What does 時間（hours and minutes） mean? Japanese grammar N5

How to use it

Stating the time.

• Hour: ～時 (じ). Watch for special readings: 4時 = よじ, 7時 = しちじ, 9時 = くじ.
• Minute: ～分 has many sound changes: 1分 = いっぷん, 3分 = さんぷん, 6分 = ろっぷん, 10分 = じゅっぷん.
• 午前 (ごぜん) = morning/AM, 午後 (ごご) = afternoon/PM — placed BEFORE the hour.
• Asking for the time: 「今、何時ですか。」

Examples

• 今(いま)、九(きゅう)時半(じはん)です。

  It is 9:30 now.

• 午後(ごご)三(さん)時(じ)に会(あ)いましょう。

  Let's meet at 3 PM.

Common mistakes

• Wrongよんじ

  Correctよじ

  4時 is read よじ, not よんじ.

Exam tips

• 4時(よじ)・7時(しちじ)・9時(くじ) are the three most common traps in exams.

Related patterns

• ～に (point in time)
• 数字 (numbers 1-100)