秒
byō[bʲo̞ː]
The Japanese word for the unit of time, second, is 秒 (byō).
秒 is used specifically to refer to the SI unit of time, one-sixtieth of a minute. For other meanings of "second," such as the ordinal number or the second item in a sequence, different words are used.
Meaning: one-sixtieth of a minute, SI unit of time (noun)
Which one should you use?
While 秒 refers to the unit of time, other words express the ordinal concept of "second." For example, 第二 is used for the second instance or occurrence of something, like a second chapter, whereas 二番目 can mean both the second item in a sequence or the ordinal number second. For referring to the second item in a series in a casual way, 二つ目 is used.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
byō
Did you know?
- Japanese youth often use the phrase 秒で to mean 'immediately' or 'without hesitation' rather than a literal measurement of time.
- The character 秒 originally had meanings related to tiny grains of millet or fine silk threads, emphasizing the concept of something extremely small.
- While an English speaker might say 'wait a second', a Japanese person is much more likely to use an idiomatic phrase like ちょっと待って (chotto matte) rather than using the specific unit of time 秒 for a brief pause.
Examples in context
- 今、何時何分何秒ですか？What hour, minute, and second is it now?This sentence is useful for asking for the current time in hours, minutes and seconds using 秒.Tatoeba #10962357 by small_snow, translation #12022446 by Winter
- １秒にたったの６ペンスよ。It's only six pence per second.This sentence uses 秒 to express a rate of cost per second.Tatoeba #235657 by e4zh1nmcz, translation #73037 by sundown
- 最も速い流れ星は、秒速約40キロです。The fastest meteoroids move at about 42 kilometers per second.This sentence uses 秒 to describe a speed measured in kilometers per second.Tatoeba #12001879 by small_snow, translation #3957621 by Hybrid
- 詳しい情報は第二章を参照してください。Please turn to the second chapter for further information.
- そのシリーズの二つ目の映画が一番好きでした。The second movie in the series was my favorite.
- 彼はレースで二番手でゴールしました。He finished second in the race.
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Misaki and Hiroto are waiting for a train.
- 美咲 Misakiあと１０秒で電車が来るよ。Ato juubyou de densha ga kuru yo.The train is coming in 10 seconds.
- 大翔 Hiroto本当？すぐだね。Hontou? Sugu dane.Really? That's soon.
- 美咲 Misakiうん、もうすぐだよ。Un, mousugu da yo.Yeah, it's almost here.
- 大翔 Hirotoあ、来た！A, kita!Ah, it's here!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “second” translations and entries 秒, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
