Translation guide
In Japanese, 'mealtime' is most naturally expressed with the word 食事 (shokuji) meaning 'meal', often combined with 時間 (jikan) 'time' or 時 (ji) 'hour'. The direct translation 食事時 (shokujidoki) exists but is less common. In daily conversation, people often refer to specific meals like 朝ごはん (asagohan) 'breakfast' or 晩ごはん (bangohan) 'dinner' instead of the abstract 'mealtime'.
Referring to the period or occasion of eating a meal in general, without specifying which meal.
The most natural and common way to say 'mealtime' in Japanese. Literally 'meal time'. Used in everyday conversation.
It's mealtime.
Let's decide on a mealtime.
A single word meaning 'mealtime'. Less common in speech, more often seen in writing or formal contexts.
It gets crowded at mealtimes.
Casual, warm expression using ご飯 (gohan) 'meal/rice'. Common in family settings.
It's mealtime!
Referring to the time for a particular meal, such as breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Breakfast time. Use the specific meal name + の時間.
Talking about mealtime in the context of a daily schedule, institution, or fixed routine.
Referring to the time while eating, often used in rules or etiquette.
Means 'during a meal' or 'while eating'. Used for rules like 'no talking during meals'.
食事の時間 (shokuji no jikan) is the standard, neutral expression. 食事時 (shokujidoki) is more formal/literary and less common in daily speech. ご飯の時間 (gohan no jikan) is casual and warm, often used at home. For specific meals, use 朝ごはんの時間 etc.
It's mealtime. (neutral)
Breakfast time is at 7 o'clock.
Lunch time.
It's lunchtime.
Dinner time.
Dinnertime is always late.
Snack time. おやつ (oyatsu) means snack, often used for children's snack time or afternoon tea.
3 o'clock is snack time.
Mealtimes are fixed.
A compound noun meaning 'meal time' as a scheduled block, often used in schools, hospitals, etc.
Mealtime is 30 minutes.
Please be quiet during mealtime.
ご飯の時間だよ。
It's chow time! (casual)
While 時間 (jikan) means 'time', simply saying 食事時間 (shokuji jikan) without の can sound like a compound noun used in schedules, not natural speech. Use 食事の時間 for everyday conversation.