時計とけい

と

け

い

Common wordJLPTN5Freq.FrequencyTop 5,000

Meanings

noun

clock; watch; timepiece

General term for any device that tells time, including wall clocks, wristwatches, and digital timepieces.

壁かべに時計とけいが掛かけてある。
There is a clock hanging on the wall.
この時計とけいは5分ふん遅おくれている。
This watch is five minutes slow.

See all 573 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

時と計けいを見みるto look at a clock/watch (to check the time)
電でん車しゃの中なかで時計とけいを見みた。
I looked at my watch on the train.
時と計けいが止とまるfor a clock/watch to stop working
古ふるい時計とけいが止とまってしまった。
The old clock stopped working.
時と計けいを合あわせるto set a clock/watch to the correct time
テレビの時じ間かんに時計とけいを合あわせた。
I set my watch to the time shown on TV.
時と計けいが進すすんでいるfor a clock/watch to be running fast
この時計とけいは五ご分ふん進すすんでいる。
This clock is five minutes fast.
時と計けいが遅おくれているfor a clock/watch to be running slow
駅えきの時計とけいが少すこし遅おくれている。
The clock at the station is a little slow.
時と計けいを巻まくto wind a (mechanical) clock/watch
毎まい晩ばん、柱はしら時計どけいを巻まくのが祖そ父ふの仕し事ごとだった。
Winding the wall clock every night was my grandfather's job.

Kanji

時time, hour
計plot, plan, scheme
自oneself
鳴chirp, cry, bark
鐘bell, gong, chimes
土soil, earth, ground
圭square jewel, corner, angle

Related words

クロック
時計 is the everyday word for a clock or watch, while クロック is used mainly for digital displays, app clocks, or product names.
ウォッチ
時計 is the general Japanese word for any clock or watch, while ウォッチ specifically refers to a wristwatch worn on the arm.
目め覚ざまし時計どけいN3
時計 is the general word for any clock or watch, while 目覚まし時計 specifically means an alarm clock.
腕うで時計どけいN1
時計 is the general word for any clock or watch, while 腕時計 specifically means a watch worn on the wrist.

Don't confuse with

時じ間かんN5
時計 is the physical device (a clock or watch) used to check the time, while 時間 is the abstract concept of time itself, as in 時間がない (I don't have time).

Counted with

個こN5
The all-purpose counter for small discrete objects, used when no more specific counter applies.
台だいN4
台 counts 時計 (clocks/watches) as a mechanical device or piece of equipment, though 個 is a more general, everyday alternative.

Word family· 54

Show 13 more

柱はしら時計どけい
wall clock; grandfather clock
置おき時計どけい
table clock; desk clock; mantel clock
掛かけ時計どけい
wall clock
目め覚ざまし時計どけいN3
alarm clock
古ふる時計どけい
antique clock; old clock
和わ時計どけい
traditional Japanese clock; Edo-period clock
時計とけい台だい
clock tower
時計とけい塔とう
clock tower
時計とけい学がく
horology
時計とけい屋や
watch shop; watchmaker
時計とけい工こう
watchmaker; clockmaker
時計とけい師し
watchmaker; clockmaker
時計とけい店てん
watch shop; watch store; watchmaker's

See all 54 in Explore →

Written forms

時計とけいUsage99%
ateji (phonetic kanji usage)
Standard kanji spelling; ateji reading. This is the most common written form.
トケイUsage<1%
自と鳴け鐘いUsage<1%
search-only kanji form
Search-only kanji form; not used in modern writing.
土と圭けいUsage<1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form; learners are unlikely to encounter it.

Etymology

The reading とけい is historically associated with 土圭, a Chinese term for a gnomon or time-measuring instrument. 時計, literally “time measure,” became the standard spelling and broadened to clocks and watches.