Time in Japanese
"time" in Japanese, with the kanji that carry the meaning.
3 Japanese kanji carry the meaning "time". The most common choice is shown first.
Which one to use
時間 (jikan) is time you can measure — hours, duration. 時 alone is a point in time, an hour, or the moment something happens. 期 is a period with a boundary, a term or a phase. 暇 is free time, time you are not using. Japanese names the kind of time rather than using one word for all of it.
Top pick
time, hour
Reading: ji
10 strokes
Where it comes from
Composed of '日' (sun) and '寺' (temple). Knowing time from sundial at temple.
What it carries
Time, opportunity, moment. Represents value of time as in 'time is money'.
Related kanji for "time"
time
ki
Composed of that and moon. Moon's cycle.
time
ka · peaceful
Composed of sun and borrow. Rest under the sun.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Japanese kanji for time?
The most common kanji for "time" is 時, read as ji. It means time, hour. Related kanji: 期 (time), 暇 (time).
How many strokes does 時 have?
時 has 10 strokes.