何時か
nanji ka
The Japanese phrase for "what the time is" is 何時か (nanji ka).
何時か is used to express the concept of "what the time is" as a noun clause within a larger sentence. It acts as an indirect question, commonly used in structures like "Do you know…" or "I don't know…".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of 何時 (nanji), meaning "what time" and the particle か (ka), which turns the question into a noun clause.
Which one should you use?
While 何時か is used for the indirect noun clause "what the time is", if you want to ask the direct question "What time is it?", you should instead use 何時ですか.
How does it change in a sentence?
This phrase functions as an indirect question. It is typically embedded within a larger sentence to provide the object of a verb, such as knowing or wondering.
How do you pronounce it?
nanji ka
Did you know?
- Japanese culture places a high value on punctuality, but 'on time' often means arriving ten minutes before the stated 何時 (nanji).
- While 何時か means 'what the time is', it can also mean 'sometime' or 'at some point' in a different context. This ambiguity means you must look at the surrounding verbs to tell if someone is talking about a specific clock time or an indefinite moment.
- The word 時 (ji) in 何時か is a counter, meaning that when telling the time, the number is followed by a specific counting word rather than just the number itself.
Examples in context
- 今何時か分かる？Do you know what the time is?This sentence is useful for asking if someone knows 何時か.Tatoeba #4636745 by tommy_san, translation #24598 by CK
- 駅に着いた時、何時か確認した。eki ni tsuita toki, nanji ka kakunin shita.I checked what the time was when I arrived at the station.
Example conversation
At a cafe, Hiroto is looking at his phone.
- 大翔 Hiroto美咲、今何時か知ってる？Misaki, ima nanji ka shitteru?Misaki, do you know what the time is?
- 美咲 Misakiごめん、分からないわ。gomen, wakaranai wa.Sorry, I don't know.
- 大翔 Hirotoじゃあ、スマホで確認するよ。jaa, sumaho de kakunin suru yo.Then, I'll check on my smartphone.
- 美咲 Misakiお願いね。onegai ne.Please do.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
