Translation guide
The English word "second" has several distinct meanings: a unit of time, a very short moment, the ordinal number after first, an additional one, and more. This guide covers the most common uses for English-speaking learners.
To express a precise unit of time equal to 1/60 of a minute.
The standard word for 'second' as a unit of time. Used with numbers.
あと10秒で始まります。
It will start in 10 seconds.
He ran 100 meters in 11 seconds.
To refer to an extremely brief period of time, often informally.
Common casual way to say 'just a second' or 'a moment'. Often used when asking someone to wait briefly.
Wait a second, please.
Polite, formal way to say 'a moment' or 'a second'. Used in business or service contexts.
Literally 'one instant', used for something that happens in a split second.
To indicate position in a sequence, after first.
Standard way to say 'second' in a list or order. Can be used for things, people, etc.
Turn right at the second corner.
More formal or written style, often used in titles, chapter numbers, or official rankings.
Used when counting items with the native Japanese counter つ. For general objects or abstract items.
To express 'a second one' meaning another one of the same kind, or an extra one.
To refer to the person who is next in authority or rank.
To refer to the second gear in a car or other vehicle.
Loanword from English, commonly used in driving contexts.
Shift into second gear.
Native Japanese term for 'second gear', often used in technical or automotive contexts.
Shift to second gear.
To refer to the base or the position in baseball.
When asking someone to wait a moment, do not say 一秒待って (いちびょうまって). It sounds unnatural. Use ちょっと待って or 少々お待ちください instead.
二番目 is the everyday word for 'second' in a sequence. 第二 is more formal and often used in compound nouns like 第二次世界大戦 (World War II) or 第二章 (Chapter 2).
I'll be back in a second.
Natural Japanese uses すぐ (immediately) rather than a literal 'second'.
This is the second time I've been to Japan.
Uses 二回目 (second time) with the counter 回 for occurrences.
少々お待ちください。
Just a second, please. (polite)
一瞬で消えた。
It disappeared in a second.
He arrived second.
Chapter Two (the second chapter)
World War II (the Second World War)
二つ目の理由は…
The second reason is...
一つ目は赤、二つ目は青です。
The first one is red, the second one is blue.
彼はセカンドを守っている。
He is playing second base.