時 (Time) - Meaning and history | Japanese Kanji
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5 min reading time
時
Kun readings 🇯🇵
On readings 🇨🇳
The kanji 時 means time, now, moment, when.
In this post we learn more about the meaning of 時, its origin, and how it is used through real example sentences.
Origin of the kanji 時
The kanji 時 has as its root the element (日|ひ) the Sun, the sunlight, the day.
As you can see, the upper right shows the element (土|つち) land. The horizontal line represents the soil and the cross symbolizes the plant which grows gradually.
According to an interpretation, the lower part 土 represented the feet, the legs and indicated the advance. All elements highlight the flow and the passage of time.
What does 時 mean
The meanings of the kanji are: time, instant, moment, period, era, occasion and opportunity.
時 preceded by a verb in plain form is also used as a conjunction in the temporal proposition.
天気がいいとき、散歩をします。
I go for a walk, when the weather is nice .
Kanji readings 時
Let's now see the various On and Kun readings that the kanji 時 assumes.
Kun readings of kanji 時 🇯🇵
とき
A saying common to various cultures links time to money.
時は金なり。
Time is money .
- 時 is also used with the meaning of
occasion,opportunity
時を待つ
Wait for the right opportunity .
どき
時々 tokidoki is the reading of the adverb sometimes, occasionally. As you see the repeated word toki changes the syllable と to ど. The deaf sound と becomes sonorous ど with the addition of nigori, the quotation marks transcribed at the top right of the kana.
On kanji readings 時 🇨🇳
じ
時 is one of the counters or numeric suffixes, as it is used to count the hours throughout the day.
Number + 時
午前 7 時 7 am (a.m.)
午後 5 時 5 pm (p.m.)
To check the time we need 時計, a clock, a word that associates:
時
time計
measurement
Words containing the kanji 時
- A common noun for
timeis 時間 which we can translate as interval (間) temporal (時)
時間がある。
I have time .
時間はない。
I don't have time .
Departures and arrivals times
When traveling in Japan you can consult the 時刻表 framework or timetable of departures and arrivals.
飛行機時刻表 flight timetable
電車時刻表 train timetable
Examples of words with the kanji 時
一時:
we have seen it as a counter or numerical suffix for hours and here indicates
onethe same term also has the meaning of
momentary,temporaryand as an adjective it becomes 一時の一時の現象: a
passing phenomenon
- 停止 means
stop,suspension, the sign therefore meansmomentary interruption: stop!
If you find such a sign displayed on the door of a shop or a public place, fear not! It is:
- 臨時休業 a
provisional closure
Pay for a job could be agreed based on:
時給 an
hourly wageor月給 a
monthly salary; this word contains the kanji of moon, month (月|つき)
Time and seasons
We find 時 in the word that indicates the period or season and is synonymous with 季節.
桜の 時期 the
cherry blossom season時期の 果物 the
seasonal fruit
Appointments and events
If you want to make an appointment you will have to decide:
- 日時 the day and time; in this word we find the kanji (日|ひ) indicating the
Sunand theday, thehours of light
And if you have to call Japan, always keep in mind the time zone: 時差 where 差 means difference, variation.
