How to Say "Seven O'clock" in Japanese

七時

shichi-ji[ɕi̥t͡ɕiʑi]

The Japanese phrase for seven o'clock is 七時 (shichi-ji).

七時 is used to refer to the specific time when the hour hand of a clock points to seven.

What does it mean word for word?

The phrase is composed of the number seven (七) and the counter for hours/o'clock (時).

To specify 'at seven o'clock', the particle に (ni) is added after the phrase, resulting in 七時に (shichi-ji ni).

shichi-ji

The reading for 'seven' in 七時, 'shichi', is phonetically very similar to the word for 'death', which is 死 (shi).
In certain traditional Japanese time-telling systems used before the modern era, time was measured by 'seasonal hours' where the length of an hour changed based on the time of year.
Japanese uses a specific counter 時 for hours, but a different counter 時間 for durations. You use 七時 to say it is seven o'clock, but 七時間 to say seven hours have passed.

七時に家を出ます。
I leave home at seven o'clock.
This sentence shows how to use 七時 to indicate leaving home at a specific time.
Tatoeba #10982398 by small_snow, translation #12072767 by Winter
もうすぐ七時だ。学校に行かなくちゃ。
It is close to seven o'clock. We have to go to school.
This sentence demonstrates using 七時 to state that it is close to that time.
Tatoeba #1979859 by bunbuku, translation #72344 by CM
ねえあなた、七時に食事の準備ができてなかったら、わたしレストランに行きたいわ。
My love, if the food isn't ready by seven o'clock, I'm going to go to the restaurant.
This sentence uses 七時 within a conditional statement about meal preparation.
Tatoeba #2221032 by Blanka_Meduzo, translation #485488 by FeuDRenais

Misaki and Yota are discussing their meeting time.

美咲 Misaki

明日は七時に待ち合わせしましょう。
Ashita wa shichiji ni machiawase shimashou.
Let's meet at seven o'clock tomorrow.
陽太 Yota

七時ですね。わかりました。
Shichiji desu ne. Wakarimashita.
Seven o'clock, right. I understand.
美咲 Misaki

駅の改札前でいいですか？
Eki no kaisatsumae de ii desu ka?
Is in front of the station ticket gate okay?
陽太 Yota

はい、そこで会いましょう。
Hai, soko de aimashou.
Yes, let's meet there.

Sources

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