Understanding the Basics of Japanese Time-Telling

In Japanese, telling time combines native Japanese counters with Sino-Japanese numerals, creating a unique system that differs significantly from English. To effectively tell time, one needs to understand the components of hours, minutes, and sometimes seconds, and how they are expressed.

Japanese Numerals for Time

Japanese uses two numeral systems: native Japanese numbers and Sino-Japanese numbers. For telling time, the Sino-Japanese numbers are predominantly used. Here is a quick reference:

• 1 – 一 (いち, ichi)
• 2 – 二 (に, ni)
• 3 – 三 (さん, san)
• 4 – 四 (し/よん, shi/yon)
• 5 – 五 (ご, go)
• 6 – 六 (ろく, roku)
• 7 – 七 (しち/なな, shichi/nana)
• 8 – 八 (はち, hachi)
• 9 – 九 (きゅう/く, kyuu/ku)
• 10 – 十 (じゅう, juu)
• 20 – 二十 (にじゅう, nijuu)
• 30 – 三十 (さんじゅう, sanjuu)

For telling time, you will mostly use numbers from 1 to 12 for hours and 0 to 59 for minutes.

Key Vocabulary for Telling Time

• 時 (じ, ji) – Hour
• 分 (ふん/ぷん, fun/pun) – Minute
• 秒 (びょう, byou) – Second (less commonly used in everyday conversation)
• 午前 (ごぜん, gozen) – AM
• 午後 (ごご, gogo) – PM

Understanding the pronunciation nuances of 分 (fun/pun) is vital because the pronunciation changes depending on the preceding number.

How to Say Hours in Japanese

The word 時 (じ, ji) is used after the number to indicate the hour. For example:

• 1 o’clock – 一時 (いちじ, ichiji)
• 2 o’clock – 二時 (にじ, niji)
• 3 o’clock – 三時 (さんじ, sanji)

Note the pronunciation changes in some hours:

• 4 o’clock – 四時 (よじ, yoji) – “よ (yo)” instead of “し (shi)”
• 7 o’clock – 七時 (しちじ, shichiji)
• 9 o’clock – 九時 (くじ, kuji)

These exceptions are critical to memorize to avoid confusion.

How to Say Minutes in Japanese

The word 分 (pronounced either “ふん” or “ぷん”) is used for minutes. The pronunciation depends on the number of minutes:

• 1 minute – 一分 (いっぷん, ippun)
• 2 minutes – 二分 (にふん, nifun)
• 3 minutes – 三分 (さんぷん, sanpun)
• 4 minutes – 四分 (よんぷん, yonpun)
• 5 minutes – 五分 (ごふん, gofun)
• 6 minutes – 六分 (ろっぷん, roppun)
• 7 minutes – 七分 (ななふん, nanafun)
• 8 minutes – 八分 (はっぷん, happun)
• 9 minutes – 九分 (きゅうふん, kyuufun)
• 10 minutes – 十分 (じゅっぷん/じっぷん, juppun/jippun)

The key to mastery here is learning which numbers pair with “ふん” (fun) and which with “ぷん” (pun). For example, 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 10 minutes use “ぷん” while 2, 5, 7, and 9 minutes use “ふん.” This pattern continues for higher numbers:

• 11 minutes – 十一分 (じゅういっぷん, juuippun)
• 15 minutes – 十五分 (じゅうごふん, juugofun)

Forming Complete Time Expressions

To express a complete time, combine the hour and minute with the appropriate counters. The structure is:

[Hour] + 時 (じ, ji) + [Minute] + 分 (ふん/ぷん, fun/pun)

Examples:

• 2:30 – 二時三十分 (にじさんじゅっぷん, niji sanjuppun)
• 7:15 – 七時十五分 (しちじじゅうごふん, shichiji juugofun)
• 4:05 – 四時五分 (よじごふん, yoji gofun)

For times with zero minutes, just state the hour:

• 3:00 – 三時 (さんじ, sanji)

Using AM and PM

Japan uses a 12-hour clock in daily conversations, but to clarify if the time is in the morning or afternoon, use:

• 午前 (ごぜん, gozen) – before the hour (AM)
• 午後 (ごご, gogo) – before the hour (PM)

Example:

• 8:00 AM – 午前八時 (ごぜんはちじ, gozen hachiji)
• 6:45 PM – 午後六時四十五分 (ごごろくじよんじゅうごふん, gogo rokuji yonjuugofun)

Expressing Time in Casual and Formal Contexts

The way you tell time in Japanese can vary slightly depending on the formality of the situation. Formal settings, such as business or official announcements, tend to use the full expressions including 午前/午後 and precise minute counts.

In casual conversations, especially among friends or family, it’s common to omit 午前/午後 if the context is clear, and even shorten some expressions:

• “今何時？” (いまなんじ？, Ima nanji?) – What time is it now?
• “三時だよ。” (さんじだよ, Sanji da yo.) – It’s 3 o’clock.
• “七時半。” (しちじはん, Shichiji han.) – 7:30 (note: 半 (はん, han) means half, used often for half past the hour)

Using 半 (はん, han) for Half Past

Instead of saying “30 minutes,” Japanese often uses 半 (はん, han) to indicate half past the hour:

• 1:30 – 一時半 (いちじはん, ichiji han)
• 5:30 – 五時半 (ごじはん, goji han)

Quarter Past and Quarter To

Japanese does not have a direct equivalent for “quarter past” or “quarter to” like English. Instead, you express these times by stating the exact minutes:

• 2:15 – 二時十五分 (にじじゅうごふん, niji juugofun)
• 3:45 – 三時四十五分 (さんじよんじゅうごふん, sanji yonjuugofun)

Common Phrases and Questions Related to Time

When learning to tell time, it’s also helpful to know common time-related phrases and questions:

• 今何時ですか？ (いまなんじですか？, Ima nanji desu ka?) – What time is it now?
• 何時に会いますか？ (なんじにあいますか？, Nanji ni aimasu ka?) – What time shall we meet?
• 時間がありますか？ (じかんがありますか？, Jikan ga arimasu ka?) – Do you have time?
• 時間がない (じかんがない, Jikan ga nai) – I don’t have time

Tips for Learning and Practicing Telling Time in Japanese

To become proficient in telling time in Japanese, consider the following strategies:

• Use Language Apps: Apps like Talkpal provide interactive speaking and listening practice, helping reinforce time expressions in conversation.
• Practice with Real-Life Contexts: Try to read Japanese clocks, watch Japanese media, or set reminders in Japanese time format.
• Memorize Pronunciation Patterns: Focus on when to use “ふん” and “ぷん” to improve your fluency and comprehension.
• Use Flashcards: Create flashcards for numbers, time-related vocabulary, and expressions for quick recall.
• Engage in Conversations: Practice with native speakers or language partners to build confidence and correct mistakes.

Conclusion

Learning to tell time in Japanese is a fundamental skill that enhances your ability to communicate effectively and navigate daily life in Japan. Understanding the unique numbering system, counters, and pronunciation rules is crucial for accuracy. Whether expressing simple hours or complex times with minutes and AM/PM, consistent practice is key. Utilizing resources like Talkpal can accelerate your learning by providing immersive and practical language experiences. With dedication and the right tools, telling time in Japanese will soon become second nature.