How to say "afternoon" in Japanese

• 午後ごごJLPT N5approx.Common
  noun, adverbThe ordinary word for the afternoon as a whole, and also for 'p.m.' in clock times. If you simply mean the time between noon and evening, this is the word you want.
  その急行きゅうこうは午後ごご六ろく時じ三十さんじゅう分ふん着ぎだ。↗

  The express arrives at 6:30 p.m.
• アフタヌーンCommon
  nounThe English loanword in katakana. As a plain word for the time of day it is seldom what you want — use 午後 — appearing mainly in borrowed, Western-style expressions.
• 昼過ぎひるすぎCommon
  noun, adverbCovers the time just past noon — early afternoon — rather than the afternoon as a whole. Use it when something happens a little after midday; for the afternoon generally, 午後 is the word.
  昼過ひるすぎからはちょっと忙いそがしくなるんだ。↗

  I have rather a busy afternoon in front of me.

Use 午後 for the afternoon as a whole and for p.m. times, 「昼過ぎ」 for the period just past noon, and 「アフタヌーン」 only as the loanword in borrowed, Western-style expressions.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 午後ごごafternoon
• アフタヌーンafternoon
• 昼過ぎひるすぎjust past noon
• ＰＭピー・エムpost meridiem