How to Tell Time in Japanese: Days, Dates & Time Expressions

Introduction: Why Japanese Time Feels Different

Key takeaways

• Japanese uses two systems: relative (durations/offsets) and absolute (clock time & calendar).
• Clock time relies on 時・分・秒; calendar uses 日・月・年 with a few irregulars.
• 24-hour format is common in schedules; 12-hour with 午前/午後 is frequent in speech.
• For large numbers & counting patterns, see our companion guide: Japanese Numbers.

[Brief hook about practical situations—trains, appointments, last orders at restaurants, etc. State what readers will learn.]

Quick Start: Essential Time Phrases (2-Minute Read)

Key takeaways

• Master these 6 phrases for immediate time communication.
• Use polite forms (です/ます) in most situations.
• Practice pronunciation – time words have many sound changes.

Need to tell time right now? Master these essentials, then dive deeper below.

JapaneseRomajiEnglishAudio今何時ですか？Ima nanji desu ka?What time is it now?[Audio]3時です。Sanji desu.It's 3 o'clock.[Audio]3時半です。Sanji han desu.It's 3:30.[Audio]今日は何曜日ですか？Kyō wa nan-yōbi desu ka?What day is today?[Audio]月曜日です。Getsuyōbi desu.It's Monday.[Audio]すみません、時間ありますか？Sumimasen, jikan arimasu ka?Excuse me, do you have the time?[Audio]

Quick tip Add ちょうど (chōdo) for “exactly”: 3時ちょうど = “exactly 3 o’clock”

Understanding Japanese Time: Relative vs. Absolute

Key takeaways

• Relative: “for/ago/in” (durations & offsets).
• Absolute: “at/on/in” (specific clock times, days, months, years, full dates).
• Learn both to ask/answer time questions naturally.

[Explain the difference at a high level.]

Relative time (durations): 〜秒・〜分・〜時間・〜日間

[Explain duration: “for X hours/days” with 1–2 examples.]

Absolute time (specific points): 〜時・〜分・日・月・年

[Explain specific moments: “at 3 PM on Monday” with 1–2 examples.]

Quick reference: Two types of time

• Relative → durations/offsets (〜時間・〜日前・〜ヶ月後…)
• Absolute → fixed points (午後3時／月曜日／2025年9月10日)

Telling Time in Japanese: Hours, Minutes & Seconds

Key takeaways

• Say hours with 〜時, minutes with 〜分, seconds with 〜秒.
• 半 means “:30”; “〜分前” means “minutes to.”
• Minute readings shift (ぷん/ふん) for 1,3,4,6,8,10.

Hours (時): Saying “o’clock”

[Brief intro about this being essential.]

[TABLE: Hours 1-12 with Kanji, Kana, Romaji, English, Audio columns]

Essential time phrases 今何時ですか？／〜時です。／〜時半です。／〜時〜分前です。

Minutes (分): Patterns & pronunciation

[Explain 分 system & rendaku.]

[TABLE: Minutes with Number, Reading, Romaji, Notes, Audio columns – highlight 1/3/4/6/8/10]

Tricky minute pronunciations 1,3,4,6,8,10 → いっぷん・さんぷん・よんぷん・ろっぷん・はっぷん・じゅっぷん

Seconds (秒)

[Brief explanation of 秒.]

[TABLE: Seconds with Number, Reading, Romaji, English, Audio columns]

Time of day: AM/PM & parts of the day

[AM/PM, 朝/昼/夕方/夜, 正午/真夜中.]

[TABLE: Time of day vocabulary with Kanji, Kana, Romaji, Meaning, Audio columns]

Time of day essentials 午前＝AM／午後＝PM／正午＝noon／真夜中＝midnight

Putting it together: full time expressions

[Examples: 午後2時半／2時5分前／午前11時ちょうど。]

Common Time Questions & Answers

[Explanation of how to ask and respond to time-related questions.]

QuestionRomajiPossible AnswerAudio何時ですか？Nanji desu ka?3時です (Sanji desu)[Audio]何分ですか？Nanpun desu ka?15分です (Jūgofun desu)[Audio]何秒ですか？Nanbyō desu ka?30秒です (Sanjūbyō desu)[Audio]どのぐらいかかりますか？Dono gurai kakarimasu ka?2時間ぐらいです[Audio]

Days & Dates in Japanese

Key takeaways

• Weekdays use the element-based names (月〜日).
• Days of month have many irregulars (1–10, 14, 20, 24).
• Japanese date order: 年 → 月 → 日.

Days of the week（月〜日）

[Intro about elemental origins.]

[TABLE: Weekdays with Kanji, Kana, Romaji, Meaning, Audio columns]

Pattern 曜日 = day of the week; 月＝moon, 火＝fire, 水＝water, 木＝wood, 金＝metal, 土＝earth, 日＝sun

Days of the month（日）: names & irregulars

[Explain 1–10 irregular, then patterns 11+]

[TABLE: Days 1-31 with Number, Kana, Romaji, English, Audio columns]

Irregulars to memorize ついたち, ふつか, みっか, よっか, いつか, むいか, なのか, ようか, ここのか, とおか, はつか, にじゅうよっか

Relative day expressions

[昨日/今日/明日/一昨日/明後日/先週/来週 etc.]

