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Kyun

Use 〜時 for hours on the clock. Learn the standard readings 四時 (よじ), 七時 (しちじ), and 九時 (くじ); they differ from the usual counting forms.

When to use it
Saying the time on the hour. Add 〜分 when you need minutes as well.
How many?
なんじ — what time?

Rows in yellow are irregular forms that do not follow the counter’s usual pattern.

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4よじ, not よんじ or しじ
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7Learn しちじ as the basic clock-time reading
  • 8
  • 9くじ, not きゅうじ
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • ?What time?

Useful combinations

  • 半(はん) means half. 三時半(さんじはん) is 3:30, or half past three.
  • 前(まえ) means before. 五時十分前(ごじじゅっぷんまえ) is ten minutes before five: 4:50, or ten to five.
  • 午前(ごぜん) is a.m. and 午後(ごご) is p.m. Put them before the time in Japanese.

Examples

  • 今(いま)、何時(なんじ)ですか。 — What time is it now?
  • 午後九時(ごごくじ)に会(あ)いましょう。 — Let's meet at 9 p.m.
  • 授業(じゅぎょう)は午前(ごぜん)十時(じゅうじ)からです。 — Class starts at 10 a.m.
  • 四時半(よじはん)に駅(えき)で。 — At the station at 4:30. The reading よじ stays the same before はん.
  • 七時十分(しちじじゅっぷん)に出発(しゅっぱつ)します。 — We leave at 7:10. Combine しちじ with じゅっぷん.