JLPT N5 Grammar: 〜時 / 〜分 / 〜半
Telling time — o'clock, minutes, and half past
JLPT N5 文法 時間の表現 (時・分・半)
⏱️ Study time: 7–10 minutes
時, 分, and 半 are the building blocks of telling time in Japanese. 時 marks the hour, 分 marks the minutes, and 半 means "half past". Master these and you can read any clock, schedule, or timetable in Japanese.
Quick Summary
o'clock
e.g., ３時 = 3 o'clock
minutes
e.g., １５分 = 15 minutes
half past
e.g., ４時半 = half past 4
今７時半です。いましちじはんです。Ima shichiji han desu.
It is 7:30 now.
📝 Core Patterns
💡 Toggle furigana, hiragana, or romaji for easier reading.
⚡ 〜時 — O'clock
Attach 時 to the hour number. Four, seven, and nine use special readings.
⚡ 〜分 — Minutes
The reading of 分 changes depending on the number it follows. ふん follows most numbers; ぷん follows 1, 3, 6, 8, 10, and the question word 何.
💡 Pattern: ふん → ぷん after 1 (いっ), 3 (さん), 6 (ろく), 8 (はち), 10 (じゅう), and 何. The sound change makes them easier to pronounce.
⚡ 〜半 — Half Past
半 is placed directly after the hour to mean "half past". It replaces the need to say 30 minutes — both are correct, but 半 is shorter and more common in everyday speech.
1:30
4:30
7:30
9:30
📊 Full Time Expressions — Practice Reading
⚡ Asking the Time
Examples & Mini Dialogue
今何時ですか。いまなんじですか。Ima nanji desu ka.
What time is it now?
✅ Standard time question.
会議は３時半からです。かいぎはさんじはんからです。Kaigi wa sanji han kara desu.
The meeting is from 3:30.
A: すみません、今何時ですか。すみません、いまなんじですか。Sumimasen, ima nanji desu ka.
B: １０時１０分です。じゅうじじゅっぷんです。Jūji juppun desu.
Common Mistakes (and Fixes)
JLPT N5 Practice Questions
1. How do you read ４時 (4:00)?
2. How do you read ９時 (9:00)?
3. How do you read １０分 (10 minutes)?
4. ７時半 means:
Test yourself with a free mock exam →
About the Instructor
Taught by Anup Sensei at Gogaku Language & Training Center in Pokhara. With real Japan experience and a focus on exam essentials, he helps students pass the JLPT with confidence.
⚡ Vocabulary Used in This Lesson
Related Grammar
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 4 o'clock よじ and not よんじ?
よ is the older Japanese reading for 4 (from よっつ), which is preserved in time expressions. よん is the Chinese‑derived reading used in most other contexts.
Why is 9 o'clock くじ and not きゅうじ?
く is the older Japanese reading for 9 (from ここのつ). Like よじ, it's preserved in time expressions.
Is ３０分 or さんじゅうふん correct?
The most natural reading is さんじゅっぷん (with the small っ and ぷん). Some speakers say さんじっぷん for 30分, but さんじゅっぷん is the standard taught at N5.
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