[TABLE: Relative day vocabulary with Kanji, Kana, Romaji, English, Audio columns]

Essential day words 昨日, 今日, 明日, 一昨日, 明後日, 先週, 来週, 先月, 来月

Common Day & Date Questions

[How to ask about days, dates, and get specific information.]

QuestionRomajiPossible AnswerAudio何曜日ですか？Nan-yōbi desu ka?月曜日です (Getsuyōbi desu)[Audio]何日ですか？Nannichi desu ka?15日です (Jūgonichi desu)[Audio]いつですか？Itsu desu ka?来週の金曜日です[Audio]どのぐらい前ですか？Dono gurai mae desu ka?3日前です[Audio]

Months & Years in Japanese

Key takeaways

• Months are number + 月 (1月〜12月).
• Duration months use 〜か月 (counter) vs. calendar month 〜月.
• Years are read as numbers + 年; era names exist but basic 西暦 is enough.

Months of the year（1月〜12月）

[Explain number + 月 pattern.]

[TABLE: All 12 months with Kanji, Kana, Romaji, English, Audio columns]

Pattern tip いちがつ／にがつ… → consistent; contrast with 〜か月 counter.

Using months as counters（〜か月 vs 月）

[Explain duration months vs specific months + examples.]

Years（西暦の読み方；年号ミニ紹介）

[Explain saying specific years; optional era mention.]

[TABLE: Example years with Year, Reading, Romaji, English, Audio columns]

Year-saying tip 西暦 + 年 (e.g., 2025年); era (令和) is optional outside official contexts.

Seasonal time references（春・夏・秋・冬）

[Brief cultural context about seasons in time expressions.]

Common Month & Year Questions

[How to ask about months, years, and durations.]

QuestionRomajiPossible AnswerAudio何月ですか？Nangatsu desu ka?9月です (Kugatsu desu)[Audio]何年ですか？Nannen desu ka?2025年です (Niseninjūgonen desu)[Audio]どのぐらいかかりますか？Dono gurai kakarimasu ka?3か月ぐらいです[Audio]いつからですか？Itsu kara desu ka?来月からです[Audio]いつまでですか？Itsu made desu ka?12月までです[Audio]

Advanced Time Expressions

Key takeaways

• Master connectors like まで／までに／以来／以降／ごろ for nuance.
• Use 中・間・間に correctly for “during/while.”
• Formal dates prefer YYYY年M月D日; timetables often use 24-hour time.

Reading full dates（YYYY年M月D日／24h vs 12h）

[Explain date order and full date format with examples.]

Japanese date order YYYY年 M月 D日（例：2025年9月10日）

Relative time connectors（〜前／〜後／以来／以降／まで／までに）

[Before/after, during, since/until; recap & nuance.]

[TABLE: Time connectors with Expression, Meaning, Example, Audio columns]

Useful time connectors 〜まで／〜までに／〜ごろ／〜中／〜の間／〜以来／〜以降／〜以内

Common time phrases for daily life

[Practical phrases for appointments, schedules, questions.]

[TABLE: Daily phrases with Japanese, Romaji, English, Audio columns]

Cultural Notes: Time in Japanese Society

Key takeaways

• Punctuality is valued; arrive a bit early for formal settings.
• Business hours & last orders vary by region and season.
• Seasonal references are common in greetings & schedules.

Cultural time tips “5 minutes early” is on time; confirm last order times (ラストオーダー) and closing days (定休日).

Appendix: Master Reference Tables

Key takeaways

• Centralized lookup with consistent columns.
• Pair with audio for shadowing practice.
• Link from related articles (numbers, counters) for cross-nav.

Complete time reference（hours/minutes/seconds）

[TABLE: Complete time reference with Kanji, Kana, Romaji, English, Audio columns]

Complete days reference（weeks + dates）

[TABLE: Complete days reference with Kanji, Kana, Romaji, English, Audio columns]

Complete months & years reference

[TABLE: Complete months & years with Kanji, Kana, Romaji, English, Audio columns]

Essential phrases reference

[TABLE: Essential phrases with Japanese, Romaji, English, Audio columns]

Practice Exercises

Key takeaways

• Mix recognition (reading/listening) with production (speaking/writing).
• Apply in real-world scenarios: trains, clinics, reservations.
• Use spaced repetition—audio helps cement readings.

Quick Review Quiz

[Space for 5–10 quick questions.]

Real-World Scenarios

[Space for practical application exercises.]

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Key takeaways

• Memorize irregular day names early.
• Use 24-hour for timetables; 午前/午後 for conversation.
• Polite forms soften time questions in service contexts.

Why are some day numbers irregular? [Brief answer.]

When do I use the 24-hour format? [Brief answer.]

How do I ask “What time is it?” politely? [Brief answer.]

What’s the difference between 時 and 時間? [Brief answer.]

Do I need to worry about the Japanese era system? [Brief answer.]

Conclusion & Next Steps

Key takeaways

• You can read and say clock times, days & dates, months & years.
• Relative time connectors add nuance for real-life planning.
• Next: review counters & numbers here → Japanese Numbers Guide.

[Short wrap-up and links to related lessons on your site.]