Explore Words Kanji Grammar Guides

Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

Get the Kotomora apps for iOS and Android.

Explore Words Kanji Grammar Guides About Support Privacy

Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

四六時中 (shirokujichuu) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

四し六ろく時じ中ちゅう

し

ろ

く

じ

ちゅ

う

JLPTN1›Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

around the clock; day and night

yojijukugo (four-character idiom)›

Emphasizes continuous, all-day-and-night activity. Derived from 4×6=24, representing the 24 hours of the day.

彼

かれ

は

四し

六ろく

時じ

中ちゅう

仕し

事ごと

の

こと

を

考かんが

え

て

いる

。

He thinks about work around the clock.

この店みせは四し六ろく時じ中ちゅう営えい業ぎょうしている。

This shop is open day and night.

Usage patterns

四し六ろく時じ中ちゅう〈動どう詞し〉ているto be doing something around the clock
彼かれは四し六ろく時じ中ちゅうスマホをいじっている。
He's fiddling with his phone around the clock.
四し六ろく時じ中ちゅう〈形けい容よう詞し〉to be constantly in a certain state (all day and night)
最さい近きんは仕し事ごとが忙いそがしくて四し六ろく時じ中ちゅう疲つかれている。
Work has been so busy lately that I'm exhausted around the clock.

Kanji

四four
六six
時time, hour
中in, inside, middle

Related words· 7

一いち日にち中じゅう
一日中 means 'all day long' and usually refers to the daytime hours, while 四六時中 covers the full 24-hour cycle including night.
常つねにN3
常に is a neutral, formal word for 'always' or 'constantly', whereas 四六時中 is a colorful idiom stressing round-the-clock continuity.
ひっきりなしにN1
ひっきりなしに describes something happening without pause or interruption, while 四六時中 emphasizes the full day-and-night timespan rather than the lack of gaps.
終しゅう始しN2
終始 means 'from beginning to end' and is more literary/formal, while 四六時中 is a vivid, colloquial idiom about ceaseless 24-hour activity.

Show 3 more

昼ちゅう夜やN1
四六時中 is a colloquial idiom emphasizing constant, unbroken activity, while 昼夜 is a more literary/formal way to say 'day and night'.
日にち夜やN1
四六時中 is colloquial and emphasizes every waking moment, whereas 日夜 is more formal and often used in written contexts about diligence.
明あけ暮くれ
四六時中 is a colloquial expression meaning 'around the clock', while 明け暮れ tends to sound more literary or reflective.

Etymology

A yojijukugo formed from 四 (4), 六 (6), 時 (time/hour), and 中 (throughout). The phrase literally means 'throughout the 4×6 hours', i.e., the 24 hours of the day.