sentences:
→ 第二次世界大戦は１９４５年に終わりました。
(Daini-ji Sekai Taisen wa sen kyūhyaku yonjūgo-nen ni owarimashita.)
“World War II ended in 1945.”
→ 東京オリンピックは１９６４年に開催されました。
(Tōkyō Orinpikku wa sen kyūhyaku rokujūyon-nen ni kaisai saremashita.)
“The Tokyo Olympics were held in 1964.”
→ 私は２００５年に学校へ入りました。
(Watashi wa ni-sen go-nen ni gakkō e hairimashita.)
“I entered school in 2005.”
→ ２０２０年に多くの変化がありました。
(Ni-sen nijū-nen ni ōku no henka ga arimashita.)
“There were many changes in 2020.”
Year Reference Table
| Year | Japanese | Romaji |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | １９９０年 | sen kyūhyaku kyūjū-nen |
| 1995 | １９９５年 | sen kyūhyaku kyūjūgo-nen |
| 2000 | ２０００年 | ni-sen-nen |
| 2001 | ２００１年 | ni-sen ichi-nen |
| 2005 | ２００５年 | ni-sen go-nen |
| 2010 | ２０１０年 | ni-sen jū-nen |
| 2015 | ２０１５年 | ni-sen jūgo-nen |
| 2020 | ２０２０年 | ni-sen nijū-nen |
| 2025 | ２０２５年 | ni-sen nijūgo-nen |
| 2030 | ２０３０年 | ni-sen sanjū-nen |
| 2040 | ２０４０年 | ni-sen yonjū-nen |
| 2050 | ２０５０年 | ni-sen gojū-nen |
Years and the Particle に
Specific years are exact time expressions, so they commonly use the particle に when indicating when an event occurred.
Examples:
→ ２０２５年に卒業します。
(Ni-sen nijūgo-nen ni sotsugyō shimasu.)
“I will graduate in 2025.”
→ ２０１９年に日本へ行きました。
(Ni-sen jūkyū-nen ni Nihon e ikimashita.)
“I went to Japan in 2019.”
→ ２０００年に生まれました。
(Ni-sen-nen ni umaremashita.)
“I was born in 2000.”
However, relative year expressions generally do not use に.
Examples:
→ 今年日本語を勉強しています。 ✅
(Kotoshi Nihongo o benkyō shiteimasu.)
“I am studying Japanese this year.”
→ 来年日本へ行きます。 ✅
(Rainen Nihon e ikimasu.)
“I will go to Japan next year.”
→ 去年東京へ行きました。 ✅
(Kyonen Tōkyō e ikimashita.)
“I went to Tokyo last year.”
Incorrect:
→ 今年に勉強しています。 ❌
→ 来年に日本へ行きます。 ❌
→ 去年に東京へ行きました。 ❌
This follows the same pattern seen with other relative time expressions such as 今日, 明日, 今週, and 来月.
Using the Particle に with Time Expressions
The particle に is one of the most important grammar points related to Japanese time expressions. Many beginners quickly learn that some time expressions require に, while others do not. Understanding this distinction is essential because using に incorrectly can make a sentence sound unnatural or grammatically incorrect.
In general, に is used with specific points in time, while many relative time expressions do not require it.
Compare these examples:
→ ７時に起きます。
(Shichi-ji ni okimasu.)
“I wake up at 7 o’clock.”
→ 今日勉強します。
(Kyō benkyō shimasu.)
“I will study today.”
The first sentence uses に because ７時 refers to an exact time.
The second sentence does not use に because 今日 is a relative time expression.
This distinction appears constantly in everyday Japanese.
When You Must Use に
As a general rule, use に when referring to a specific point in time.
This includes:
→ Specific times
→ Days of the week
→ Dates
→ Months
→ Years
These expressions identify a precise moment when an action occurs.
Specific Times
Clock times almost always require に.
Examples:
→ ６時に起きます。
(Roku-ji ni okimasu.)
“I wake up at 6 o’clock.”
→ ９時に仕事を始めます。
(Ku-ji ni shigoto o hajimemasu.)
“I start work at 9 o’clock.”
→ ３時半に会います。
(San-ji han ni aimasu.)
“I will meet someone at 3:30.”
→ １１時１５分に授業が終わります。
(Jūichi-ji jūgo-fun ni jugyō ga owarimasu.)
“The class ends at 11:15.”
Table:
| Time Expression | Example |
|---|---|
| ７時 | ７時に起きます。 |
| ９時半 | ９時半に会います。 |
| ２時１５分 | ２時１５分に出発します。 |
| 午後３時 | 午後３時に会議があります。 |
Days of the Week
Specific weekdays commonly use に.
Examples:
→ 月曜日に学校へ行きます。
(Getsuyōbi ni gakkō e ikimasu.)
“I go to school on Monday.”
→ 水曜日に試験があります。
(Suiyōbi ni shiken ga arimasu.)
“There is an exam on Wednesday.”
→ 金曜日に友達と会います。
(Kin’yōbi ni tomodachi to aimasu.)
“I will meet my friend on Friday.”
Table:
| Day | Example |
|---|---|
| 月曜日 | 月曜日に働きます。 |
| 火曜日 | 火曜日に勉強します。 |
| 水曜日 | 水曜日に会議があります。 |
| 木曜日 | 木曜日に映画を見ます。 |
| 金曜日 | 金曜日に友達と会います。 |
Dates
Specific calendar dates require に.
Examples:
→ ５月１０日に会います。
(Go-gatsu tōka ni aimasu.)
“I will meet you on May 10.”
→ １２月２５日に旅行します。
(Jūni-gatsu nijūgo-nichi ni ryokō shimasu.)
“I will travel on December 25.”
→ １月１日に新年を祝います。
(Ichi-gatsu tsuitachi ni shinnen o iwaimasu.)
“We celebrate New Year on January 1.”
Table:
| Date | Example |
|---|---|
| １月１日 | １月１日に休みます。 |
| ５月１０日 | ５月１０日に会います。 |
| ８月８日 | ８月８日に出発します。 |
| １２月２５日 | １２月２５日に旅行します。 |
Months
Specific months commonly take に when indicating when an event occurs.
Examples:
→ ３月に卒業します。
(San-gatsu ni sotsugyō shimasu.)
“I will graduate in March.”
→ ８月に日本へ行きます。
(Hachi-gatsu ni Nihon e ikimasu.)
“I will go to Japan in August.”
→ １２月に休暇を取ります。
(Jūni-gatsu ni kyūka o torimasu.)
“I will take a vacation in December.”
Table:
| Month | Example |
|---|---|
| １月 | １月に始まります。 |
| ３月 | ３月に卒業します。 |
| ７月 | ７月に旅行します。 |
| ８月 | ８月に日本へ行きます。 |
| １２月 | １２月に休暇を取ります。 |
Years
Specific years also use に.
Examples:
→ ２０２５年に卒業します。
(Ni-sen nijūgo-nen ni sotsugyō shimasu.)
“I will graduate in 2025.”
→ ２０１９年に日本へ行きました。
(Ni-sen jūkyū-nen ni Nihon e ikimashita.)
“I went to Japan in 2019.”
→ ２０００年に生まれました。
(Ni-sen-nen ni umaremashita.)
“I was born in 2000.”
When You Do Not Use に
Many common Japanese time expressions do not use に because they are relative to the present moment rather than identifying an exact point in time.
This includes:
→ 今日
→ 明日
→ 昨日
→ 毎日
→ 今週
→ 来週
→ 先週
→ 今月
→ 来月
→ 先月
→ 今年
→ 来年
→ 去年
今日 (Today)
Correct:
→ 今日勉強します。
(Kyō benkyō shimasu.)
“I will study today.”
Incorrect:
→ 今日に勉強します。 ❌
明日 (Tomorrow)
Correct:
→ 明日学校へ行きます。
(Ashita gakkō e ikimasu.)
“I will go to school tomorrow.”
Incorrect:
→ 明日に学校へ行きます。 ❌
昨日 (Yesterday)
Correct:
→ 昨日映画を見ました。
(Kinō eiga o mimashita.)
“I watched a movie yesterday.”
Incorrect:
→ 昨日に映画を見ました。 ❌
毎日 (Every Day)
Correct:
→ 毎日日本語を勉強します。
(Mainichi Nihongo o benkyō shimasu.)
“I study Japanese every day.”
Incorrect:
→ 毎日に日本語を勉強します。 ❌
今週 (This Week)
Correct:
→ 今週は忙しいです。
(Konshū wa isogashii desu.)
“I am busy this week.”
Incorrect:
→ 今週に忙しいです。 ❌
Other Common Relative Expressions
Correct:
→ 来週旅行します。
(Raishū ryokō shimasu.)
“I will travel next week.”
→ 先月新しい本を買いました。
(Sengetsu atarashii hon o kaimashita.)
“I bought a new book last month.”
→ 来年日本へ行きます。
(Rainen Nihon e ikimasu.)
“I will go to Japan next year.”
Incorrect:
→ 来週に旅行します。 ❌
→ 先月に本を買いました。 ❌
→ 来年に日本へ行きます。 ❌
Why Relative Time Expressions Usually Do Not Use に
Relative time expressions already contain a built-in relationship to the present moment.
Words such as:
→ 今日
→ 明日
→ 昨日
→ 今週
→ 来月
→ 今年
already indicate a time frame relative to “now.”
Because the temporal relationship is already clear, Japanese generally does not require に.
Compare:
| Expression | Type |
|---|---|
| 今日 | Relative |
| 明日 | Relative |
| 来週 | Relative |
| 今月 | Relative |
| 来年 | Relative |
| ７時 | Exact |
| 月曜日 | Exact |
| ５月１０日 | Exact |
| ８月 | Exact |
| ２０２５年 | Exact |
Master Comparison Table
| Time Expression | に Needed? |
|---|---|
| ７時 | Yes |
| ９時半 | Yes |
| １１時１５分 | Yes |
| 月曜日 | Yes |
| 火曜日 | Yes |
| 金曜日 | Yes |
| ５月１０日 | Yes |
| １２月２５日 | Yes |
| １月 | Yes |
| ８月 | Yes |
| ２０２５年 | Yes |
| 今日 | No |
| 明日 | No |
| 昨日 | No |
| おととい | No |
| あさって | No |
| 毎日 | No |
| 毎週 | No |
| 毎月 | No |
| 毎年 | No |
| 今週 | No |
| 来週 | No |
| 先週 | No |
| 今月 | No |
| 来月 | No |
| 先月 | No |
| 今年 | No |
| 来年 | No |
| 去年 | No |
| 最近 | No |
| 将来 | No |
Core Rule
A practical guideline is:
→ Use に with exact points in time.
→ Usually do not use に with relative time expressions.
