N5Chapter 08

Time & Particle に

Learning objectives

  • Tell the time in hours (じ) and minutes (ふん/ぷん).
  • Identify irregular readings for hours like 4, 7, and 9.
  • Use the particle に to mark the specific time an action happens.
  • Understand the cultural importance of punctuality in Japan.
N5 context

Knowing how to tell time is one of the most practical skills you can learn in any language. In Japanese, the system is quite logical, but there are several irregular pronunciations you must master. In this chapter, we will learn the clock, the difference between AM and PM, and the essential particle に (ni), which acts like the English “at” in sentences like “I wake up at 7 o’clock.”

Anime pixel-art illustration of a learner using clocks, schedule cards, and に to mark a specific time.

1. Telling the Hour: 〜じ (ji)

To say the hour, simply add じ (ji) to the number. Pay close attention to the irregulars!

Vocabulary語彙
12 terms

  • いちじ

    Time

    ichi-ji

    1:00

  • にじ

    Time

    ni-ji

    2:00

  • さんじ

    Time

    san-ji

    3:00

  • よじ

    Time

    yo-ji

    4:00 (IRREGULAR)

  • ごじ

    Time

    go-ji

    5:00

  • ろくじ

    Time

    roku-ji

    6:00

  • しちじ

    Time

    shichi-ji

    7:00 (IRREGULAR)

  • はちじ

    Time

    hachi-ji

    8:00

  • くじ

    Time

    ku-ji

    9:00 (IRREGULAR)

  • じゅうじ

    Time

    juu-ji

    10:00

  • じゅういちじ

    Time

    juu-ichi-ji

    11:00

  • じゅうにじ

    Time

    juu-ni-ji

    12:00

[!CAUTION]

  • 4 o’clock is yo-ji (never yon-ji or shi-ji).
  • 7 o’clock is shichi-ji (rarely nana-ji).
  • 9 o’clock is ku-ji (never kyuu-ji).

2. Telling Minutes: 〜ふん / 〜ぷん (fun / pun)

Minutes are a bit more complex because the pronunciation changes between fun and pun based on the previous sound.

  • 〜ぷん (pun): 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10
  • 〜ふん (fun): 2, 5, 7, 9
  • Half past: Use 〜じ はん (ji han).
Grammar文法
[Number] ＋ じ ＋ [Number] ＋ ふん/ぷん

means Expressing a specific time on the clock.

Formation

Hour + じ + Minute + ふん/ぷん

Examples

いま なんじ です か。

Ima nan-ji desu ka.

What time is it now?

ごぜん はちじ です。

Gozen hachi-ji desu.

It is 8:00 AM.

ごご さんじ じゅっぷん です。

Gogo san-ji juppun desu.

It is 3:10 PM.

じゅうじ はん です。

Juu-ji han desu.

It is 10:30.

ごぜん よじ じゅうごふん です。

Gozen yo-ji juu-go-fun desu.

It is 4:15 AM.

ろくじ ごじゅっぷん です。

Roku-ji go-juppun desu.

It is 6:50.

3. The Time Particle: に (ni)

When an action happens at a specific point in time, you must use the particle に (ni).

Grammar文法
[Time] ＋ に ＋ [Action Verb]

means At [time], I do [action].

Formation

Time + に + Verb

Examples

しちじ に おきます。

Shichi-ji ni okimasu.

I wake up at 7:00.

じゅうにじ に ごはん を たべます。

Juu-ni-ji ni gohan o tabemasu.

I eat a meal at 12:00.

じゅういちじ に ねます。

Juu-ichi-ji ni nemasu.

I go to sleep at 11:00.

[!TIP] When NOT to use に: Do not use に with relative time words like “today” (kyou), “tomorrow” (ashita), or “every day” (mainichi). Only use it for specific numbers/calendar points!

くじ に だいがく へ いきます。

Ku-ji ni daigaku e ikimasu.

I go to the university at 9:00.

どようび に パーティー が あります。

Doyoubi ni paatii ga arimasu.

There is a party on Saturday.

なんじ に きます か。

Nan-ji ni kimasu ka.

What time will you come?

4. Cultural Note: Japanese Punctuality (時間に正確)

Japan is world-famous for its punctuality. This applies to trains, business meetings, and social gatherings.

  • The “5-Minute Rule”: It is often expected that you arrive 5 minutes before the scheduled time. Arriving exactly on time is sometimes considered “cutting it close.”
  • Train Precision: Japanese trains are so precise that if a train is delayed by more than a minute, the company may issue a “delay certificate” (chien-shoumeisho) for employees to show their bosses.
  • Social Respect: Being on time is seen as a sign of respect for the other person’s time. If you are going to be even 5 minutes late, it is polite to send a message immediately.

Conversation Practice

Anime pixel-art illustration of learners checking clocks and train time while practicing に with time expressions.
Planning a Meeting会話
Tanaka

すみません、 いま なんじ です か。

Sumimasen, ima nan-ji desu ka.

Excuse me, what time is it now?

Alice

ごご よじ じゅっぷん です。

Gogo yo-ji juppun desu.

It is 4:10 PM.

Tanaka

そうですか。 なんじ に かえります か。

Sou desu ka. Nan-ji ni kaerimasu ka.

I see. What time will you go home?

Alice

ろくじ はん に かえります。

Roku-ji han ni kaerimasu.

I will go home at 6:30.
Catching the Train会話
Staff

でんしゃ は くじ じゅうごふん です。

Densha wa ku-ji juu-go-fun desu.

The train is at 9:15.

Ken

あ！ いま くじ じゅっぷん です！

A! Ima ku-ji juppun desu!

Ah! It's 9:10 now!

Staff

いそいで ください！

Isoide kudasai!

Please hurry!

Ken

はい、 ありがとうございます！

Hai, arigatou gozaimasu!

Yes, thank you very much!

Chapter Summary

Key takeawaysまとめ
  • 1Hours are Number + じ (ji). Remember exceptions: 4 (yo-ji), 7 (shichi-ji), 9 (ku-ji).
  • 2Minutes are Number + ふん/ぷん (fun/pun). 'Half past' is 'han'.
  • 3Use 'gozen' for AM and 'gogo' for PM BEFORE the time.
  • 4The particle に (ni) marks the specific time an action happens (e.g., at 7:00).
  • 5Punctuality is a core value in Japanese culture; try to arrive 5 minutes early!

Knowledge Check

Test your clock-reading skills!

Practice quiz
1 / 15

How do you say 4:00 in Japanese?

Applied review

Use what you learned

Focus: Time and に. Try the task before revealing the model.

Guided practice練習

Produce the Japanese sentence, then compare it with the model answer.

  1. 1.Say “The lesson starts at half past nine.”

Reading practice読解

Time and に in context

N5 mini-reading

Target: 1 minute
図書館は くじに あきます。わたしは くじはんに いきます。
  1. Does the speaker arrive when the library opens?