時じ刻こく

じ

こ

く

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 5,000

Meanings

1

time; clock time; hour

Refers to a specific point in time, especially the time shown by a clock or scheduled time. Common in compounds and phrases such as 出発時刻 and 現在の時刻.

正せい確かくな時じ刻こくを教おしえ

て

ください

。

Please tell me the exact time.

電でん車しゃの出しゅっ発ぱつ時じ刻こくを確かく認にんした。

I checked the train's departure time.

2

noun

favorable time; opportunity; chance

A less common, more literary or dramatic use meaning the moment has come for something. In everyday Japanese, 時機, 好機, or チャンス is usually clearer for 'opportunity.'

いよいよ反はん撃げきの時じ刻こくが到とう来らいした。
At last the moment for a counterattack had arrived.

Usage patterns

時じ刻こくを確かく認にんするto check the (scheduled) time
電でん車しゃに乗のる前まえに出しゅっ発ぱつの時じ刻こくを確かく認にんした。
I checked the departure time before boarding the train.
時じ刻こくになるfor the appointed time to come
会かい議ぎが始はじまる時じ刻こくになった。
The time for the meeting to start has arrived.
時じ刻こくを過すぎるto pass the scheduled time
バスは予よ定ていの時じ刻こくを過すぎても来こなかった。
The bus still hadn't come even after the scheduled time had passed.
時じ刻こく通どおりにright on time; punctually
新しん幹かん線せんはいつも時じ刻こく通どおりに到とう着ちゃくする。
The shinkansen always arrives right on schedule.

Kanji

時time, hour
刻engrave, cut fine, chop
剋victory

Related words

時じ間かんN5sense 1
時間 is the general word for time or duration, while 時刻 specifically means a fixed point on the clock, like a scheduled moment.
時じ機きN1sense 2
時機 means the right timing or opportunity and is the natural choice for 'chance' in modern Japanese, whereas 時刻 in that sense feels literary or old-fashioned.
時ときN3sense 1
時 is a broad, everyday word for time or occasion, while 時刻 is more precise and refers to an exact clock time.

Don't confuse with

時じ間かん帯たい
時刻 refers to a specific point in time (like a clock reading), whereas 時間帯 refers to a range or block of time.
定てい刻こく
時刻 refers generally to a point in time (e.g. the current time), whereas 定刻 specifically means the officially fixed or scheduled time.
日にち時じN3
時刻 refers only to the clock time, whereas 日時 covers both the date and the time.

Word family· 18

時じ刻こく表ひょうN3
timetable; schedule
同どう時じ刻こく
same time; same hour
夏なつ時じ刻こく
daylight saving time; summer time

Written forms

時じ刻こくUsage100%
Standard and common spelling for clock time or a specific time.
時じ剋こく
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji variant given; 時刻 is the normal modern spelling.

Etymology

Sino-Japanese compound of 時, 'time,' and 刻, associated with a marked division or point in time. The rare variant 時剋 uses 剋 in place of 刻, but 時刻 is the conventional modern spelling.

出しゅっ発ぱつ時じ刻こく

departure time

到とう着ちゃく時じ刻こく

arrival time

Show 5 more

地ち域いき時じ刻こく
local time
引ひき受うけ時じ刻こく
time of receipt; acceptance time
時じ刻こく到とう来らい
the right moment has come; the opportune time has arrived
標ひょう本ほん時じ刻こく
sampling time
死し亡ぼう時じ刻こく
time of death

See all 18 in Explore →