How to say "second" in Japanese

• 秒びょうJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe unit of time — sixty of them make a minute. Use it for measured durations and clock time, as in waiting or timing something for a number of seconds.
  私の時計とけいは１日にちに５秒びょう進すすみます。↗

  My watch gains five seconds a day.
• 瞬間しゅんかんJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounHere 'second' means a very short stretch of time rather than the measured unit: a moment, an instant. It fits contexts where English says 'a second' loosely, as in 'wait a second'.
  この瞬間しゅんかんは歴史れきしに記録きろくされるだろう。↗

  This moment will be recorded in history.
• セカンドCommon
  prenominal modifierThe katakana loanword for 'second': use it in set expressions and borrowed contexts where English 'second' is kept as-is, not as the everyday way to say 'the second one'.
• 二次にじCommon
  no-adjectiveMeans 'second' as in second in a series, stage, or degree — that is, 'secondary'. It chiefly occurs within compound expressions, and it is not used for the time unit or for counting seconds.
• 乙おつJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounMarks the second of two parties, ranks, or grades (the 'B' grade), or 'the latter' of two. As a translation of 'second' it is marginal; learners will seldom need it.
  甲こうの損そんは乙おつの得とく。↗

  One man's gain is another man's loss.

Use 秒 for the time unit, 瞬間 for a brief moment, 「セカンド」 for the loanword in set expressions, 二次 for 'second(ary)' in a series or degree, and 乙 only for second party, rank, or the latter.

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

• 秒びょうsecond (unit of time)
• 瞬間しゅんかんmoment
• セカンドsecond
• 二次にじsecond
• 乙おつ(the) second (party, rank, etc.)
• 助っ人すけっとhelper
• 二番にばんsecond
• 二つ目ふたつめsecond (in a series)
• 第二だいにsecond
• セックsecond
• 二番目にばんめsecond (in a series)
• セコンドsecond (time unit)
• 二着にちゃくrunner-up
• 隔かくevery other
• 口を添えるくちをそえるto put in a word for
• 二代目にだいめsecond generation
• 不合格品ふごうかくひんrejected goods
• 瞬時しゅんじinstant
• 介添えかいぞえcornerman
• 介添人かいぞえにんsecond (e.g. in a duel)
• 中なかsecond (of three, e.g. sons, volumes)
• Ｓエスsecond