今何時ですか？
ima nanji desu ka?
The English phrase "what time is it now?" is translated into Japanese as 今何時ですか？ (ima nanji desu ka?)
This phrase is used to ask someone for the current time of day. It includes the word 今 (ima), which means "now."
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 今何時ですか？ breaks down into 今 (ima) meaning "now", nan (what), ji (o'clock/hour) and desu ka (is it?).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The full phrase 今何時ですか？ is a formal way to ask the question. By dropping the desu ka and using the shortened 今何時？, the phrase becomes informal and is suitable for use with friends or family.
How does it change in a sentence?
The Japanese term for "what time" is constructed by combining nan (what) and ji (o'clock/hour) into the word 何時 (nanji).
How do you pronounce it?
ima nanji desu ka?
Did you know?
- The character 時 (ji) is used not only for hours but also for the 'zodiac hours' of the traditional twelve-animal clock. In ancient Japan, time was measured by which animal ruled the current two-hour block.
- When answering 今何時ですか？, Japanese speakers often add the word ごろ (goro) to the time to mean 'around' or 'approximately'. This reflects a cultural preference for avoiding overly precise claims that might be slightly off.
- In very formal settings, rather than asking 今何時ですか？, one might use the more polite お時間を確認させていただいてもよろしいでしょうか？ to ask if they may check the time.
Examples in context
- 今何時ですか？ima nanji desu ka?What time is it now?
- すみません、今何時ですか？sumimasen, ima nanji desu ka?Excuse me, what time is it now?
- 駅に着きましたが、今何時ですか？eki ni tsukimashita ga, ima nanji desu ka?I arrived at the station, but what time is it now?
Example conversation
Hiyori and Yota are waiting at the train station.
- 陽葵 Himari陽太くん、今何時ですか？Yōta-kun, ima nan-ji desu ka?Yota, what time is it now?
- 陽太 Yotaええと、今は三時十五分です。Eeto, ima wa san-ji jūgo-fun desu.Let's see, it's 3:15 now.
- 陽葵 Himariあ、もうすぐ電車が来ますね。A, mō sugu densha ga kimasu ne.Oh, the train will be here soon.
- 陽太 Yotaはい、準備しましょう。Hai, junbi shimashō.Yes, let's get ready.