Examples:
→ ７時に起きます。 ✅
→ 月曜日に働きます。 ✅
→ ５月１０日に会います。 ✅
→ ２０２５年に卒業します。 ✅
→ 今日勉強します。 ✅
→ 明日学校へ行きます。 ✅
→ 来週旅行します。 ✅
→ 来年日本へ行きます。 ✅
This distinction between exact and relative time expressions is one of the most important grammar patterns for understanding and using Japanese time expressions naturally.
Frequency Expressions in Japanese
Frequency expressions are words and phrases that describe how often an action happens. They are used to talk about habits, routines, repeated activities, and personal preferences.
These expressions appear frequently in everyday Japanese conversations because people often discuss activities they do always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, or never.
Examples:
→ いつも日本語を勉強します。
(Itsumo Nihongo o benkyō shimasu.)
“I always study Japanese.”
→ よく映画を見ます。
(Yoku eiga o mimasu.)
“I often watch movies.”
→ ときどき旅行します。
(Tokidoki ryokō shimasu.)
“I sometimes travel.”
Frequency expressions usually appear near the beginning of a sentence, although they may also appear before the verb.
Examples:
→ よくコーヒーを飲みます。
(Yoku kōhī o nomimasu.)
“I often drink coffee.”
→ 私はよくコーヒーを飲みます。
(Watashi wa yoku kōhī o nomimasu.)
“I often drink coffee.”
Always
The most common Japanese word for “always” is いつも.
Meaning:
→ Always
→ Every time
→ All the time
Examples:
→ いつも早く起きます。
(Itsumo hayaku okimasu.)
“I always wake up early.”
→ いつも日本語を勉強しています。
(Itsumo Nihongo o benkyō shiteimasu.)
“I am always studying Japanese.”
→ 彼はいつも元気です。
(Kare wa itsumo genki desu.)
“He is always energetic.”
Conversation example:
A: 毎日勉強しますか。
(Mainichi benkyō shimasu ka.)
“Do you study every day?”
B: はい、いつも勉強します。
(Hai, itsumo benkyō shimasu.)
“Yes, I always study.”
Usually
Japanese has several ways to express “usually.” One of the most common is たいてい.
Meaning:
→ Usually
→ Generally
→ In most cases
Examples:
→ たいてい７時に起きます。
(Taitei shichi-ji ni okimasu.)
“I usually wake up at 7 o’clock.”
→ たいてい家で昼ご飯を食べます。
(Taitei ie de hirugohan o tabemasu.)
“I usually eat lunch at home.”
→ たいてい電車で通勤します。
(Taitei densha de tsūkin shimasu.)
“I usually commute by train.”
Additional example:
→ 私はたいてい週末に買い物へ行きます。
(Watashi wa taitei shūmatsu ni kaimono e ikimasu.)
“I usually go shopping on weekends.”
Often
The most common word for “often” is よく.
Meaning:
→ Often
→ Frequently
→ Many times
Examples:
→ よく映画を見ます。
(Yoku eiga o mimasu.)
“I often watch movies.”
→ よく友達と話します。
(Yoku tomodachi to hanashimasu.)
“I often talk with friends.”
→ よく日本料理を食べます。
(Yoku Nihon ryōri o tabemasu.)
“I often eat Japanese food.”
Conversation example:
A: 日本へ行きますか。
(Nihon e ikimasu ka.)
“Do you go to Japan?”
B: はい、よく行きます。
(Hai, yoku ikimasu.)
“Yes, I go often.”
Sometimes
The most common expression for “sometimes” is ときどき.
Meaning:
→ Sometimes
→ Occasionally
Examples:
→ ときどき旅行します。
(Tokidoki ryokō shimasu.)
“I sometimes travel.”
→ ときどき寿司を食べます。
(Tokidoki sushi o tabemasu.)
“I sometimes eat sushi.”
→ ときどき映画館へ行きます。
(Tokidoki eigakan e ikimasu.)
“I sometimes go to the movie theater.”
Additional examples:
→ ときどき日本語の本を読みます。
(Tokidoki Nihongo no hon o yomimasu.)
“I sometimes read Japanese books.”
→ ときどき早く寝ます。
(Tokidoki hayaku nemasu.)
“I sometimes go to bed early.”
Rarely
Japanese commonly expresses “rarely” using あまり～ない.
Meaning:
→ Not often
→ Rarely
→ Seldom
Structure:
→ あまり + Verb (negative form)
Examples:
→ あまりテレビを見ません。
(Amari terebi o mimasen.)
“I rarely watch television.”
→ あまり外食しません。
(Amari gaishoku shimasen.)
“I rarely eat out.”
→ あまりお酒を飲みません。
(Amari osake o nomimasen.)
“I rarely drink alcohol.”
Additional examples:
→ あまり旅行しません。
(Amari ryokō shimasen.)
“I rarely travel.”
→ あまり遅く起きません。
(Amari osoku okimasen.)
“I rarely wake up late.”
Never
Japanese commonly expresses “never” using 全然～ない.
Meaning:
→ Never
→ Not at all
Structure:
→ 全然 + Verb (negative form)
Examples:
→ 全然泳ぎません。
(Zenzen oyogimasen.)
“I never swim.”
→ 全然たばこを吸いません。
(Zenzen tabako o suimasen.)
“I never smoke.”
→ 全然コーヒーを飲みません。
(Zenzen kōhī o nomimasen.)
“I never drink coffee.”
Additional examples:
→ 全然テレビを見ません。
(Zenzen terebi o mimasen.)
“I never watch television.”
→ 全然ゲームをしません。
(Zenzen gēmu o shimasen.)
“I never play video games.”
Frequency Vocabulary Table
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| いつも | itsumo | always |
| 常に | tsuneni | always / constantly |
| たいてい | taitei | usually |
| 普通は | futsū wa | normally |
| よく | yoku | often |
| 頻繁に | hinpan ni | frequently |
| しばしば | shibashiba | often |
| ときどき | tokidoki | sometimes |
| たまに | tama ni | occasionally |
| 時々 | tokidoki | sometimes |
| あまり～ない | amari ～ nai | rarely |
| めったに～ない | mettani ～ nai | seldom |
| ほとんど～ない | hotondo ～ nai | hardly ever |
| 全然～ない | zenzen ～ nai | never / not at all |
| 一度も～ない | ichido mo ～ nai | never (not even once) |
Frequency Scale
The following table shows the approximate frequency represented by each expression.
| Frequency | Japanese | English |
|---|---|---|
| 100% | いつも | always |
| 90% | たいてい | usually |
| 70% | よく | often |
| 50% | ときどき | sometimes |
| 20% | あまり～ない | rarely |
| 5% | めったに～ない | seldom |
| 0% | 全然～ない | never |
Common Frequency Expressions in Sentences
| Japanese Sentence | English Translation |
|---|---|
| いつも朝６時に起きます。 | I always wake up at 6 a.m. |
| たいてい電車で通勤します。 | I usually commute by train. |
| よく本を読みます。 | I often read books. |
| ときどき友達と会います。 | I sometimes meet friends. |
| あまりテレビを見ません。 | I rarely watch television. |
| めったに外食しません。 | I seldom eat out. |
| 全然お酒を飲みません。 | I never drink alcohol. |
| 一度も日本へ行ったことがありません。 | I have never been to Japan. |
Frequency expressions are essential for discussing routines, habits, schedules, and personal preferences. They are commonly used with all Japanese verb tenses and appear frequently in everyday conversations, JLPT exams, and written Japanese.
Duration Expressions in Japanese
Duration expressions are used to indicate how long an action, event, or state continues. Unlike exact time expressions, which identify when something happens, duration expressions describe the length of time involved.
Examples:
→ ２時間勉強しました。
(Ni-jikan benkyō shimashita.)
“I studied for two hours.”
→ 日本に３年間住みました。
(Nihon ni san-nenkan sumimashita.)
“I lived in Japan for three years.”
One important difference between duration expressions and exact time expressions is that duration expressions usually do not require the particle に.
Compare:
→ ７時に起きます。
(Shichi-ji ni okimasu.)
“I wake up at 7 o’clock.”
→ ２時間勉強します。
(Ni-jikan benkyō shimasu.)
“I study for two hours.”
The first sentence uses に because it refers to a specific point in time. The second sentence does not because it refers to a length of time.
Hours
Hours are expressed using the counter 時間 (じかん, jikan).
Pattern:
→ Number + 時間
Examples:
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| １時間 | ichi-jikan | one hour |
| ２時間 | ni-jikan | two hours |
| ３時間 | san-jikan | three hours |
| ４時間 | yo-jikan | four hours |
| ５時間 | go-jikan | five hours |
| １０時間 | jū-jikan | ten hours |
Examples in sentences:
→ ２時間勉強しました。
(Ni-jikan benkyō shimashita.)
“I studied for two hours.”
→ ３時間働きました。
(San-jikan hatarakimashita.)
“I worked for three hours.”
→ １時間日本語を読みました。
(Ichi-jikan Nihongo o yomimashita.)
“I read Japanese for one hour.”
→ ５時間寝ました。
(Go-jikan nemashita.)
“I slept for five hours.”
Days
Days are expressed using 日 (にち) or 日間 (にちかん) when emphasizing duration.
Pattern:
→ Number + 日
or
→ Number + 日間
Examples:
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| １日 | ichi-nichi | one day |
| ２日間 | futsuka-kan | two days |
| ３日間 | mikka-kan | three days |
| １週間 | isshūkan | one week (7 days) |
| １０日間 | tōka-kan | ten days |
Examples in sentences:
→ ３日間旅行しました。
(Mikka-kan ryokō shimashita.)
“I traveled for three days.”
→ ２日間休みました。
(Futsuka-kan yasumimashita.)
“I rested for two days.”
→ １０日間日本にいました。
(Tōka-kan Nihon ni imashita.)
“I stayed in Japan for ten days.”
Weeks
Weeks are expressed using 週間 (しゅうかん, shūkan).
Pattern:
→ Number + 週間
Examples:
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| １週間 | isshūkan | one week |
| ２週間 | ni-shūkan | two weeks |
| ３週間 | san-shūkan | three weeks |
| ４週間 | yon-shūkan | four weeks |
| ６週間 | roku-shūkan | six weeks |
Examples in sentences:
→ ２週間日本にいました。
(Ni-shūkan Nihon ni imashita.)
“I stayed in Japan for two weeks.”
→ ３週間勉強しました。
(San-shūkan benkyō shimashita.)
“I studied for three weeks.”
→ １週間休暇を取りました。
(Isshūkan kyūka o torimashita.)
“I took a one-week vacation.”
→ ４週間そのプロジェクトに取り組みました。
(Yon-shūkan sono purojekuto ni torikumimashita.)
