4.3 Time Expressions

Relative days

今日 (kyō) = today, 明日 (ashita) = tomorrow, 昨日 (kinō) = yesterday, 今 (ima) = now, 毎日 (mainichi) = every day.

The clock

〜時 (ji) = o'clock: 三時 (sanji) = 3:00. 〜分 (fun/pun) = minutes, 半 (han) = half: 二時半 = 2:30. 午前 (gozen) = a.m., 午後 (gogo) = p.m.

Particle に for time

Specific clock times and dates take the particle に (ni): 七時に起きます (I get up at 7:00). Relative words like 今日/明日 do NOT take に.

Key terms

今日 / 明日 / 昨日

kyō / ashita / kinō — today / tomorrow / yesterday

〜時 / 〜分 / 半

ji / fun / han — o'clock / minute / half

午前 / 午後

gozen / gogo — a.m. / p.m.

に (ni) for time

specific times take に: 七時に

No に

relative words (今日, 明日) don't take に

Try an AP-style question

"らいしゅう" means…

1. last week
2. next week
3. every week
4. this week