Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Time" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "time", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
じかん
じかん (jikan)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
時刻
じこく (jikoku)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "time" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between じかん and 時刻.
In Japanese, じかん (じかん (jikan)) is typically associated with "time" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents Refers to a period of time, or the concept of time itself. Used in many common phrases like 時間があります.
On the other hand, 時刻 (じこく (jikoku)) maps to "time (specific point); hour" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents Refers to a specific point in time, such as the departure time of a train or a meeting's start time, rather than a duration. A literal translation of "time" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "じかん"
待ち合わせの時間に遅れました。
I was late for the meeting time.
Bilingual Context for "時刻"
電車の時刻を駅で確認しました。
I confirmed the train's time at the station.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "待ち合わせの時間に遅れました。" (Meaning: "I was late for the meeting time.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "じかん" fits here because it means "time" in the context of: "I was late for the meeting time.". "時刻" represents "time (specific point); hour".