“I worked on that project for four weeks.”
Months
Months of duration are expressed using か月 (かげつ, kagetsu).
Pattern:
→ Number + か月
Examples:
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| １か月 | ikka-getsu | one month |
| ２か月 | ni-kagetsu | two months |
| ３か月 | san-kagetsu | three months |
| ６か月 | roku-kagetsu | six months |
| １２か月 | jūni-kagetsu | twelve months |
Examples in sentences:
→ ３か月日本語を勉強しました。
(San-kagetsu Nihongo o benkyō shimashita.)
“I studied Japanese for three months.”
→ ６か月東京に住みました。
(Roku-kagetsu Tōkyō ni sumimashita.)
“I lived in Tokyo for six months.”
→ １か月旅行しました。
(Ikka-getsu ryokō shimashita.)
“I traveled for one month.”
→ １２か月働きました。
(Jūni-kagetsu hatarakimashita.)
“I worked for twelve months.”
Years
Years of duration are usually expressed using 年間 (ねんかん, nenkan).
Pattern:
→ Number + 年間
Examples:
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| １年間 | ichi-nenkan | one year |
| ２年間 | ni-nenkan | two years |
| ３年間 | san-nenkan | three years |
| ５年間 | go-nenkan | five years |
| １０年間 | jū-nenkan | ten years |
Examples in sentences:
→ ３年間日本に住みました。
(San-nenkan Nihon ni sumimashita.)
“I lived in Japan for three years.”
→ ５年間英語を勉強しました。
(Go-nenkan Eigo o benkyō shimashita.)
“I studied English for five years.”
→ ２年間その会社で働きました。
(Ni-nenkan sono kaisha de hatarakimashita.)
“I worked at that company for two years.”
→ １０年間東京に住んでいました。
(Jū-nenkan Tōkyō ni sunde imashita.)
“I lived in Tokyo for ten years.”
Duration Vocabulary Table
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| １時間 | ichi-jikan | one hour |
| ２時間 | ni-jikan | two hours |
| ３時間 | san-jikan | three hours |
| １日 | ichi-nichi | one day |
| ２日間 | futsuka-kan | two days |
| ３日間 | mikka-kan | three days |
| １週間 | isshūkan | one week |
| ２週間 | ni-shūkan | two weeks |
| ３週間 | san-shūkan | three weeks |
| １か月 | ikka-getsu | one month |
| ２か月 | ni-kagetsu | two months |
| ３か月 | san-kagetsu | three months |
| ６か月 | roku-kagetsu | six months |
| １年間 | ichi-nenkan | one year |
| ２年間 | ni-nenkan | two years |
| ３年間 | san-nenkan | three years |
| ５年間 | go-nenkan | five years |
| １０年間 | jū-nenkan | ten years |
Duration Expressions vs Exact Time Expressions
A common mistake is confusing duration expressions with exact time expressions.
| Expression | Type | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ７時 | Exact Time | ７時に起きます。 |
| ５月１０日 | Exact Time | ５月１０日に会います。 |
| ２時間 | Duration | ２時間勉強します。 |
| ３日間 | Duration | ３日間旅行します。 |
| ２週間 | Duration | ２週間日本にいます。 |
| ３年間 | Duration | ３年間働きました。 |
Exact time expressions identify when an action happens.
Duration expressions identify how long an action lasts.
Understanding this distinction is essential because it affects sentence structure and the use of particles, especially に.
Time Ranges in Japanese
Japanese uses several important grammar structures to express the beginning and ending points of a period of time. These expressions are used when talking about schedules, working hours, school timetables, travel plans, business meetings, vacations, and events.
The two most important particles are:
→ から (kara) = from
→ まで (made) = until / to
When used together, they create the pattern:
→ から〜まで
Meaning:
→ from ~ to
Examples:
→ ９時から５時まで
(Ku-ji kara go-ji made)
“From 9:00 to 5:00”
→ 月曜日から金曜日まで
(Getsuyōbi kara kin’yōbi made)
“From Monday to Friday”
→ １月から３月まで
(Ichi-gatsu kara san-gatsu made)
“From January to March”
These expressions are extremely common in both spoken and written Japanese.
Using から
The particle から indicates the starting point of a time period.
Meaning:
→ from
→ starting at
Examples:
→ ９時から働きます。
(Ku-ji kara hatarakimasu.)
“I work from 9 o’clock.”
→ 月曜日から学校が始まります。
(Getsuyōbi kara gakkō ga hajimarimasu.)
“School starts from Monday.”
→ １月から新しい仕事を始めます。
(Ichi-gatsu kara atarashii shigoto o hajimemasu.)
“I will start a new job from January.”
Table:
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| ９時から | ku-ji kara | from 9:00 |
| 月曜日から | getsuyōbi kara | from Monday |
| １月から | ichi-gatsu kara | from January |
| ２０２５年から | ni-sen nijūgo-nen kara | from 2025 |
| 今日から | kyō kara | from today |
Additional examples:
→ 今日から日本語を勉強します。
(Kyō kara Nihongo o benkyō shimasu.)
“I will study Japanese starting today.”
→ 来週から新しい授業があります。
(Raishū kara atarashii jugyō ga arimasu.)
“There will be a new class starting next week.”
Using まで
The particle まで indicates the ending point of a time period.
Meaning:
→ until
→ up to
→ through
Examples:
→ ５時まで働きます。
(Go-ji made hatarakimasu.)
“I work until 5 o’clock.”
→ 金曜日まで待ちます。
(Kin’yōbi made machimasu.)
“I will wait until Friday.”
→ ３月まで日本にいます。
(San-gatsu made Nihon ni imasu.)
“I will stay in Japan until March.”
Table:
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| ５時まで | go-ji made | until 5:00 |
| 金曜日まで | kin’yōbi made | until Friday |
| ３月まで | san-gatsu made | until March |
| ２０２６年まで | ni-sen nijūroku-nen made | until 2026 |
| 明日まで | ashita made | until tomorrow |
Additional examples:
→ 明日までに宿題をします。
(Ashita made ni shukudai o shimasu.)
“I will complete the homework by tomorrow.”
→ 来月まで東京に住みます。
(Raigetsu made Tōkyō ni sumimasu.)
“I will live in Tokyo until next month.”
Using から〜まで
The pattern から〜まで is used to express a complete time range.
Structure:
→ Starting Point + から + Ending Point + まで
Meaning:
→ from ~ to
Examples:
→ ９時から５時まで働きます。
(Ku-ji kara go-ji made hatarakimasu.)
“I work from 9:00 to 5:00.”
→ 月曜日から金曜日まで学校があります。
(Getsuyōbi kara kin’yōbi made gakkō ga arimasu.)
“There is school from Monday to Friday.”
→ １月から３月まで日本にいます。
(Ichi-gatsu kara san-gatsu made Nihon ni imasu.)
“I will be in Japan from January to March.”
Time Range: From 9 to 5
This is one of the most common uses of から〜まで.
Examples:
→ ９時から５時まで働きます。
(Ku-ji kara go-ji made hatarakimasu.)
“I work from 9:00 to 5:00.”
→ 会議は９時から５時までです。
(Kaigi wa ku-ji kara go-ji made desu.)
“The meeting is from 9:00 to 5:00.”
Table:
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| ９時から５時まで | ku-ji kara go-ji made | from 9:00 to 5:00 |
| ８時から１２時まで | hachi-ji kara jūni-ji made | from 8:00 to 12:00 |
| ２時から４時まで | ni-ji kara yo-ji made | from 2:00 to 4:00 |
Time Range: From Monday to Friday
Time ranges are frequently used with days of the week.
Examples:
→ 月曜日から金曜日まで働きます。
(Getsuyōbi kara kin’yōbi made hatarakimasu.)
“I work from Monday to Friday.”
→ 月曜日から金曜日まで学校があります。
(Getsuyōbi kara kin’yōbi made gakkō ga arimasu.)
“There is school from Monday to Friday.”
Table:
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 月曜日から金曜日まで | getsuyōbi kara kin’yōbi made | from Monday to Friday |
| 火曜日から木曜日まで | kayōbi kara mokuyōbi made | from Tuesday to Thursday |
| 土曜日から日曜日まで | doyōbi kara nichiyōbi made | from Saturday to Sunday |
Time Range: From January to March
Months are another common use of から〜まで.
Examples:
→ １月から３月まで日本にいます。
(Ichi-gatsu kara san-gatsu made Nihon ni imasu.)
“I will be in Japan from January to March.”
→ ６月から８月まで夏休みがあります。
(Roku-gatsu kara hachi-gatsu made natsuyasumi ga arimasu.)
“There is summer vacation from June to August.”
Table:
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| １月から３月まで | ichi-gatsu kara san-gatsu made | from January to March |
| ４月から６月まで | shi-gatsu kara roku-gatsu made | from April to June |
| ９月から１２月まで | ku-gatsu kara jūni-gatsu made | from September to December |
Time Ranges with Years
Japanese can also use から〜まで with years.
Examples:
→ ２０２０年から２０２５年まで日本に住みました。
(Ni-sen nijū-nen kara ni-sen nijūgo-nen made Nihon ni sumimashita.)
“I lived in Japan from 2020 to 2025.”
→ ２０１８年から２０２２年まで大学に通いました。
(Ni-sen jūhachi-nen kara ni-sen nijūni-nen made daigaku ni kayoimashita.)
“I attended university from 2018 to 2022.”
Table:
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| ２０２０年から２０２５年まで | ni-sen nijū-nen kara ni-sen nijūgo-nen made | from 2020 to 2025 |
| ２０１８年から２０２２年まで | ni-sen jūhachi-nen kara ni-sen nijūni-nen made | from 2018 to 2022 |
Master Time Range Table
| Expression Type | Japanese | English |
|---|---|---|
| Hours | ９時から５時まで | from 9:00 to 5:00 |
| Hours | ２時から４時まで | from 2:00 to 4:00 |
| Days | 月曜日から金曜日まで | from Monday to Friday |
| Days | 土曜日から日曜日まで | from Saturday to Sunday |
| Months | １月から３月まで | from January to March |
| Months | ６月から８月まで | from June to August |
| Years | ２０２０年から２０２５年まで | from 2020 to 2025 |
| Relative Time | 今日から明日まで | from today until tomorrow |
| Relative Time | 今週から来週まで | from this week to next week |
Key Difference Between から and まで
| Particle | Meaning | Function |
|---|---|---|
| から | from | Indicates the starting point |
| まで | until / to | Indicates the ending point |
| から〜まで | from ~ to | Indicates a complete range |
Examples:
→ ９時から働きます。
“I work from 9:00.”
→ ５時まで働きます。
“I work until 5:00.”
