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.
It will start in 10 seconds.
100メートルを11秒で走った。
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.
ちょっと待ってください。
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.
二番目の角を右に曲がってください。
Turn right at the second corner.
彼は二番目に到着した。
He arrived second.
More formal or written style, often used in titles, chapter numbers, or official rankings.
第二章
Chapter Two (the second chapter)
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.
Means 'another one' or 'a second one'. Very common in everyday speech.
もう一ついかがですか。
Would you like a second one?
もう一度言ってください。
Please say it a second time.
Can also mean 'the second one' when referring to an additional item in a sequence.
一つ目は赤、二つ目は青です。
The first one is red, the second one is blue.
To refer to the person who is next in authority or rank.
Prefix meaning 'vice-' or 'assistant', used in titles like vice president, vice captain, etc.
Literally 'second hand', used for the second-best person or the runner-up in a group.
彼はチームの二番手だ。
He is the second-best player on the team.
To refer to the second gear in a car or other vehicle.
Loanword from English, commonly used in driving contexts.
セカンドギアに入れて。
Shift into second gear.
Native Japanese term for 'second gear', often used in technical or automotive contexts.
二速にシフトする。
Shift to second gear.
To refer to the base or the position in baseball.
Standard term for second base in baseball.
彼は二塁打を打った。
He hit a double (a hit to second base).
Loanword used for the position 'second baseman'.
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).
すぐ戻ります。
I'll be back in a second.
Natural Japanese uses すぐ (immediately) rather than a literal 'second'.
日本に来たのは二回目です。
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.
第二次世界大戦
World War II (the Second World War)
The second reason is...
He is playing second base.