synonym Comparative
時
VS
今さら
Differences Between "時" and "今さら"
Option A
時
Meaning
o'clock; time; when
Reading
じ・とき (ji/toki)
Syllabus Level
N4
Practical Example
今、何時ですか。
What time is it now?
Option B
今さら
Meaning
now (when it is already too late); at this late hour; (not) at all
Reading
いまさら (imasara)
Syllabus Level
N2
Practical Example
今さら後悔しても、もう遅い。
It's too late to regret it now.
Which one to use?
Select the correct Japanese word for this context
Which word fits this context: "(o'clock; time; when)"?
🎉 正解 / Correct!
使い分け解説:
- 時: Used to specify the hour (e.g., 1時:いちじ, 2時:にじ). When read as 'とき', it means 'time' or 'when' (e.g., 子供の時:こどものとき - when I was a child).
- 今さら: Expresses a feeling of 'it's too late now' or 'what's the point now?', implying regret, futility, or a sense of being out of place. (「もう遅すぎる」「今となっては意味がない」という後悔や徒労感、あるいは場違い感を伴うニュアンスを持つ。)
- 時: Used to specify the hour (e.g., 1時:いちじ, 2時:にじ). When read as 'とき', it means 'time' or 'when' (e.g., 子供の時:こどものとき - when I was a child).
- 今さら: Expresses a feeling of 'it's too late now' or 'what's the point now?', implying regret, futility, or a sense of being out of place. (「もう遅すぎる」「今となっては意味がない」という後悔や徒労感、あるいは場違い感を伴うニュアンスを持つ。)
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