→ ９時から５時まで働きます。
“I work from 9:00 to 5:00.”
These three patterns are essential for discussing schedules, working hours, school timetables, travel plans, deadlines, and events in natural Japanese.
Common Japanese Time Expressions Used Every Day
Japanese speakers use many time-related expressions that go beyond specific dates and clock times. These words help describe the present, past, future, frequency, sequence of events, and approximate timing.
Many of these expressions appear constantly in conversations, news reports, books, television programs, and JLPT examinations. Learning them will make it much easier to understand natural Japanese and discuss daily activities.
Examples:
→ 今 (now)
→ すぐ (immediately)
→ もうすぐ (soon)
→ 最近 (recently)
→ 将来 (in the future)
→ 昔 (long ago)
→ その後 (after that)
→ その前 (before that)
Common Japanese Time Expressions Vocabulary Table
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 今 | ima | now |
| 現在 | genzai | currently |
| 今日 | kyō | today |
| 明日 | ashita | tomorrow |
| 昨日 | kinō | yesterday |
| おととい | ototoi | the day before yesterday |
| あさって | asatte | the day after tomorrow |
| 今朝 | kesa | this morning |
| 今晩 | konban | tonight |
| 今夜 | kon’ya | tonight |
| すぐ | sugu | immediately |
| もうすぐ | mōsugu | soon |
| たった今 | tatta ima | just now |
| ちょうど今 | chōdo ima | right now |
| いつも | itsumo | always |
| よく | yoku | often |
| ときどき | tokidoki | sometimes |
| たまに | tama ni | occasionally |
| 最近 | saikin | recently |
| このごろ | kono goro | these days |
| 昔 | mukashi | long ago |
| 将来 | shōrai | in the future |
| 未来 | mirai | future |
| 過去 | kako | past |
| 以前 | izen | before |
| その前 | sono mae | before that |
| その後 | sono ato | after that |
| 後で | ato de | later |
| 後ほど | nochihodo | later (formal) |
| 先に | saki ni | beforehand |
| まず | mazu | first |
| 次に | tsugi ni | next |
| 最後に | saigo ni | finally |
| 毎日 | mainichi | every day |
| 毎週 | maishū | every week |
| 毎月 | maitsuki | every month |
| 毎年 | maitoshi | every year |
| 今週 | konshū | this week |
| 来週 | raishū | next week |
| 先週 | senshū | last week |
| 今月 | kongetsu | this month |
| 来月 | raigetsu | next month |
| 先月 | sengetsu | last month |
| 今年 | kotoshi | this year |
| 来年 | rainen | next year |
| 去年 | kyonen | last year |
| 一昨年 | ototoshi | the year before last |
| 再来年 | sarainen | the year after next |
| いつか | itsuka | someday |
| しばらく | shibaraku | for a while |
今 (Now)
今 refers to the present moment.
Examples:
→ 今忙しいです。
(Ima isogashii desu.)
“I am busy now.”
→ 今何時ですか。
(Ima nan-ji desu ka.)
“What time is it now?”
→ 今日本語を勉強しています。
(Ima Nihongo o benkyō shiteimasu.)
“I am studying Japanese now.”
すぐ (Immediately)
すぐ indicates that something happens immediately or without delay.
Examples:
→ すぐ行きます。
(Sugu ikimasu.)
“I’ll go immediately.”
→ すぐ戻ります。
(Sugu modorimasu.)
“I’ll be right back.”
→ すぐ電話します。
(Sugu denwa shimasu.)
“I’ll call immediately.”
もうすぐ (Soon)
もうすぐ refers to something that will happen in the near future.
Examples:
→ 電車はもうすぐ来ます。
(Densha wa mōsugu kimasu.)
“The train will arrive soon.”
→ もうすぐ春です。
(Mōsugu haru desu.)
“It will be spring soon.”
→ もうすぐ授業が始まります。
(Mōsugu jugyō ga hajimarimasu.)
“Class will start soon.”
たった今 (Just Now)
たった今 emphasizes that something happened only moments ago.
Examples:
→ たった今帰りました。
(Tatta ima kaerimashita.)
“I just got back.”
→ たった今電話しました。
(Tatta ima denwa shimashita.)
“I just called.”
→ たった今終わりました。
(Tatta ima owarimashita.)
“It just finished.”
いつも (Always)
いつも indicates a regular or constant habit.
Examples:
→ いつも早く起きます。
(Itsumo hayaku okimasu.)
“I always wake up early.”
→ いつも日本語を勉強します。
(Itsumo Nihongo o benkyō shimasu.)
“I always study Japanese.”
最近 (Recently)
最近 refers to the recent past or present period.
Examples:
→ 最近忙しいです。
(Saikin isogashii desu.)
“I’ve been busy recently.”
→ 最近日本語を勉強し始めました。
(Saikin Nihongo o benkyō shi hajimemashita.)
“I recently started studying Japanese.”
→ 最近新しい仕事を始めました。
(Saikin atarashii shigoto o hajimemashita.)
“I recently started a new job.”
将来 (In the Future)
将来 refers to future plans, goals, or expectations.
Examples:
→ 将来日本で働きたいです。
(Shōrai Nihon de hatarakitai desu.)
“I want to work in Japan in the future.”
→ 将来医者になりたいです。
(Shōrai isha ni naritai desu.)
“I want to become a doctor in the future.”
→ 将来海外に住みたいです。
(Shōrai kaigai ni sumitai desu.)
“I want to live abroad in the future.”
昔 (Long Ago)
昔 refers to the distant past.
Examples:
→ 昔この町は小さかったです。
(Mukashi kono machi wa chiisakatta desu.)
“This town was small long ago.”
→ 昔日本に住んでいました。
(Mukashi Nihon ni sunde imashita.)
“I lived in Japan long ago.”
→ 昔よく遊びました。
(Mukashi yoku asobimashita.)
“I often played long ago.”
その後 (After That)
その後 introduces an event that happened later.
Examples:
→ 昼ご飯を食べました。その後勉強しました。
(Hirugohan o tabemashita. Sono ato benkyō shimashita.)
“I ate lunch. After that, I studied.”
→ 会議が終わりました。その後帰りました。
(Kaigi ga owarimashita. Sono ato kaerimashita.)
“The meeting ended. After that, I went home.”
その前 (Before That)
その前 refers to an earlier event.
Examples:
→ 日本へ行きました。その前は韓国にいました。
(Nihon e ikimashita. Sono mae wa Kankoku ni imashita.)
“I went to Japan. Before that, I was in Korea.”
→ 昼ご飯を食べました。その前に買い物をしました。
(Hirugohan o tabemashita. Sono mae ni kaimono o shimashita.)
“I ate lunch. Before that, I went shopping.”
Time Sequence Expressions
These expressions are commonly used to describe the order of events.
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| まず | mazu | first |
| 次に | tsugi ni | next |
| その後 | sono ato | after that |
| 最後に | saigo ni | finally |
Example:
→ まず朝ご飯を食べます。
(Mazu asagohan o tabemasu.)
“First, I eat breakfast.”
→ 次に学校へ行きます。
(Tsugi ni gakkō e ikimasu.)
“Next, I go to school.”
→ その後勉強します。
(Sono ato benkyō shimasu.)
“After that, I study.”
→ 最後に家へ帰ります。
(Saigo ni ie e kaerimasu.)
“Finally, I return home.”
These everyday time expressions are among the most frequently used words in Japanese and appear constantly in conversations, stories, news reports, schedules, and JLPT examinations. Mastering them makes it easier to discuss events in the present, past, and future while creating more natural and connected Japanese sentences.
Time Expressions with Japanese Verb Tenses
Japanese time expressions work closely with verb tenses to indicate when an action takes place. Unlike English, Japanese does not have a separate future tense. Instead, the present tense is often used to express both present and future actions, with time expressions providing additional context.
Because of this relationship, understanding how time expressions interact with Japanese verb tenses is essential for interpreting the intended meaning of a sentence.
Compare these examples:
→ 今日勉強します。
(Kyō benkyō shimasu.)
“I study today.”
→ 明日勉強します。
(Ashita benkyō shimasu.)
“I will study tomorrow.”
The verb form is identical in both sentences. The time expression changes the meaning.
Present Tense
Japanese present tense is used for:
→ Current actions
→ General facts
→ States
→ Regular activities
The most common present tense forms are:
→ ～ます
→ ～です
Examples:
→ 今勉強します。
(Ima benkyō shimasu.)
“I am studying now.”
→ 今日は忙しいです。
(Kyō wa isogashii desu.)
“I am busy today.”
→ 今週日本語を勉強します。
(Konshū Nihongo o benkyō shimasu.)
“I study Japanese this week.”
→ 最近忙しいです。
(Saikin isogashii desu.)
“I have been busy recently.”
Common present-time expressions:
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 今 | ima | now |
| 今日 | kyō | today |
| 今朝 | kesa | this morning |
| 今晩 | konban | tonight |
| 今週 | konshū | this week |
| 今月 | kongetsu | this month |
| 今年 | kotoshi | this year |
| 最近 | saikin | recently |
| このごろ | kono goro | these days |
Examples:
→ 今本を読んでいます。
(Ima hon o yonde imasu.)
“I am reading a book now.”
→ このごろ忙しいです。
(Kono goro isogashii desu.)
“I have been busy these days.”
Past Tense
Japanese past tense is formed using:
→ ～ました
→ ～でした
Past tense is commonly used with time expressions that refer to completed actions.
Examples:
→ 昨日映画を見ました。
(Kinō eiga o mimashita.)
“I watched a movie yesterday.”
→ 先週東京へ行きました。
(Senshū Tōkyō e ikimashita.)
“I went to Tokyo last week.”
→ 去年大学を卒業しました。
(Kyonen daigaku o sotsugyō shimashita.)
“I graduated from university last year.”
Common past-time expressions:
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 昨日 | kinō | yesterday |
| おととい | ototoi | the day before yesterday |
| 先週 | senshū | last week |
| 先月 | sengetsu | last month |
| 去年 | kyonen | last year |
| 昔 | mukashi | long ago |
| 以前 | izen | before |
| その前 | sono mae | before that |
Examples:
→ おととい友達に会いました。
(Ototoi tomodachi ni aimashita.)
“I met a friend the day before yesterday.”
→ 先月新しい車を買いました。
(Sengetsu atarashii kuruma o kaimashita.)
“I bought a new car last month.”
→ 昔この町に住んでいました。
(Mukashi kono machi ni sunde imashita.)
“I lived in this town long ago.”
Future Meaning
Japanese does not have a separate future tense like English.
Instead, the present tense form is used together with future-related time expressions.
Examples:
→ 明日勉強します。
(Ashita benkyō shimasu.)
“I will study tomorrow.”
