時間がない
jikan ga nai
In Japanese, "no time" is expressed as 時間がない (jikan ga nai).
The phrase is used to say that there is not enough time to do something. It is commonly used as an exclamation, such as 時間がない！, to express urgency or being in a rush.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 時間 (jikan) meaning 'time', が (ga) which is the subject marker particle and ない (nai) meaning 'does not exist' or 'is not'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form 時間がない is informal and should be used with friends or family, rather than in professional settings. 時間がありません is a polite and formal way to say 'I have no time' in Japanese.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say 'Because I have no time…' or 'Having no time, [I did something]', use the te-form なくて (nakute). The polite version of the phrase uses the verb ありません (arimasen) instead of the informal ない (nai).
How do you pronounce it?
jikan ga nai
When do people say it?
お忙しいですか？ is a respectful way to inquire if someone is busy and doesn't have any time. 申し訳ありません means 'I'm sorry'.
Did you know?
- In Japanese business culture, instead of saying 時間がない (I have no time), which can sound blunt or selfish, people often use the polite euphemism 手が空いていません (te ga aite imasen), meaning 'my hands are not free'.
- Japanese has a concept called 間 (ma), which refers to the silent gap or pause between things. While 時間 is the measurement of time, 間 is the artistic or social 'space' of time, a distinction English does not make.
- The verb ある (aru) used in the formal ありません (arimasen) is only used for inanimate objects or abstract concepts like 'time', so you would never use this specific form of 'to exist' to say a person is not there.
Examples in context
- 私は時間がない。I have no time.This sentence demonstrates a simple statement that the speaker has no time using 時間がない.Tatoeba #156420 by KK_kaku_, translation #249910 by CK
- トムは時間がない。Tom has no time.This sentence shows how to say a third person, Tom, has no time using 時間がない.Tatoeba #7427362 by Ninja, translation #7426443 by CK
- 本を読む時間がない。I have no time to read books.This sentence illustrates how to specify an activity, like reading books, that one has no time for using 時間がない.Tatoeba #164499 by small_snow, translation #250008 by CK
- 申し訳ありませんが、今、時間がありません。I'm sorry, but I don't have any time right now.
- 今、ちょっと忙しいから、時間がないんだよ。I'm a bit busy right now, so I don't have any time.
- 最近、仕事が忙しすぎて、時間がないんだよ。Lately, I've been incredibly busy with work, and I don't have any time.
- 12 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two students are rushing to catch a train.
- 陽太 Yota電車まで、もう時間がないよ！Densha made, mou jikan ga nai yo!There is no more time until the train!
- 美咲 Misaki本当だ、急がないと！Hontou da, isoganai to!You're right, we have to hurry!
- 陽太 Yota美咲、走って！Misaki, hashitte!Misaki, run!
- 美咲 Misaki陽太、待って！Youta, matte!Youta, wait!
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
