ひととき

also: いっとき

ひ

と

き

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

noun

a short time; a while; a moment

usually written using kana alone

Refers to a brief, pleasant, or meaningful interval of time. Often used in expressions like ひとときを過ごす (spend a moment) or ひとときの休息 (a moment's rest).

公こう園えんでひとときを過す

ごし

た

。

I spent a little while in the park.

読どく書しょは私わたしにとって至し福ふくのひとときだ。

Reading is a blissful moment for me.

2

noun, adverb

one time (in the past); a period; former times

usually written using kana alone

Used to refer to a specific period or occasion in the past, often with a nostalgic or reflective tone. Can function adverbially as 'once' or 'for a time'.

ひとときはこの町まちも賑にぎわっていた。
At one time, this town was bustling too.
彼かれはひととき東とう京きょうに住すんでいた。
He lived in Tokyo for a period.

3

noun

two-hour period

archaic

Archaic term for a unit of time equivalent to two hours, based on the traditional Japanese temporal system. Not used in modern Japanese outside historical contexts.

江え戸ど時じ代だいには、ひとときは約やく二に時じ間かんを指さした。
In the Edo period, ひととき referred to about two hours.

Usage patterns

ひとときを過すごすto spend a brief, pleasant time
友ゆう人じんたちと楽たのしいひとときを過すごした。
I spent an enjoyable while with my friends.
ひとときの休きゅう息そくa moment's rest
仕し事ごとの合あい間まにひとときの休きゅう息そくを取とった。
I took a moment's rest between work tasks.
〈事こと〉のひとときa moment of ~ (happiness, peace, etc.)
家か族ぞくとの団だんらんは幸しあわせのひとときだ。
Time spent chatting with family is a moment of happiness.
ひととき〈動どう詞し〉once, for a time, (did something)
彼かれはひととき、この町まちに住すんでいた。
He once lived in this town for a while.

Kanji

時time, hour
一one, one radical (no.1)

Related words

束つかの間まN1sense 1
つかの間 and ひととき both mean a brief span of time, but つかの間 stresses how fleeting it is, while ひととき can also carry a pleasant or nostalgic feel.
しばらくN4sense 1
しばらく simply means 'for a while' and focuses on duration, whereas ひととき often adds a poetic or nostalgic nuance to a short period.
一いち時じN4sense 2
一時 (いちじ) can mean 'temporarily' or 'for a time' in a neutral, practical sense, while ひととき suggests a more meaningful or memorable interval.
瞬しゅん間かんN3sense 1
瞬間 refers to an instant or split second, much shorter than the leisurely 'while' implied by ひととき.

Don't confuse with

一いち時じN4
一時 (いちじ) usually means 'one o'clock' or 'temporarily', and is easy to confuse with ひととき, which is often written with the same kanji but read differently and means a pleasant brief moment.

Written forms

ひとときUsage60%
Usually written in kana; the kanji forms ひと時 and 一時 are also used but less common.
いっときUsage20%
ひと時ときUsage18%
Kanji spelling using 時; less common than kana but still encountered.
一時Usage2%

Etymology

Compound of ひと (one) and とき (time). The archaic sense of 'two-hour period' derives from the traditional division of a day into twelve equal parts.

ひととき
Kanji spelling; easily confused with 一時 (いちじ) meaning 'one o'clock' or 'temporarily'. Use with caution.
いっとき
Alternate reading for the kanji spelling 一時; rare and easily confused with いちじ.