→ 来週旅行します。
(Raishū ryokō shimasu.)
“I will travel next week.”
→ 来月引っ越します。
(Raigetsu hikkoshimasu.)
“I will move next month.”
→ 来年日本へ行きます。
(Rainen Nihon e ikimasu.)
“I will go to Japan next year.”
Notice that all of these verbs appear in the same form used for present tense.
The time expression provides the future meaning.
Common future-time expressions:
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 明日 | ashita | tomorrow |
| あさって | asatte | the day after tomorrow |
| 来週 | raishū | next week |
| 来月 | raigetsu | next month |
| 来年 | rainen | next year |
| 将来 | shōrai | in the future |
| もうすぐ | mōsugu | soon |
| 後で | ato de | later |
Examples:
→ あさって試験があります。
(Asatte shiken ga arimasu.)
“There is an exam the day after tomorrow.”
→ もうすぐ電車が来ます。
(Mōsugu densha ga kimasu.)
“The train will arrive soon.”
→ 将来日本で働きたいです。
(Shōrai Nihon de hatarakitai desu.)
“I want to work in Japan in the future.”
Habitual Actions
Many time expressions are used to describe repeated or habitual actions.
These actions occur regularly rather than at one specific point in time.
Examples:
→ 毎日日本語を勉強します。
(Mainichi Nihongo o benkyō shimasu.)
“I study Japanese every day.”
→ 毎週ジムへ行きます。
(Maishū jimu e ikimasu.)
“I go to the gym every week.”
→ いつも早く起きます。
(Itsumo hayaku okimasu.)
“I always wake up early.”
→ よく映画を見ます。
(Yoku eiga o mimasu.)
“I often watch movies.”
Common habitual time expressions:
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 毎日 | mainichi | every day |
| 毎週 | maishū | every week |
| 毎月 | maitsuki | every month |
| 毎年 | maitoshi | every year |
| いつも | itsumo | always |
| よく | yoku | often |
| ときどき | tokidoki | sometimes |
| たまに | tama ni | occasionally |
Examples:
→ 毎朝６時に起きます。
(Maiasa roku-ji ni okimasu.)
“I wake up at 6 o’clock every morning.”
→ 毎年日本へ旅行します。
(Maitoshi Nihon e ryokō shimasu.)
“I travel to Japan every year.”
→ ときどき寿司を食べます。
(Tokidoki sushi o tabemasu.)
“I sometimes eat sushi.”
→ たまに映画館へ行きます。
(Tama ni eigakan e ikimasu.)
“I occasionally go to the movie theater.”
How Time Expressions Change Verb Meaning
One of the most important aspects of Japanese grammar is that the same verb form can express different time references depending on the accompanying time expression.
| Time Expression | Verb | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 今日 | 勉強します | I study today |
| 明日 | 勉強します | I will study tomorrow |
| 昨日 | 勉強しました | I studied yesterday |
| 毎日 | 勉強します | I study every day |
| 来週 | 行きます | I will go next week |
| 先週 | 行きました | I went last week |
| 今年 | 働きます | I work this year |
| 来年 | 働きます | I will work next year |
Compare:
→ 今日東京へ行きます。
(Kyō Tōkyō e ikimasu.)
“I am going to Tokyo today.”
→ 明日東京へ行きます。
(Ashita Tōkyō e ikimasu.)
“I will go to Tokyo tomorrow.”
→ 昨日東京へ行きました。
(Kinō Tōkyō e ikimashita.)
“I went to Tokyo yesterday.”
The verb changes only when the action is placed in the past. Present and future meanings are often distinguished entirely by the time expression itself.
Understanding this relationship between time expressions and verb tenses is essential for interpreting Japanese sentences accurately and expressing time naturally in conversation.
Time Expressions in Real-Life Conversations
Learning individual time expressions is important, but understanding how they are used in real conversations is what allows you to communicate naturally. Japanese speakers use time expressions constantly when discussing school schedules, work hours, travel plans, daily routines, and social activities.
The dialogues below demonstrate how common Japanese time expressions appear in realistic situations.
School
Students frequently discuss class schedules, exams, homework, and school events using time expressions.
Asking About Class Time
| Speaker | Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 授業は何時に始まりますか。 | Jugyō wa nan-ji ni hajimarimasu ka. | What time does class start? |
| B | 午前９時に始まります。 | Gozen ku-ji ni hajimarimasu. | It starts at 9:00 a.m. |
| A | 何時に終わりますか。 | Nan-ji ni owarimasu ka. | What time does it end? |
| B | 午後３時に終わります。 | Gogo san-ji ni owarimasu. | It ends at 3:00 p.m. |
Talking About an Exam
| Speaker | Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | テストはいつですか。 | Tesuto wa itsu desu ka. | When is the test? |
| B | 来週の月曜日です。 | Raishū no getsuyōbi desu. | It’s next Monday. |
| A | 何時に始まりますか。 | Nan-ji ni hajimarimasu ka. | What time does it start? |
| B | 午前１０時です。 | Gozen jū-ji desu. | It’s at 10:00 a.m. |
Discussing Homework
| Speaker | Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 宿題はいつまでですか。 | Shukudai wa itsu made desu ka. | When is the homework due? |
| B | 金曜日までです。 | Kin’yōbi made desu. | It’s due by Friday. |
| A | 今日始めます。 | Kyō hajimemasu. | I’ll start today. |
| B | 私も今日やります。 | Watashi mo kyō yarimasu. | I’ll do it today too. |
Work
Time expressions are essential in workplace communication because meetings, schedules, deadlines, and projects depend on specific times and dates.
Scheduling a Meeting
| Speaker | Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 会議はいつですか。 | Kaigi wa itsu desu ka. | When is the meeting? |
| B | 明日の午後２時です。 | Ashita no gogo ni-ji desu. | It’s tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. |
| A | どのくらいですか。 | Dono kurai desu ka. | How long is it? |
| B | １時間です。 | Ichi-jikan desu. | One hour. |
Discussing Working Hours
| Speaker | Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 何時から働きますか。 | Nan-ji kara hatarakimasu ka. | What time do you work from? |
| B | ９時からです。 | Ku-ji kara desu. | From 9:00. |
| A | 何時までですか。 | Nan-ji made desu ka. | Until what time? |
| B | ５時までです。 | Go-ji made desu. | Until 5:00. |
Talking About a Deadline
| Speaker | Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | このプロジェクトはいつまでですか。 | Kono purojekuto wa itsu made desu ka. | When is this project due? |
| B | 今月末までです。 | Kongetsu matsu made desu. | By the end of this month. |
| A | 分かりました。 | Wakarimashita. | Understood. |
| B | よろしくお願いします。 | Yoroshiku onegaishimasu. | Thank you. |
Travel
Travel conversations often involve departure times, arrival times, dates, and duration expressions.
Asking About a Train
| Speaker | Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 次の電車は何時ですか。 | Tsugi no densha wa nan-ji desu ka. | What time is the next train? |
| B | ３時１５分です。 | San-ji jūgo-fun desu. | It’s at 3:15. |
| A | もうすぐですか。 | Mōsugu desu ka. | Is it coming soon? |
| B | はい、もうすぐ来ます。 | Hai, mōsugu kimasu. | Yes, it will arrive soon. |
Discussing a Trip
| Speaker | Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | いつ日本へ行きますか。 | Itsu Nihon e ikimasu ka. | When are you going to Japan? |
| B | 来月行きます。 | Raigetsu ikimasu. | I’m going next month. |
| A | どのくらい滞在しますか。 | Dono kurai taizai shimasu ka. | How long will you stay? |
| B | ２週間です。 | Ni-shūkan desu. | Two weeks. |
At the Airport
| Speaker | Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 飛行機は何時に出発しますか。 | Hikōki wa nan-ji ni shuppatsu shimasu ka. | What time does the plane depart? |
| B | 午前８時です。 | Gozen hachi-ji desu. | At 8:00 a.m. |
| A | 何時に到着しますか。 | Nan-ji ni tōchaku shimasu ka. | What time will it arrive? |
| B | 午後１時です。 | Gogo ichi-ji desu. | At 1:00 p.m. |
Daily Routine
Time expressions are used constantly when discussing daily habits and schedules.
Morning Routine
| Speaker | Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 何時に起きますか。 | Nan-ji ni okimasu ka. | What time do you wake up? |
| B | 毎朝６時に起きます。 | Maiasa roku-ji ni okimasu. | I wake up at 6:00 every morning. |
| A | その後何をしますか。 | Sono ato nani o shimasu ka. | What do you do after that? |
| B | 朝ご飯を食べます。 | Asagohan o tabemasu. | I eat breakfast. |
Evening Routine
| Speaker | Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 夜は何をしますか。 | Yoru wa nani o shimasu ka. | What do you do at night? |
| B | ときどき映画を見ます。 | Tokidoki eiga o mimasu. | I sometimes watch movies. |
| A | 何時に寝ますか。 | Nan-ji ni nemasu ka. | What time do you go to bed? |
| B | １１時ごろ寝ます。 | Jūichi-ji goro nemasu. | I go to bed around 11:00. |
Meeting Friends
Time expressions are essential when arranging plans and social activities.
Making Plans
| Speaker | Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | いつ会いますか。 | Itsu aimasu ka. | When shall we meet? |
| B | 明日はどうですか。 | Ashita wa dō desu ka. | How about tomorrow? |
| A | いいですね。 | Ii desu ne. | Sounds good. |
| B | ２時に会いましょう。 | Ni-ji ni aimashō. | Let’s meet at 2:00. |
Weekend Plans
| Speaker | Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 今週末は何をしますか。 | Konshūmatsu wa nani o shimasu ka. | What are you doing this weekend? |
| B | 土曜日に買い物へ行きます。 | Doyōbi ni kaimono e ikimasu. | I’m going shopping on Saturday. |
| A | 日曜日はどうですか。 | Nichiyōbi wa dō desu ka. | What about Sunday? |
| B | 家で休みます。 | Ie de yasumimasu. | I’ll relax at home. |
Common Time Expressions Used in Conversations
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 今 | ima | now |
| 今日 | kyō | today |
| 明日 | ashita | tomorrow |
| 昨日 | kinō | yesterday |
| 来週 | raishū | next week |
| 来月 | raigetsu | next month |
| 来年 | rainen | next year |
| すぐ | sugu | immediately |
| もうすぐ | mōsugu | soon |
| 後で | ato de | later |
| 午前 | gozen | a.m. |
| 午後 | gogo | p.m. |
| ごろ | goro | around |
| から | kara | from |
| まで | made | until |
| 毎日 | mainichi | every day |
| いつも | itsumo | always |
| ときどき | tokidoki | sometimes |
These dialogues demonstrate how Japanese time expressions function in realistic situations. Whether discussing school schedules, work meetings, travel plans, daily habits, or social activities, time expressions provide the framework that allows speakers to communicate clearly about when events happen and how long they last.
