目覚まし時計
mezamashidokei[me̞za̠ma̠ɕido̞ke̞ː]
The English phrase "alarm clock" is translated into Japanese as 目覚まし時計 (mezamashidokei).
目覚まし時計 refers to a type of clock. You can use the phrase アラームをセットする to say "to set the alarm", アラームが鳴る for "the alarm goes off" and 目覚ましで起きる to express "to wake up with the alarm clock".
Meaning: type of clock (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
mezamashidokei
Did you know?
- Historically, before mechanical 目覚まし時計 were common, Japan used 'human alarm clocks' called 目覚まし屋 (mezamashi-ya) who would walk through neighborhoods to wake people up.
- Because of a linguistic phenomenon called rendaku, the 't' in tokei transforms into a 'd', making the word 目覚まし時計 pronounced 'mezamashidokei'.
- The kanji 計 used in 時計 is also found in words for 'calculator' 計算機 and 'plan' 計画, all relating to the concept of calculating or measuring.
Examples in context
- 自分の部屋に目覚まし時計ってある？Do you have an alarm clock in your room?This sentence uses 目覚まし時計 to ask if someone has an alarm clock in their room.Tatoeba #8881944 by bunbuku, translation #3956159 by CK
- 私の目覚まし時計は今朝鳴らなかった。My alarm clock didn't go off this morning.This sentence uses 目覚まし時計 to say that an alarm clock did not go off in the morning.Tatoeba #162521 by small_snow, translation #251993 by CK
- トムは目覚まし時計が鳴るや否や、ベッドから飛び起きた。Tom jumped out of bed as soon as the alarm clock went off.This sentence uses 目覚まし時計 to describe someone jumping out of bed as soon as the alarm clock went off.Tatoeba #8659812 by bunbuku, translation #1024656 by CK
- 目覚まし時計の音で朝起きます。I wake up in the morning to the sound of my alarm clock.
- アラームが鳴るまで寝ていました。I was sleeping until the alarm went off.
- もう目覚ましセットした？Did you already set the alarm?
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hina and Yota are preparing for school in the morning.
- 陽葵 Himari陽太、新しい目覚まし時計買ったの？Yota, atarashii mezamashidokei katta no?Yota, did you buy a new alarm clock?
- 陽太 Yotaうん、前のやつが壊れたから。Un, mae no yatsu ga kowareta kara.Yeah, because the previous one broke.
- 陽葵 Himari音はうるさくない？Oto wa urusakunai?Is the sound too loud?
- 陽太 Yotaちょうどいい音だよ。Choudo ii oto da yo.The sound is just right.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “alarm clock” translations and entries 目覚まし時計, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 目覚まし時計, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
