時
time, hour
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
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.