Translation guide
The English word 'hourly' can mean 'every hour', 'per hour', or 'by the hour'. This guide covers natural Japanese expressions for each meaning.
Expressing that something happens each hour, on the hour, or at hourly intervals.
Standard way to say 'every hour' or 'hourly'. Can be used for any recurring event.
The bus comes hourly.
Formal or written expression meaning 'every hour'. Often used in schedules or technical contexts.
Literally 'with one-hour intervals'. Slightly more colloquial than ごとに.
Expressing a rate, speed, or amount for each hour.
Standard way to say 'per hour'. Used for wages, speed, production, etc.
The hourly wage is 1000 yen per hour.
This machine produces 50 parts hourly.
Specifically for speed: 'per hour' (km/h, etc.). Used in compound words like 時速60キロ (60 km/h).
Hourly wage (noun). Often shortened to 時給 (じきゅう) in conversation.
Describing work or payment calculated according to the number of hours worked.
Both mean 'every' or 'at intervals', but ごとに is more common for regular intervals. おきに implies a gap of that length between events. For hourly, they are often interchangeable, but ごとに is safer for beginners.
A bell rings every hour.
Take a break every hour (with an hour between breaks).
English uses 'hourly' as an adverb (e.g., 'check hourly'), but Japanese does not have a single adverb equivalent. Use phrases like 1時間ごとに or 1時間おきに instead.
The news is updated hourly.
He is paid hourly.
列車は毎時00分に出発します。
Trains depart hourly at the top of the hour.
Please take the medicine hourly.
風速は時速30キロです。
The wind speed is 30 kilometers per hour.
この仕事は時間給です。
This job pays hourly.
Parking fees are calculated hourly.