Marking a time with に

Use に with a stated time or date, such as a clock time or a day of the week. 何時なんじ に 起おきます か asks “What time do you get up?” 月曜日げつようび に 会あいます means “We’ll meet on Monday.”

Common expressions such as 今日きょう, 明日あした, 毎日まいにち, and 今いま normally stand without に in this use. Practice 明日あした 行いきます for “I’m going tomorrow.”

English chooses among “at three,” “on Monday,” and “in the afternoon.” Japanese can use に for these time expressions. Clock times normally take it; with some broader expressions, including days of the week, it can be omitted. Learn the examples rather than treating “a fixed calendar point” as an exception-free rule.