How to Express Time in Japanese, Along with Conversation Examples

Kapanlagi.com - In everyday life, expressing time in Japanese is an important skill for anyone interested in Japanese culture or planning to visit the country. The way to mention time in Japanese has its own nuances and can be an interesting thing to learn.

With a proper understanding of how to express time, KLovers can interact more smoothly in everyday situations in Japan. In this article, Kapanlagi will provide a way to express time in Japanese and some useful tips to easily and practically master it, suitable for beginners.

Well, no need to wait any longer. Let's take a look at an easy-to-understand way to express time in Japanese for you beginners. Check it out right away.

1. What is Time in Japanese?

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Time or hour is a very important concept in daily life. In Japan, the way of expressing and describing time also has interesting differences compared to the Indonesian language. Time in Japanese can be expressed as (tokei) or (jikan), depending on the context.

If tokei is a word used to refer to clocks or watches, as well as other devices used to measure time. This term is more often used in the context of physical objects, such as wall clocks, desk clocks, or wristwatches. Then there is jikan which literally means time.

This term is often used to express specific hours or time periods in a general sense. It can refer to specific times in a day, such as "one o'clock" or "three in the afternoon", or it can also refer to time in a broader sense. For example, like "free time" (jiyukan) or "study time" (benkyo jikan).

In Japan, time is often expressed using a different format than what is used in Western countries. And to express time in Japanese format, you will use kanji to indicate whether it's "gozen" for AM or "gogo" for PM, and this word is also accompanied by the hour behind it.

In everyday conversation context, both "tokei" and "jikan" can be used interchangeably depending on the situation. If you want to ask about the time, then you might use "nan-ji desu ka?" which literally means "What time is it?" using the word "ji" for "hour".

2. How to Express Time in Japanese?

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Expressing time in Japanese involves using specific words to indicate hours, minutes, and specific times. By understanding these guidelines, you can communicate about time more smoothly.

Remember to pay attention to context and situation when using appropriate words. Here are the common guidelines for expressing time in Japanese:

- Using "ji": This word is used to express time in the 24-hour format. For example, "7ji" (shichi-ji) means 7 AM or 07:00.

- Using "fun/pun": To express "30 minutes" in Japanese, you can use the phrase "30pun" (sanjuppun). Here, "pun" means "minutes". So, if you want to say "30 minutes" in Japanese, you can use "sanjuppun".

- Using "gozen" and "gogo": Used to differentiate between morning (AM) and afternoon/evening (PM) time. "Gozen" is used for time between midnight and 11:59 AM, while "gogo" is used for time between 12 PM and midnight.

- Using Japanese numbers: Japanese numbers are used to express the number of hours and minutes, for example, "yoji han" which means 4:30.

- Referring to time relatively: Japan also uses terms like "asa" (morning), "hiru" (noon), "yoru" (night) to refer to time relatively, for example, "asa no 9 ji" means 9 AM.

3. Example Conversation Expressing Time in Japanese (Short)

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Well, besides that, to make it easier to understand how to express time in Japanese. Here is a short example conversation to express time in Japanese so that you can understand the way:

Ayu: "Sumimasen, nanji desu ka?"

(Meaning: Excuse me, what time is it?)

Rika: "Ima, gogo sanji jūgo-fun desu."

(Meaning: It is now three fifteen.)

Ayu: "Wakarimashita, arigatou gozaimasu."

(Meaning: Understood, thank you.)

Rika: "Iie, dou itashimashite."

(Meaning: You're welcome, no problem.)

Ayu: "Mou chotto de kaigi ga hajimarimasu ne."

(Meaning: The meeting will start soon, right?)

Rika: "Hai, chotto isoganai to."

(Meaning: Yes, we need to hurry a bit.)

4. Example Conversation Expressing Time in Japanese (Long)

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In addition to short conversations, there are also examples of expressing time in Japanese language in a long form. Here is an example of such conversation:

Aimi: "Ohayou gozaimasu!"

(Good morning! How are you, Yuuki?)

Yuuki: "Ohayou gozaimasu, Aimi-san! Genki desu ka?"

(Good morning, Aimi-san! How are you?)

Aimi: "Hai, genki desu. Arigatou. Ima nanji desu ka?"

(Yes, I'm fine. Thank you. What time is it now?)

Yuuki: "It is 9 o'clock in the morning."

(It is 9 a.m.)

Aimi: "Is that so. Is it already that late?"

(Oh I see. It's already so late.)

Yuuki: "Yes, but today is a holiday, so I'm taking it easy."

(Yes, but today is a holiday, so I'm just relaxing.)

Aimi: "I see. What do you plan to do?"

(I see. What are your plans?)

Yuuki: "I plan to watch a movie at home."

(I plan to watch a movie at home.)

Aimi: "That sounds fun! What time will you watch the movie?"

(That sounds fun!) What time will you watch the movie?)

Yuuki: "I will watch it around 2 p.m."

(I will watch it around 2 p.m.)

Aimi: "I understand. If I have time, I will join you."

(I understand. If I have time, I will join you.)

Yuuki: "That's great. I'm looking forward to it."

(That's great. I'm excited.)

Aimi: "Well then, see you later."

(Okay, see you later.)

Yuuki: "Goodbye!"

(Goodbye!)

That's how to express time in Japanese that KLovers can understand. By understanding how to express time in Japanese, we can communicate more smoothly in everyday situations. Don't hesitate to continue practicing and exploring the beauty of the Japanese language!

(kpl/dhm)