Japanese clock time: hours and minutes

The idea

Four, seven and nine o’clock are よじ, しちじ and くじ. Minutes include いっぷん, さんぷん and ろっぷん; 半 after an hour means half past. Ask 何時ですか and use に with a specific time for an action.

Examples

• 今いまは四時よじですよ。It is four o’clock now.
• 朝あさ七時しちじに起おきます。I get up at seven in the morning.
• 授業じゅぎょうは九時半くじはんに始はじまります。Class starts at half past nine.
• バスは一時いちじ十分じゅっぷんに来きます。The bus comes at ten past one.
• 会議かいぎは午後ごご三時さんじです。The meeting is at three in the afternoon.
• 映画えいがは何時なんじに始はじまりますか。What time does the film start?

Watch out

四時 is not よんじ, and 九時 is not きゅうじ. 時 gives clock time; 時間 gives a duration, as in 一時間.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the correct form: It is four o’clock now. 今いまは＿です。（四時よじ／九時くじ）

   Show answer or example answer

   四時

   Four o’clock is 四時, read よじ.

2. Choose the correct form: I get up at seven in the morning. 朝あさ＿に起おきます。（七時しちじ／四時よじ）

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   七時

   Seven o’clock is 七時, read しちじ.

3. Choose the correct form: Class starts at half past nine. 授業じゅぎょうは＿に始はじまります。（九時半くじはん／三時半さんじはん）

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   九時半

   Nine thirty is 九時半: 半 means thirty minutes past the hour.

Use it today

Say the current time, then say at what time a class or appointment begins.