Say what time it is: 〜時 / 〜分

Mental Model: The Two-Gear Clock

Telling time in Japanese operates like a watch with two distinct gear wheels: 1. The Hour Gear: The number plus 〜時(〜じ) (-ji). 2. The Minute Gear: The number plus 〜分(〜ふん / 〜ぷん) (-fun / -pun).

To ask the time, ask: 今、何時ですか？ (“What time is it now?”).

The Three Critical Hour Irregulars: 4, 7, and 9

While most hours take standard number readings (1:00 is 一時(いちじ), 2:00 is 二時(にじ)), three hours have strictly enforced irregular pronunciations:

• 4:00: 四時(よじ) (yoji) (NEVER *しじ, which sounds identical to 死時(しじ) (time of death), and never *よんじ).
• 7:00: 七時(しちじ) (shichiji) (though ななじ is sometimes used for clarification over crackly radios, しちじ is the standard).
• 9:00: 九時(くじ) (kuji) (NEVER *きゅうじ).

Memorize this triad like a melodic chant: よ, しち, く!

The Minute Euphony: ふん vs ぷん

Minutes alternate between the soft ふん (fun) and the explosive, popping ぷん (pun). The small っ geminates before the popping p-sound:

• 1 min: 一分(いっぷん) (Contraction + popping ぷん)
• 2 min: 二分(にふん) (Soft ふん)
• 3 min: 三分(さんぷん) (Nasal + popping ぷん)
• 4 min: 四分(よんぷん) (Nasal + popping ぷん)
• 5 min: 五分(ごふん) (Soft ふん)
• 6 min: 六分(ろっぷん) (Contraction + popping ぷん)
• 7 min: 七分(ななふん) (Soft ふん)
• 8 min: 八分(はっぷん) (Contraction + popping ぷん)
• 9 min: 九分(きゅうふん) (Soft ふん)
• 10 min: 十分(じゅっぷん) (Contraction + popping ぷん)

Rule of Thumb: The digits 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10 trigger popping ぷん! The digits 2, 5, 7, 9 keep gentle ふん.

Half Past and AM / PM

• Half past: Add 半(はん) (han) (half) right after the hour:
• 四時半(よじはん) (yoji han): 4:30.
• 七時半(しちじはん) (shichiji han): 7:30.
• AM and PM: Place the time-of-day modifier before the hour:
• 午前(ごぜん) (gozen): AM (before noon). 午前九時(ごぜんくじ) (gozen kuji) (9:00 AM).
• 午後(ごご) (gogo): PM (after noon). 午後八時(ごごはちじ) (gogo hachiji) (8:00 PM).