Vocabulary Commonly Used with Time Expressions
Time expressions rarely appear alone in Japanese. In real conversations, stories, schedules, news reports, and daily interactions, they are often combined with additional vocabulary that helps describe sequence, duration, frequency, deadlines, routines, and events.
Understanding these commonly used words will make it easier to follow natural Japanese conversations and read authentic content.
For example:
→ 今すぐ行きます。
(Ima sugu ikimasu.)
“I’ll go right now.”
→ 最近忙しいです。
(Saikin isogashii desu.)
“I’ve been busy recently.”
→ その後勉強しました。
(Sono ato benkyō shimashita.)
“After that, I studied.”
When reading beginner-friendly stories and dialogues, time expressions frequently appear alongside these words to create a clear sequence of events. Resources such as Learn Japanese Through Stories for Absolute Beginners (JLPT N5) provide many examples of how vocabulary related to time naturally appears in everyday conversations and simple narratives.
Essential Vocabulary Used with Time Expressions
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| いつ | itsu | when |
| 今 | ima | now |
| 今日 | kyō | today |
| 明日 | ashita | tomorrow |
| 昨日 | kinō | yesterday |
| すぐ | sugu | immediately |
| もうすぐ | mōsugu | soon |
| たった今 | tatta ima | just now |
| 後で | ato de | later |
| 後ほど | nochihodo | later (formal) |
| 先に | saki ni | beforehand |
| 最近 | saikin | recently |
| このごろ | kono goro | these days |
| 将来 | shōrai | in the future |
| 昔 | mukashi | long ago |
| 以前 | izen | before |
| その前 | sono mae | before that |
| その後 | sono ato | after that |
| まず | mazu | first |
| 次に | tsugi ni | next |
| 最後に | saigo ni | finally |
| いつも | itsumo | always |
| よく | yoku | often |
| ときどき | tokidoki | sometimes |
| たまに | tama ni | occasionally |
| 毎日 | mainichi | every day |
| 毎週 | maishū | every week |
| 毎月 | maitsuki | every month |
| 毎年 | maitoshi | every year |
| ごろ | goro | around / approximately |
| ころ | koro | around the time when |
| から | kara | from |
| まで | made | until |
| 間 | aida | during |
| 間に | aida ni | while / during |
| 前 | mae | before |
| 後 | ato | after |
| 朝 | asa | morning |
| 昼 | hiru | noon / daytime |
| 夕方 | yūgata | evening |
| 夜 | yoru | night |
| 午前 | gozen | a.m. |
| 午後 | gogo | p.m. |
| 週末 | shūmatsu | weekend |
| 平日 | heijitsu | weekday |
| 予定 | yotei | schedule / plan |
| 約束 | yakusoku | appointment |
| 会議 | kaigi | meeting |
| 締め切り | shimekiri | deadline |
| 休暇 | kyūka | vacation |
Vocabulary for Sequencing Events
These words help connect actions in chronological order.
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| まず | mazu | first |
| 次に | tsugi ni | next |
| その後 | sono ato | after that |
| 最後に | saigo ni | finally |
Examples:
→ まず朝ご飯を食べます。
(Mazu asagohan o tabemasu.)
“First, I eat breakfast.”
→ 次に学校へ行きます。
(Tsugi ni gakkō e ikimasu.)
“Next, I go to school.”
→ その後勉強します。
(Sono ato benkyō shimasu.)
“After that, I study.”
→ 最後に寝ます。
(Saigo ni nemasu.)
“Finally, I go to sleep.”
Vocabulary for Approximate Time
Japanese often uses special words when the exact time is unknown or unimportant.
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| ごろ | goro | around |
| ころ | koro | around the time when |
| 約 | yaku | approximately |
Examples:
→ ７時ごろ帰ります。
(Shichi-ji goro kaerimasu.)
“I’ll return around 7:00.”
→ 子供のころ日本に住んでいました。
(Kodomo no koro Nihon ni sunde imashita.)
“I lived in Japan when I was a child.”
→ 約１時間かかります。
(Yaku ichi-jikan kakarimasu.)
“It takes approximately one hour.”
Vocabulary for Duration
These words commonly appear with duration expressions.
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 時間 | jikan | hour(s) |
| 日間 | nichi-kan | day(s) |
| 週間 | shūkan | week(s) |
| か月 | kagetsu | month(s) |
| 年間 | nenkan | year(s) |
Examples:
→ ２時間勉強しました。
(Ni-jikan benkyō shimashita.)
“I studied for two hours.”
→ ３週間旅行しました。
(San-shūkan ryokō shimashita.)
“I traveled for three weeks.”
→ １年間日本語を勉強しました。
(Ichi-nenkan Nihongo o benkyō shimashita.)
“I studied Japanese for one year.”
Vocabulary for Schedules and Planning
These words are extremely common in conversations involving future events.
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 予定 | yotei | plan / schedule |
| 約束 | yakusoku | appointment |
| 会議 | kaigi | meeting |
| 締め切り | shimekiri | deadline |
| 休暇 | kyūka | vacation |
Examples:
→ 来週会議があります。
(Raishū kaigi ga arimasu.)
“There is a meeting next week.”
→ 金曜日が締め切りです。
(Kin’yōbi ga shimekiri desu.)
“The deadline is Friday.”
→ 来月休暇を取ります。
(Raigetsu kyūka o torimasu.)
“I will take a vacation next month.”
Vocabulary Frequently Found in Stories
Many Japanese stories and narratives rely heavily on time-related vocabulary to establish when events occur and in what order they happen.
Common examples include:
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 昔 | mukashi | long ago |
| ある日 | aru hi | one day |
| その日 | sono hi | that day |
| 次の日 | tsugi no hi | the next day |
| 毎日 | mainichi | every day |
| 突然 | totsuzen | suddenly |
| やがて | yagate | eventually |
| 最後に | saigo ni | finally |
Examples:
→ 昔、小さな村がありました。
(Mukashi, chiisana mura ga arimashita.)
“Long ago, there was a small village.”
→ ある日、男の子が森へ行きました。
(Aru hi, otokonoko ga mori e ikimashita.)
“One day, a boy went into the forest.”
→ 次の日、彼はまた来ました。
(Tsugi no hi, kare wa mata kimashita.)
“The next day, he came again.”
These expressions appear repeatedly in beginner-level stories and dialogues. Reading materials such as Learn Japanese Through Stories for Absolute Beginners (JLPT N5) help learners see how time expressions and related vocabulary work together naturally to create clear timelines and easy-to-follow narratives.
By mastering these supporting vocabulary words, learners can understand not only when something happens, but also the sequence, duration, frequency, and context of events in Japanese communication.
Time Expressions in the JLPT
Time expressions are tested at every level of the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT). As learners progress from JLPT N5 to N1, they encounter increasingly complex vocabulary, grammar patterns, time-related particles, formal expressions, and nuanced ways of describing time relationships.
At beginner levels, the focus is on basic time vocabulary, dates, days, months, and simple scheduling. Intermediate levels introduce relative time expressions, duration, sequence markers, and more complex sentence structures. Advanced levels expand into formal writing, business communication, academic texts, and sophisticated narrative expressions.
Understanding time expressions is important because they appear in:
→ Vocabulary questions
→ Grammar questions
→ Reading passages
→ Listening exercises
→ Everyday conversation scenarios
Time Expressions in JLPT N5
JLPT N5 introduces the fundamental time expressions needed for basic communication. Learners are expected to recognize and use common words related to clock time, dates, days, months, years, frequency, and daily routines.
Coverage
Typical JLPT N5 time-related vocabulary includes:
→ 今日 (today)
→ 明日 (tomorrow)
→ 昨日 (yesterday)
→ 今 (now)
→ 朝 (morning)
→ 昼 (afternoon)
→ 夜 (night)
→ 月曜日 (Monday)
→ 日曜日 (Sunday)
→ １月 (January)
→ １２月 (December)
→ １日 (first day of the month)
→ ２０日 (twentieth day of the month)
→ 午前 (A.M.)
→ 午後 (P.M.)
→ 毎日 (every day)
→ 毎週 (every week)
→ 毎月 (every month)
→ 毎年 (every year)
Examples:
→ 毎日日本語を勉強します。
(Mainichi Nihongo o benkyō shimasu.)
“I study Japanese every day.”
→ 月曜日に学校へ行きます。
(Getsuyōbi ni gakkō e ikimasu.)
“I go to school on Monday.”
→ 午前７時に起きます。
(Gozen shichi-ji ni okimasu.)
“I wake up at 7:00 a.m.”
Common Patterns
N5 learners should be comfortable with patterns such as:
→ Time + に
→ Day + に
→ Date + に
→ 何時ですか
→ 〜から
→ 〜まで
Examples:
→ ９時に始まります。
(Ku-ji ni hajimarimasu.)
“It starts at 9:00.”
→ 金曜日に会います。
(Kin’yōbi ni aimasu.)
“I will meet you on Friday.”
→ ９時から５時まで働きます。
(Ku-ji kara go-ji made hatarakimasu.)
“I work from 9:00 to 5:00.”
For a complete explanation of these beginner-level grammar patterns, Mastering Japanese Grammar for JLPT N5 provides detailed coverage of time expressions, particles, counters, sentence patterns, and everyday usage commonly tested on the exam.
Time Expressions in JLPT N4
JLPT N4 expands significantly beyond basic dates and times. Learners begin using more sophisticated expressions related to frequency, duration, relative time, and connected events.
Coverage
Common N4 time expressions include:
→ おととい (the day before yesterday)
→ あさって (the day after tomorrow)
→ 最近 (recently)
→ このごろ (these days)
→ 先週 (last week)
→ 来週 (next week)
→ 先月 (last month)
→ 来月 (next month)
→ 去年 (last year)
→ 来年 (next year)
→ 一昨年 (the year before last)
→ 再来年 (the year after next)
→ しばらく (for a while)
→ 間 (during)
→ 間に (while)
Examples:
→ 最近忙しいです。
(Saikin isogashii desu.)
“I’ve been busy recently.”
→ 来週旅行します。
(Raishū ryokō shimasu.)
“I will travel next week.”
→ 日本に２年間住みました。
(Nihon ni ni-nenkan sumimashita.)
“I lived in Japan for two years.”
Common Patterns
N4 learners frequently encounter:
→ 〜間
→ 〜間に
→ Duration expressions
→ Relative time expressions
→ Sequence expressions
Examples:
→ 夏休みの間、日本語を勉強しました。
(Natsuyasumi no aida Nihongo o benkyō shimashita.)
“I studied Japanese during summer vacation.”
