時間 · Telling Time in Japanese
Watch the clock, learn the rules, then test yourself.
1. Hours: 〜時 (-ji)
Say the number, then add 時 (じ). Most hours are regular, but 4, 7 and 9 are special (highlighted).
2. Minutes: 〜分 (-fun / -pun)
分 is read ふん (fun) or ぷん (pun) depending on the number before it. With 1, 3, 4, 6, 8 and 10 it becomes ぷん, and 1, 6, 8 and 10 also shorten the number with a small っ.
For bigger numbers, say the tens and then the ones: 23分 = にじゅうさんぷん, 45分 = よんじゅうごふん. Tens ending in 0 follow the 10 pattern: 20分 = にじゅっぷん.
3. Handy extras
- 半 (はん) means “half”: 3:30 = 三時半 (さんじはん).
- 午前 (ごぜん) = a.m. and 午後 (ごご) = p.m., placed before the time: 午後三時 = 3 p.m.
- 〜分前 (ふんまえ) means “minutes to”: 三時五分前 = five to three.
- Asking: 今、何時ですか。 (いま、なんじですか) “What time is it now?”
- Answering: 三時十五分です。 (さんじじゅうごふんです) “It’s 3:15.”