ひととき

noun

a short time; a while; a moment

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.

noun, adverb

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

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.

noun

two-hour period

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.