Time in Japanese
This free online Japanese language lesson is all about telling the time in Japanese. By listening to the audio, and practicing the Japanese words and phrases aloud, you’ll quickly learn how to ask for the time and tell others what time it is.
By the end of this lesson you’ll be able to set up a meeting, appointment, or date in Japanese, and be sure that you will be on time in Japan!
Resources for further reading:
Asking for the time in Japanese
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何時ですか？
なんじ ですか？
Nanji desuka?
What time is it ?
今何時ですか？
いま なんじ ですか？
Ima nanji desuka?
Do you have the time? (Formal)
今何時？
いま なんじ？
Ima nanji?
Do you have the time? (informal)
Telling the time in Japanese
And you may get as an answer…
はい、勿論です
はい、もちろん です
Hai, mochiron desu.
Yes, of course.
八時です
はちじ です
Hachiji desu.
It is 8 o'clock.
九時です
くじ です
Kuji desu.
It is 9 thirty.
十時十五分です
じゅうじ じゅうごふん です
Jūji jūgofun desu.
It's quarter past ten.
一時十五分前です
いちじ じゅうごふん まえ です
Ichiji jūgofun mae desu.
It's quarter to one.
十二時四十五分です
じゅうにじ よんじゅうごふん です
Jūniji yonjūgofun desu.
It's twelve forty five.
誤らなくてもいいですよ
あやまらなくても いいですよ
Ayamaranakutemo iidesuyo.
Please don't apologize.
申し訳ありませんが...ではありません
もうしわけ ありませんが ...では ありません
Mōshiwake arimasenga …dewa arimasen.
I'm afraid I'm not...
Making an appointment in Japanese
Now let's look at what you might be asked when you make a 待ち合わせ (appointment) to go to the doctor or to meet up with a friend.
予約していますか？
よやく して いますか？
Yoyaku shite imasuka?
Do you have an appointment?
いつ診察の予約をしたいですか？
いつ しんさつ の よやく を したい ですか？
Itsu shinsatsu no yoyaku o shitai desuka?
When do you want to have an appointment with the doctor?
いつが宜しいですか？
いつ が よろしい ですか？
Itsu ga yoroshii desuka?
When do you want to meet? (formal)
いつお会いしましょうか？
いつ おあい しましょうか？
Itsu oai shimashouka?
When shall we meet?
いつ会う？
いつ あう？
Itsu au?
When do you want to meet? (informal)
いつ に する？
いつ に する？
Itsu ni suru?
When do you want it?
いつ が いい？
いつ が いい？
Itsu ga ii?
When do you like it?
いつ に しようか？
いつ に しようか？
Itsu ni shiyōka?
When shall we make it?
And you may want to know how to have someone repeat when your appointment is…
私の約束はいつですか？
わたし の やくそく は いつ ですか？
Watashi no yakusoku wa itsu desuka?
When do I have my appointment?
今度いつお会いしましょうか？
こんど いつ おあい しましょうか？
Kondo itsu oai shimashouka?
When are we meeting again?
Useful vocabulary about time in Japanese
Finally, here are some useful Japanese vocabulary relating to time:
時計 / 腕時計
とけい / うでどけい
Tokei / Udedokei
Watch
掛け時計 / 置時計
かけどけい / おきどけい
Kakedokei / Okidokei
Clock
約束 / 予定
やくそく / よてい
Yakusoku / Yotei
Appointment
顔合わせ / ミーティング
かおあわせ / ミーティング
Kaoawase / Mītingu
Meeting
時間通りに
じかん どおりに
Jikan dōrini
To be on time
遅れて / 遅刻して
おくれて / ちこく して
Okurete / Chikoku shite
To be late
Now you have no excuse for being late to that meeting! Until next time...
If you want more lessons on Japanese time then I recommend these ones!
- Pronouncing the days of the week in Japanese.
- All the months in Japanese.
- All about telling the time in Japanese.
Sayōnara!
Sayaka Matsuura: Rocket Japanese
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