How to say "time" in Japanese

• 時ときJLPT N5approx.Common
  nounCovers 'time' as a point, moment, or period — 'at that time', 'when I was a student'. This is the word for the time when something happens, rather than for measured amounts of time.
  １２才さいの時とき彼かれは声変こえがわりした。↗

  His voice broke when he was twelve.
• 時間じかんJLPT N5approx.Common
  nounThe everyday word for time as a duration or quantity — time you have, spend, or lack. Choose this for 'I don't have time' or for asking how long something takes.
  いつだって読書どくしょの時間じかんは見みつけられる。↗

  We can always find time for reading.
• 度たびJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, noun (suffix), counterThis is 'time' in the sense of an occurrence: 'three times', 'each time'. Use it for counting or repeating events, not for stretches or points in time.
  彼かれは東京とうきょうへ来くるたび私を訪たずねてきた。↗

  He visited me every time he came up to Tokyo.
• 間まJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounA marginal match for 'time': its real sense is a pause, lull, or short interval — a gap in activity. Seldom the word you want for 'time' itself; think 'pause' first.
  鬼おにの居いぬ間まに洗濯せんたく。↗

  When the cat is away, the mice will play.
• 際さいJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun'Time' or 'occasion' in the sense of 'on the occasion of' or 'in the case of' — the wording of polite notices and instructions, as in 'when using this service'.
  火事かじの際さいは１１９番ばんに電話でんわしてください。↗

  In the case of fire, dial 119.

Use 時 for a point or moment in time, 時間 for time as a duration or quantity, 度 for occurrences ('three times', 'each time'), 際 for 'on the occasion of', and 間 only for a pause or brief interval.

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

• 時ときtime
• 時間じかんtime
• 度たびtime (three times, each time, etc.)
• 間まtime
• 際さいoccasion
• 時期じきtime
• タイムtime (for, to do)
• 手間てまtime
• 時刻じこくtime
• 期きperiod
• 節せつoccasion
• 拍子ひょうしtime
• 時分じぶんtime
• 月日つきひtime
• 歳月さいげつtime
• お時間おじかん(your) time
• 時機じきopportunity
• 暦年れきねんcalendar year
• 時日じじつdate
• 余裕よゆうsurplus
• 調子ちょうしtune
• 計るはかるto measure
• 折おりopportunity
• ゆとりelbowroom
• 頃おいころおいtime
• 期ごtime
• 刻限こくげんtime
• みぎりtime
• 光陰こういんtime
• 放送時間ほうそうじかんtime (for a program, programme)
• 三昧耶さんまやtime
• 時辰じしんtime
• 星霜せいそうyears
• 暦日れきじつcalendar day
• ころ(approximate) time
• いとま(spare) time
• 暇ひまtime (it takes to do something)
• 日月じつげつtime
• 際きわtime
• 調ちょうtime
• 烏兎うとtime
• 次じorder
• 時じ(specified) time
• ほど(span of) time
• 日ひ(past) days
• 段だんstage (in a process)