→ 映画を見ている間に電話がありました。
(Eiga o mite iru aida ni denwa ga arimashita.)
“I received a phone call while watching a movie.”
→ その後帰りました。
(Sono ato kaerimashita.)
“After that, I went home.”
For learners preparing for this level, Mastering Japanese Grammar for JLPT N4 covers the expanded range of time-related grammar, duration expressions, sequence markers, and intermediate sentence patterns that frequently appear on the exam.
Time Expressions in JLPT N3 and Above
From JLPT N3 onward, learners encounter much more nuanced and sophisticated uses of time. The focus shifts from simple scheduling and everyday routines to complex relationships between events, formal language, written Japanese, business communication, and advanced reading comprehension.
Advanced Usage
N3 and higher levels introduce expressions such as:
→ たった今 (just now)
→ やがて (eventually)
→ ついに (finally)
→ 以来 (since)
→ 当時 (at that time)
→ 現在 (currently)
→ 将来 (in the future)
→ 近年 (in recent years)
→ 長年 (for many years)
→ かつて (once, formerly)
Examples:
→ 日本に来て以来、日本語を勉強しています。
(Nihon ni kite irai, Nihongo o benkyō shiteimasu.)
“I have been studying Japanese since coming to Japan.”
→ 当時、私は大学生でした。
(Tōji, watashi wa daigakusei deshita.)
“At that time, I was a university student.”
→ 近年、日本語学習者が増えています。
(Kinnen, Nihongo gakushūsha ga fuete imasu.)
“In recent years, the number of Japanese learners has increased.”
Formal Expressions
Advanced JLPT levels include formal vocabulary commonly found in newspapers, business documents, academic writing, and official announcements.
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 現在 | genzai | currently |
| 当時 | tōji | at that time |
| 近年 | kinnen | recent years |
| 長年 | naganen | many years |
| 将来的に | shōraiteki ni | in the future |
| 期限 | kigen | deadline |
| 期間 | kikan | period |
| 即日 | sokujitsu | same day |
| 翌日 | yokujitsu | the following day |
| 翌年 | yokunen | the following year |
Examples:
→ 翌日に結果が発表されました。
(Yokujitsu ni kekka ga happyō saremashita.)
“The results were announced the following day.”
→ 長年この会社で働いています。
(Naganen kono kaisha de hataraite imasu.)
“I have worked at this company for many years.”
→ 現在新しい計画を進めています。
(Genzai atarashii keikaku o susumete imasu.)
“We are currently advancing a new project.”
Time Expressions in Reading and Listening Sections
At N3 and above, time expressions are often used to:
→ Establish timelines
→ Connect events
→ Describe historical developments
→ Explain cause-and-effect relationships
→ Organize narratives
→ Present formal information
Examples commonly found in reading passages:
→ その後
→ その前
→ 当時
→ 以来
→ 近年
→ 現在
→ 将来
→ やがて
Learners are expected not only to understand the vocabulary itself but also to interpret how events relate to one another chronologically.
For learners preparing for intermediate and advanced Japanese, Mastering Japanese Grammar for JLPT N3 provides detailed explanations of complex time-related grammar, sequencing expressions, formal usage, and advanced sentence structures that frequently appear in JLPT N3 reading and grammar sections.
Time Expression Progression Across JLPT Levels
| JLPT Level | Main Focus |
|---|---|
| N5 | Clock time, days, dates, months, years, frequency, に with time |
| N4 | Relative time, duration, sequence expressions, 間, 間に |
| N3 | Advanced timelines, 以来, 当時, formal vocabulary, narrative sequencing |
| N2 | Academic and formal time references, written Japanese usage |
| N1 | Highly nuanced temporal expressions, literary and professional language |
As learners progress through the JLPT levels, time expressions evolve from simple scheduling vocabulary into sophisticated tools for describing chronology, duration, sequence, historical events, future plans, and complex relationships between actions and events.
Related Japanese Grammar Structures
Time expressions in Japanese are closely connected to several important grammar structures. These grammar points help speakers indicate specific times, approximate times, starting points, ending points, durations, and the relationship between multiple events.
Many of these structures appear together in everyday conversations, JLPT grammar questions, reading passages, and listening exercises.
Examples:
→ ７時に起きます。
(I wake up at 7:00.)
→ ９時から５時まで働きます。
(I work from 9:00 to 5:00.)
→ ８時ごろ帰ります。
(I will return around 8:00.)
→ 子供のころ日本に住んでいました。
(I lived in Japan when I was a child.)
→ 食事の後で勉強します。
(I will study after dinner.)
Understanding how these grammar structures interact with time expressions helps learners build more accurate and natural Japanese sentences.
Comparison Table
| Grammar | Function | Example |
|---|---|---|
| に | Indicates a specific point in time | ７時に起きます。 |
| から | Indicates a starting point | ９時から働きます。 |
| まで | Indicates an ending point | ５時まで働きます。 |
| ごろ | Indicates an approximate time | ８時ごろ帰ります。 |
| ころ | Indicates an approximate period or stage of life | 子供のころ日本に住んでいました。 |
| 前 | Indicates before an event or time | 寝る前に本を読みます。 |
| 後 | Indicates after an event or time | 授業の後で勉強します。 |
| 間 | Indicates an entire duration | 夏休みの間勉強しました。 |
| 間に | Indicates something happens during a period | 勉強している間に電話がありました。 |
に
The particle に marks a specific point in time when an action occurs.
Common uses:
→ Clock times
→ Days of the week
→ Dates
→ Months
→ Years
Examples:
→ ６時に起きます。
(Roku-ji ni okimasu.)
“I wake up at 6:00.”
→ 月曜日に学校へ行きます。
(Getsuyōbi ni gakkō e ikimasu.)
“I go to school on Monday.”
→ ５月１０日に会います。
(Go-gatsu tōka ni aimasu.)
“I will meet you on May 10.”
→ ２０２５年に卒業します。
(Ni-sen nijūgo-nen ni sotsugyō shimasu.)
“I will graduate in 2025.”
から
The particle から marks the beginning of a time period.
Meaning:
→ From
→ Starting at
Examples:
→ ９時から働きます。
(Ku-ji kara hatarakimasu.)
“I work from 9:00.”
→ 月曜日から授業が始まります。
(Getsuyōbi kara jugyō ga hajimarimasu.)
“Classes start on Monday.”
→ 来月から新しい仕事を始めます。
(Raigetsu kara atarashii shigoto o hajimemasu.)
“I will start a new job next month.”
まで
The particle まで marks the end of a time period.
Meaning:
→ Until
→ Up to
Examples:
→ ５時まで働きます。
(Go-ji made hatarakimasu.)
“I work until 5:00.”
→ 金曜日まで待ちます。
(Kin’yōbi made machimasu.)
“I will wait until Friday.”
→ 来年まで日本にいます。
(Rainen made Nihon ni imasu.)
“I will stay in Japan until next year.”
ごろ
ごろ indicates an approximate clock time, date, or period.
Meaning:
→ Around
→ About
Examples:
→ ７時ごろ起きます。
(Shichi-ji goro okimasu.)
“I wake up around 7:00.”
→ ３時ごろ帰ります。
(San-ji goro kaerimasu.)
“I will return around 3:00.”
→ １２月ごろ雪が降ります。
(Jūni-gatsu goro yuki ga furimasu.)
“It snows around December.”
Table:
| Expression | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ７時ごろ | around 7:00 |
| ３時ごろ | around 3:00 |
| １０日ごろ | around the 10th |
| １２月ごろ | around December |
ころ
ころ refers to an approximate period, age, stage of life, or point in time.
Unlike ごろ, it is commonly used for broader time periods.
Examples:
→ 子供のころ日本に住んでいました。
(Kodomo no koro Nihon ni sunde imashita.)
“I lived in Japan when I was a child.”
→ 学生のころよく勉強しました。
(Gakusei no koro yoku benkyō shimashita.)
“I studied a lot when I was a student.”
→ 春ごろ桜が咲きます。
(Haru goro sakura ga sakimasu.)
“Cherry blossoms bloom around spring.”
Table:
| Expression | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 子供のころ | when I was a child |
| 学生のころ | when I was a student |
| 若いころ | when I was young |
| そのころ | around that time |
前
前 (まえ) indicates that something happens before another event or time.
Meaning:
→ Before
Structure:
→ Event + 前に
Examples:
→ 寝る前に本を読みます。
(Neru mae ni hon o yomimasu.)
“I read a book before sleeping.”
→ 学校へ行く前に朝ご飯を食べます。
(Gakkō e iku mae ni asagohan o tabemasu.)
“I eat breakfast before going to school.”
→ 会議の前に準備します。
(Kaigi no mae ni junbi shimasu.)
“I prepare before the meeting.”
後
後 (あと) indicates that something happens after another event.
Meaning:
→ After
Structure:
→ Event + 後で / 後に
Examples:
→ 食事の後で勉強します。
(Shokuji no ato de benkyō shimasu.)
“I study after dinner.”
→ 授業の後に友達と会います。
(Jugyō no ato ni tomodachi to aimasu.)
“I meet my friend after class.”
→ 仕事の後で帰ります。
(Shigoto no ato de kaerimasu.)
“I go home after work.”
間
間 (あいだ) indicates that something continues throughout an entire period.
Meaning:
→ During
→ Throughout
Examples:
→ 夏休みの間勉強しました。
(Natsuyasumi no aida benkyō shimashita.)
“I studied during summer vacation.”
→ 日本にいる間、日本語を勉強しました。
(Nihon ni iru aida Nihongo o benkyō shimashita.)
“I studied Japanese while I was in Japan.”
→ 会議の間話しませんでした。
(Kaigi no aida hanashimasen deshita.)
“I did not speak during the meeting.”
間に
間に (あいだに) indicates that an action occurs at some point within a larger period.
Meaning:
→ While
→ During
→ In the middle of
Examples:
→ 勉強している間に電話がありました。
(Benkyō shite iru aida ni denwa ga arimashita.)
“I received a phone call while studying.”
→ 私が留守の間に友達が来ました。
(Watashi ga rusu no aida ni tomodachi ga kimashita.)
“My friend came while I was away.”
→ 夏休みの間に本を十冊読みました。
(Natsuyasumi no aida ni hon o jussatsu yomimashita.)
“I read ten books during summer vacation.”
間 vs 間に
This distinction is commonly tested in JLPT grammar questions.
| Grammar | Meaning | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 間 | During the entire period | Continuous situation |
| 間に | At some point during the period | Single event occurs |
Examples:
→ 日本にいる間、日本語を勉強しました。
“I studied Japanese during my entire stay in Japan.”
→ 日本にいる間に友達ができました。
“I made friends while I was in Japan.”
In the first sentence, the studying continued throughout the stay.
