The Meaning of toki [時] In Japanese

時
とき
Romaji: toki N5

What does 時 mean?

Translation and Meaning

time, hour, moment

Definition

時 (toki) means a temporal point or span used to place events—covering moments, hours, and the general timing of actions; it functions as the basic word for ‘when’ in many grammatical structures and appears in clock expressions and time-related compounds.

Type

noun; temporal conjunction (名詞, 接続詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • 1. As a temporal conjunction: used to mark ‘when’ something happens in subordinate clauses (expressing the timing of an action).
  • 2. As an on-reading in clock expressions: combined with numerals to indicate hours (the pronunciation and role differ from the kun reading).
  • 3. As a bound morpheme in compounds to form terms about points or spans of time rather than duration.
  • 4. Literary or idiomatic sense: can indicate occasions, seasons, or fixed moments in classical and poetic language.

Etymology

時 shows two main Japanese readings: kun’yomi toki, inherited from Old Japanese phonology, and on’yomi ji, borrowed through Middle Chinese; the modern pronunciations reflect these separate phonetic layers rather than a single vowel shift.

Origin

The concept and character arrived in Japan with the Chinese writing system; 時 appears in early Japanese texts and became central to timekeeping practices (civil, religious, and administrative) as Chinese calendrical notions and kanji use spread in the Asuka–Nara and Heian periods.

Composition

  • 日 (sun/day) — semantic element linked to cycles, daylight and the measurement of days.
  • 寺 (temple) — phonetic component; temples historically marked temporal divisions (bells, canonical hours), so combined the sign suggests ‘time’ when used as a whole.

Usage

Used across registers: in everyday speech the kun reading (toki) marks moments or ‘when’ clauses, while the on reading (ji) appears in numeric clock expressions and technical compounds; also found in formal writing, idioms, and set phrases to locate events temporally.
💡 Tips
Imagine a temple bell (寺) struck at sunrise (日) to mark the hour—that bell sound is 時 (toki): a moment or hour.

Variations

  • 時間 (jikan) — duration, amount of time
  • 時刻 (jikoku) — a clocked point in time
  • 頃 (koro) — approximate time/around
  • 刻 (koku / kizamu) — an old word for a short time interval or ‘to carve/measure time’
  • 永遠 (eien) — forever (conceptual antonym)

Example Phrases

  • 約束の時間に遅れて、友達はがっかりしていた。
    Yakusoku no jikan ni okurete, tomodachi wa gakkari shite ita.
    My friend was disappointed because we were late for the appointment.
    Lista:
    • 約束の時間に (yakusoku no jikan ni) – at the promised time
    • 遅れて (okurete) – having been late
    • 友達は (tomodachi wa) – my friend
    • がっかりしていた (gakkari shiteita) – was disappointed
    がっかり is a noun/adverb meaning ‘to be disappointed’; in this sentence it attaches with していた to express an ongoing feeling: 「がっかり」していた.
  • 彼は いつも 言い訳をして 時間を 無駄にする。
    Kare wa itsumo iiwake o shite jikan o muda ni suru.
    He always makes excuses and wastes time.
    Lista:
    • 彼は (Kare wa) – he
    • いつも (itsumo) – always
    • 言い訳をして (iiwake o shite) – making excuses
    • 時間を (jikan o) – time
    • 無駄にする (muda ni suru) – to waste
    In this context, the target word 「言い訳」 means ‘an excuse’; it is used with をして to mean ‘to make excuses’.
  • 最近の暮らしは、節約と時間管理が大切だ。
    Saikin no kurashi wa, setsuyaku to jikan kanri ga taisetsu da.
    In modern life, thrift and time management are important.
    Lista:
    • 最近の (saikin no) – recent
    • 暮らし (kurashi) – daily life
    • 節約 (setsuyaku) – thrift; savings
    • 時間管理 (jikan kanri) – time management
    • 大切 (taisetsu) – important
    In this sentence, 「暮らし」 means ‘daily life’ (noun); it is modified by 「最近の」 using の, forming ‘recent life’, and the topic is marked by 「は」.
  • ランチの席で 彼は 新しい 時計を 見せびらかして 皆を 困らせた
    Ranchi no seki de kare wa atarashii tokei o misebirakashite mina o komaraseta
    At the lunch table, he flaunted his new watch and annoyed everyone.
    Lista:
    • ランチの席で (Ranchi no seki de) – at the lunch table
    • 彼は (kare wa) – he
    • 新しい (atarashii) – new
    • 時計を (tokei o) – watch
    • 見せびらかして (misebirakashite) – flaunting
    • 皆を (mina o) – everyone
    • 困らせた (komaraseta) – annoyed
    Core grammar: The verb 「見せびらかす」 means ‘to flaunt, show off’. Here it is used in its te-form 見せびらかして to connect to the following clause, followed by 皆を困らせた.
  • 朝の通勤時、私は本を読む。
    Asa no tsūkinji, watashi wa hon o yomu.
    During my morning commute, I read a book.
    Lista:
    • 朝の (asa no) – morning
    • 通勤時 (tsūkinji) – during the commute
    • 私は (watashi wa) – I
    • 本を (hon o) – book (object marker)
    • 読む (yomu) – to read
    This uses the dictionary form 「読む」 for a general present action.
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