時: the kanji for time and hour
時 is a JLPT N5 kanji that means time, hour. Below are its readings, 15 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
時 is written in 10 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
時 has 2 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 13 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
ジ (ji)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 時間じかん · jikan | time; hours |
| 時代じだい · jidai | era; period |
| 時期じき · jiki | time; season |
| 一時いちじ · ichiji | one o'clock; for a while |
| 当時とうじ · tōji | at that time |
| 同時どうじ · dōji | at the same time |
| 時差じさ · jisa | time difference |
| 時給じきゅう · jikyū | hourly wage |
| 何時なんじ · nanji | what time |
| 定時ていじ · teiji | regular (closing) time |
| 時刻表じこくひょう · jikokuhyō | timetable |
とき (toki)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 時とき · toki | time; when |
| 時々ときどき · tokidoki | sometimes |
Special readings to learn as whole words
These words use 時, but their readings do not follow the readings above. The Jōyō Kanji Table lists them as special readings. Learn each one as a whole word.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 時計とけい · tokei | clock; watch |
| 時雨しぐれ · shigure | late autumn shower |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 少しお時間をいただけますか。Sukoshi ojikan o itadakemasu ka.Could I have a moment of your time?
- 東京とロンドンの時差は何時間ですか。Tōkyō to Rondon no jisa wa nanjikan desu ka.What's the time difference between Tokyo and London?
- 今日は定時に帰ります。Kyō wa teiji ni kaerimasu.I'm leaving on time today.
- 時々、在宅で仕事をします。Tokidoki, zaitaku de shigoto o shimasu.I sometimes work from home.
- 学生の時、アメリカに住んでいました。Gakusei no toki, Amerika ni sunde imashita.I lived in the United States when I was a student.
- 時計が止まっています。Tokei ga tomatte imasu.The clock has stopped.
Questions about 時
How many strokes does 時 have?
時 is written in 10 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 時?
The on readings are ji (ジ). The kun readings are toki (とき).
What does 定時 mean at work?
定時 (teiji) is the regular closing time of the workday. 定時に帰ります (teiji ni kaerimasu) means "I'm leaving on time."
What JLPT level is 時?
N5. The JLPT does not publish official kanji lists, so this level is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used through 2009.
About the JLPT level
The JLPT does not publish official lists of kanji for each level. The level on this page is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used for the test through 2009. The JLPT states that the current N5 is designed to match the former Level 4.
More JLPT N5 kanji
Days and time
Executive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.
Sources
- Jōyō Kanji Table (常用漢字表), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, 2010: readings and special readings of 時
- JLPT Frequently Asked Questions, The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services: how current levels match the former levels
- Stroke order diagrams are based on KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel, used under CC BY-SA 3.0. The diagrams on this page are shared under the same license.