午前
gozen[ɡo̞zẽ̞ɴ]
The Japanese phrase for "am" is 午前 (gozen).
午前 is used to specify the morning hours or the period before noon. To emphasize that an event will take place during the morning, you can use the related form 午前中 (in the morning).
Meaning: before noon (adv)
Which one should you use?
While 午前 refers to the period before noon (am), 午後 is used to refer to the period after noon (pm).
How does it change in a sentence?
In Japanese, the time indicator 午前 is placed before the specific time, which is the opposite of English where "am" follows the time.
How do you pronounce it?
gozen
Did you know?
- In a traditional context, 午 refers to the 'Horse' sign of the zodiac, which was used to mark the time of day around midday.
- The term 午前 is part of a system of time-keeping that was heavily influenced by the adoption of the Gregorian calendar and Western-style time in the late 19th century.
- In digital formats or casual shorthand, you might see 午前 replaced by 'am' in Katakana or English, but 午前 remains the standard for formal documents and news broadcasts.
Examples in context
- 午前８時です。It’s 8:00 am.This sentence illustrates how to state a specific time in the morning.Tatoeba #9755627 by small_snow, translation #9701377 by Ricardo14
- ２月２７日（月曜日）のお約束の確認ですが、午前１０時に貴社にお伺いするということでしたね。This is to confirm the appointment we made to meet at your office at 10:00 am on Monday, February 27th.This sentence shows the use of 午前 in a formal business confirmation.Tatoeba #235512 by e4zh1nmcz, translation #72890 by papabear
- 午前８時25分Eight twenty-five AMThis sentence provides a way to write out a specific morning time.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two people are discussing a doctor's appointment over the phone.
- 大翔 Hiroto明日の午前中に予約できますか？Ashita no gozenchu ni yoyaku dekimasu ka?Can I make an appointment tomorrow morning?
- 美咲 Misakiはい、午前の枠は空いていますよ。Hai, gozen no waku wa aite imasu yo.Yes, there are openings in the morning.
- 大翔 Hirotoでは、午前１０時にお願いします。Dewa, gozen juuji ni onegaishimasu.Then, 10 a.m., please.
- 美咲 Misaki承知いたしました。お待ちしております。Shouchi itashimashita. Omachi shite orimasu.Understood. We will be waiting for you.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 午前, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR, Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
