三さん時じ

Buddhist term: the three periods after the Buddha's death — the age of the true law (正法), the age of the copied law (像法), and the age of the degeneration of the law (末法).

See also: 正法 (しょうぼう) · 末法 · 像法

三さん時じの考かんがえ方かたは、仏ぶっ教きょうの歴れき史し観かんの一ひとつです。
The concept of the three ages is one of the historical views in Buddhism.

Usage patterns

３さん時じにするto take a mid-afternoon break/snack time
そろそろ３時じにしましょうか。
Shall we take a 3 o'clock break soon?

Expressions

３さん時じのおやつafternoon snack; afternoon tea

Kanji

時time, hour
三three

Related words

おやつN3sense 2
三時 (in this sense) is short for 三時のおやつ, the specific mid-afternoon snack time, while おやつ is the general word for any snack regardless of when it's eaten.

Politeness

１５じゅうご時じpolite 丁寧語sense 1
三時 is the everyday 12-hour clock expression, while 十五時 is the same moment written in the 24-hour format used in formal schedules and official announcements.

Word family

１３じゅうさん時じ
1 PM; thirteen o'clock
２３にじゅうさん時じ
11 PM; 23:00

Written forms

三さん時じ
Standard kanji spelling; preferred in formal and general contexts.
３さん時じ
Numerical spelling; common in schedules and informal writing.

Etymology

The time expression combines 三 “three” and 時 “hour.” In Buddhism, 三時 independently denotes the three ages of the Dharma: 正法, 像法, and 末法.