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Kotomora

時

time, hour

JLPTN5StatusJōyō · grade 2FrequencyTop 100Strokes10

Readings

On'yomi

  • ジ

Kun'yomi

  • とき
  • -どき

Nanori

  • と
  • とぎ

Meaning

時 centers on the concept of time, especially measured moments or specific points like an hour. It captures both the abstract flow of time and concrete time units.

Most common words using 時

24 of 1,106
  • 時とき
    N3

    time; hour; moment

  • 時じ

    hour; o'clock

  • 時間じかん
    N5

    time

  • 時代じだい
    N4

    period; epoch; era; age

  • 何時もいつも
    N5

    always; all the time; at all times

  • 時期じき
    N3

    time; season; period; phase; stage

  • 当時とうじ
    N3

    at that time; in those days

  • 時点じてん

    point in time; occasion

  • 同時にどうじに

    at the same time; at once; simultaneously; concurrently

  • 一時いちじ
    N4

    one o'clock

  • 時計とけい
    N5

    clock; watch; timepiece

  • 時々ときどき
    N5

    sometimes; occasionally; at times; from time to time; now and then; once in a while; at intervals

  • 同時どうじ
    N3

    same time

  • 時刻じこく
    N3

    time; (the) hour

  • 日時にちじ
    N3

    date and time (of a meeting, departure, etc.)

  • 時給じきゅう
    N3

    hourly pay; hourly wage

  • 長時間ちょうじかん

    long time; several hours; long spell

  • 一時期いちじき

    a period (of time)

  • 臨時りんじ
    N2

    temporary; provisional; interim

  • 現時点げんじてん
    N2

    present point (i.e. in history); at the present time

  • 定時ていじ

    fixed time; regular time; scheduled time; appointed hour

  • 時にはときには
    N1

    at times; occasionally

  • 常時じょうじ

    usually; ordinarily; always

  • 随時ずいじ

    whenever necessary; as needed; as required; as occasion demands

Explore all words using 時 →

Study

Etymology

時 combines 日 (sun, day) with 寺, which historically contributed the sound and the idea of a measured unit. The combination expresses time as measured by the sun's movement.

Meaning mnemonic

The sun 日 beside a temple 寺 suggests measuring time by the sun's position over the temple. When the sun reaches a certain spot, an hour has passed.

Reading mnemonic

For ジ, imagine a giant clock on the temple wall that makes a buzzing 'ji' sound every hour: ji -> ジ, marking the time.