時間

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. 時間がありません。▶ —
   I don't have time.
2. パーティーは何時間ですか。▶ —
   How many hours is the party?

Collocations

Mnemonic

じかん — 時間, Sino-Japanese. Unpack the two characters: 時 (time-point) + 間 (interval) = 'the interval of time = a stretch of time flowing'. The Korean reading sigan matches character for character. The word does two jobs at once ── abstract noun: 時間がない (no time), 時間をかける (to take time). unit noun: 5時間 gojikan (five hours). A pair worth watching ── 5時 goji = five o'clock (a point in time). 5時間 gojikan = five hours (a duration). Korean splits '5si / 5sigan' exactly the same way. Adding the single character 間 turns a moment into a span. You meet these characters again in Mandarin Roots, as 時 and 間.

Quick check

1. How do you say "I worked for 5 hours" in Japanese?

   • 5時間働きました gojikan hatarakimashita (correct, duration)
   • 5時働きました (= "I worked at 5 o'clock")
   • 5時間です (= "It is 5 hours")
   • 5時のあいだ (awkward)