時限
jigen[d͡ʑiɡẽ̞ɴ]
The Japanese term for a school period is 時限 (jigen), which refers to a specific block of time in a school day.
時限 is used specifically to count the scheduled blocks of classes within a school timetable.
Which one should you use?
It is important to distinguish 時限 from 授業. While 時限 refers to the time slot or the period number, 授業 is the word used for the actual lesson or instruction taking place.
How does it change in a sentence?
To specify which period of the day you are referring to, place the number directly before the word.
How do you pronounce it?
jigen
Did you know?
- The phrase 時限 is shared with the term for a 'time bomb', 時限爆弾, because both rely on the concept of a predetermined trigger time.
- The term 空きコマ describes a free period, but the word コマ suggests the period is a physical block that can be 'empty' or 'filled'.
- The word 時限 is also used in law and politics to describe a 'time limit' for a specific measure, such as a 時限法 or 'sunset law'.
Examples in context
- この時間は何の授業ですか？What class period is this?
- 次は3時限目です。Tsugi wa san-jigenme desu.The next one is the third period.
- 今の時限目はとても長かった。Ima no jigenme wa totemo nagakatta.This period was very long.
Example conversation
Ren and Himari are talking in the school hallway.
- 蓮 Ren陽葵、次の時限はどこでやるの？Himari, tsugi no jigen wa doko de yaru no?Himari, where is the next period being held?
- 陽葵 Himari理科室だよ。蓮は忘れたの？Rikashitsu dayo. Ren wa wasureta no?It's in the science lab. Did you forget, Ren?
- 蓮 Renあ、そうだった。急いで行こう。A, sō datta. Isoide ikō.Oh, that's right. Let's hurry.
- 陽葵 Himariうん、時間がないよ。Un, jikan ga nai yo.Yeah, we don't have much time.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 時限, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