In the second sentence, making friends happened at a particular point during the stay.
These grammar structures form the foundation of Japanese time-related communication and appear frequently in everyday conversations, written Japanese, and JLPT grammar sections.
Common Mistakes with Japanese Time Expressions
Japanese time expressions follow clear grammatical rules, but learners often make mistakes when deciding whether to use the particle に, reading dates, expressing duration, or creating time ranges.
Many of these errors appear frequently in JLPT exams, writing exercises, classroom assignments, and everyday conversations.
Understanding these common mistakes helps clarify the difference between:
→ Exact time and duration
→ Relative time and specific time
→ Starting points and ending points
→ Correct and incorrect particle usage
Unnecessary に
One of the most common mistakes is adding に after relative time expressions.
Relative time expressions already indicate a time reference and usually do not require に.
Common examples:
→ 今日
→ 明日
→ 昨日
→ 毎日
→ 今週
→ 来月
→ 去年
Incorrect:
→ 今日に勉強します。 ❌
Correct:
→ 今日勉強します。 ✅
Examples:
→ 明日学校へ行きます。 ✅
→ 昨日映画を見ました。 ✅
→ 毎日日本語を勉強します。 ✅
→ 来年日本へ行きます。 ✅
Missing に
The opposite mistake is forgetting に when using specific points in time.
Specific times generally require に.
Common examples:
→ Clock times
→ Days of the week
→ Dates
→ Months
→ Years
Incorrect:
→ ７時起きます。 ❌
Correct:
→ ７時に起きます。 ✅
Examples:
→ 月曜日に会います。 ✅
→ ５月１０日に出発します。 ✅
→ ８月に旅行します。 ✅
→ ２０２５年に卒業します。 ✅
Incorrect Date Readings
Japanese dates contain many irregular readings that learners frequently confuse.
Examples:
→ １日 = ついたち
→ ４日 = よっか
→ ８日 = ようか
→ １０日 = とおか
→ １４日 = じゅうよっか
→ ２０日 = はつか
→ ２４日 = にじゅうよっか
Incorrect:
→ ２０日 = にじゅうにち ❌
Correct:
→ ２０日 = はつか ✅
Incorrect:
→ ４日 = しにち ❌
Correct:
→ ４日 = よっか ✅
Incorrect:
→ ８日 = はちにち ❌
Correct:
→ ８日 = ようか ✅
Mixing Duration and Exact Time
Many learners confuse expressions that indicate when something happens with expressions that indicate how long something lasts.
Exact Time:
→ ７時
→ 月曜日
→ ５月１０日
→ ２０２５年
Duration:
→ ２時間
→ ３日間
→ ２週間
→ ５年間
Compare:
→ ７時に勉強します。
“I study at 7:00.”
→ ２時間勉強します。
“I study for two hours.”
The first indicates a point in time.
The second indicates duration.
Duration expressions usually do not use に.
Incorrect:
→ ２時間に勉強します。 ❌
Correct:
→ ２時間勉強します。 ✅
Incorrect:
→ ３年間に日本に住みました。 ❌
Correct:
→ ３年間日本に住みました。 ✅
Incorrect から〜まで Usage
Learners sometimes misuse から and まで or omit one part of the range.
Remember:
→ から = starting point
→ まで = ending point
→ から〜まで = complete range
Examples:
→ ９時から働きます。
“I work from 9:00.”
→ ５時まで働きます。
“I work until 5:00.”
→ ９時から５時まで働きます。
“I work from 9:00 to 5:00.”
Common mistakes:
Incorrect:
→ ９時まで５時から働きます。 ❌
Correct:
→ ９時から５時まで働きます。 ✅
Incorrect:
→ 月曜日まで金曜日から働きます。 ❌
Correct:
→ 月曜日から金曜日まで働きます。 ✅
Common Error Correction Table
| Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 今日に勉強します。 | 今日勉強します。 | Relative time expressions normally do not take に. |
| 明日に会います。 | 明日会います。 | 明日 does not require に. |
| 昨日に映画を見ました。 | 昨日映画を見ました。 | 昨日 is a relative time expression. |
| 毎日に勉強します。 | 毎日勉強します。 | Frequency expressions usually do not take に. |
| 来週に旅行します。 | 来週旅行します。 | Relative week expressions do not require に. |
| 来年に日本へ行きます。 | 来年日本へ行きます。 | Relative year expressions generally do not use に. |
| ７時起きます。 | ７時に起きます。 | Specific times require に. |
| ９時半会います。 | ９時半に会います。 | Exact times require に. |
| 月曜日会います。 | 月曜日に会います。 | Specific weekdays generally require に. |
| ５月１０日会います。 | ５月１０日に会います。 | Dates require に. |
| ８月旅行します。 | ８月に旅行します。 | Months commonly use に when indicating time. |
| ２０２５年卒業します。 | ２０２５年に卒業します。 | Specific years commonly use に. |
| ２０日（にじゅうにち） | ２０日（はつか） | ２０日 has an irregular reading. |
| ４日（しにち） | ４日（よっか） | ４日 uses an irregular reading. |
| ８日（はちにち） | ８日（ようか） | ８日 uses an irregular reading. |
| １４日（じゅうしにち） | １４日（じゅうよっか） | １４日 has a special reading. |
| ２時間に勉強します。 | ２時間勉強します。 | Duration expressions generally do not take に. |
| ３週間に旅行しました。 | ３週間旅行しました。 | Duration indicates length of time, not a point in time. |
| ５年間に働きました。 | ５年間働きました。 | Duration expressions normally appear without に. |
| ９時まで５時から働きます。 | ９時から５時まで働きます。 | から must come before まで. |
| 月曜日まで金曜日から働きます。 | 月曜日から金曜日まで働きます。 | Start point comes before end point. |
| １月まで３月から日本にいます。 | １月から３月まで日本にいます。 | Time range order is reversed. |
| 今日から明日から勉強します。 | 今日から明日まで勉強します。 | A complete range requires から〜まで. |
| ７時ごろにごろ帰ります。 | ７時ごろ帰ります。 | ごろ should not be repeated. |
| 子供のごろ日本に住んでいました。 | 子供のころ日本に住んでいました。 | ころ is used with stages of life and broader periods. |
| 勉強している間勉強しました。 | 勉強している間に電話がありました。 | 間 and 間に have different functions. |
Most Important Rule
A simple guideline that prevents many mistakes is:
→ Use に with specific points in time.
→ Usually do not use に with relative time expressions.
→ Duration expressions indicate length of time, not a point in time.
→ Use から for the starting point and まで for the ending point.
→ Memorize irregular date readings individually.
These five principles cover the majority of errors learners make when using Japanese time expressions.
Key Takeaways
→ Time expressions indicate when an action happens, how often it happens, or how long it lasts.
→ Japanese time expressions include clock times, dates, days, months, years, frequency expressions, duration expressions, and relative time expressions.
→ Specific times generally require the particle に.
→ Specific days of the week generally require the particle に.
→ Specific dates generally require the particle に.
→ Specific months commonly use the particle に when indicating time.
→ Specific years commonly use the particle に when indicating time.
→ Relative time expressions such as 今日, 明日, 昨日, 今週, 来月, and 来年 generally do not use に.
→ Clock times are expressed using 時.
→ Minutes are expressed using 分.
→ Seconds are expressed using 秒.
→ Half past the hour is expressed using 半.
→ A.M. is expressed as 午前.
→ P.M. is expressed as 午後.
→ Japanese dates follow the order Year → Month → Day.
→ Many days of the month have irregular readings.
→ １日 is read as ついたち.
→ ４日 is read as よっか.
→ ８日 is read as ようか.
→ １０日 is read as とおか.
→ ２０日 is read as はつか.
→ Duration expressions indicate how long an action lasts.
→ Duration expressions commonly use 時間, 日間, 週間, か月, and 年間.
→ Duration expressions generally do not take the particle に.
→ から indicates a starting point in time.
→ まで indicates an ending point in time.
→ から〜まで indicates a complete time range.
→ ごろ indicates an approximate time.
→ ころ indicates an approximate period or stage of life.
→ 前 indicates a time before another event.
→ 後 indicates a time after another event.
→ 間 indicates an action continues throughout an entire period.
→ 間に indicates an event occurs at some point during a period.
→ Frequency expressions include いつも, よく, ときどき, and たまに.
→ Relative time expressions include 今日, 明日, 昨日, 今週, 来週, 今月, 来月, 今年, and 来年.
→ Present-tense Japanese verbs can express present or future meaning depending on the time expression used.
→ Past-tense Japanese verbs are commonly used with past time expressions such as 昨日, 先週, and 去年.
→ JLPT N5 focuses on basic time vocabulary, dates, days, months, years, and the particle に.
→ JLPT N4 introduces duration expressions, relative time expressions, and patterns such as 間 and 間に.
→ JLPT N3 and higher levels include advanced time expressions such as 以来, 当時, 近年, and formal time-related vocabulary.
→ Exact time expressions identify when an action occurs.
→ Duration expressions identify how long an action lasts.
→ Time expressions frequently appear in everyday conversations, schedules, stories, reading passages, and JLPT questions.
Conclusion
Japanese time expressions form an essential part of everyday communication and allow speakers to discuss when actions occur, how often they happen, and how long they continue. They cover a wide range of categories, including clock times, days of the week, dates, months, years, relative time expressions, frequency expressions, duration expressions, and time ranges.
One of the most important grammar rules is the use of the particle に. Specific points in time such as clock times, dates, days, months, and years generally require に, while many relative time expressions such as 今日, 明日, 昨日, 今週, 来月, and 来年 typically do not.
A key distinction in Japanese is the difference between exact time expressions and relative time expressions. Exact time expressions identify a specific moment, while relative time expressions describe time in relation to the present moment. Another important distinction is between exact time and duration, where exact time answers “when” and duration answers “how long.”
Frequency expressions such as いつも, よく, ときどき, and たまに describe how often actions occur, while duration expressions such as 時間, 週間, か月, and 年間 describe the length of time an action continues.
Japanese dates and clock times follow consistent patterns, although several days of the month have irregular readings that must be memorized. Japanese dates are also written in the order Year → Month → Day, which differs from common English date formats.
The most important grammar distinctions involve knowing when to use に, how to express time ranges with から and まで, how approximate expressions such as ごろ and ころ function, and how structures such as 前, 後, 間, and 間に describe relationships between events in time. Together, these patterns provide the foundation for understanding and expressing time naturally in Japanese conversations, reading passages, and JLPT examinations.
Vikas Kumar is the founder of My Language Classes, a language learning platform dedicated to helping learners develop practical communication skills in Spanish, Japanese, and English through comprehensive grammar guides, structured learning resources, books, and evidence-informed educational content.
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