Lesson 9: ランチは12時から1時までです – Telling Time in Japanese

Talking about daily schedules, time, days of the week, and routines.

This lesson focuses on time expressions, daily schedules, days of the week, and routine activities. You'll learn how to tell time, discuss daily routines, talk about work and school schedules, and describe when things happen.

Key topics:

・Telling time (hours and minutes)
・Days of the week
・Time periods (morning, afternoon, evening, night)
・Daily activities and routines
・Work and school schedules
・Frequency adverbs (always, sometimes, rarely)
・Making plans and appointments

Vocabulary

おきる

okiru

起おきる

to wake up

Example

６時じにおきます.

Roku-ji ni okimasu.

I wake up at 6:00.

ねる

neru

寝ねる

to sleep

Example

１１時じにねます.

Juuichi-ji ni nemasu.

I sleep at 11:00.

いく

iku

行いく

to go

Example

がっこうにいきます.

Gakkou ni ikimasu.

I go to school.

くる

kuru

来くる

to come

Example

あした、きますか.

Ashita, kimasu ka.

Are you coming tomorrow?

かえる

kaeru

帰かえる

to return home / to go home

Example

６時じにうちにかえります.

Roku-ji ni uchi ni kaerimasu.

I return home at 6:00.

おいのりをする

oinori o suru

お祈いのりをする

to pray

Example

あさおいのりをします.

Asa oinori o shimasu.

I pray in the morning.

おんがくをきく

ongaku o kiku

音楽おんがくを聞きく

to listen to music

Example

かえりみちでおんがくをききます.

Kaerimichi de ongaku o kikimasu.

I listen to music on the way home.

ネットをみる

netto o miru

to surf the Internet

Example

よるネットをみます.

Yoru netto o mimasu.

I surf the Internet at night.

あさ

asa

朝あさ

morning

Example

あさ７時じにおきます.

Asa shichi-ji ni okimasu.

I wake up at 7:00 in the morning.

ひる

hiru

昼ひる

afternoon

Example

ひる１２時じにひるごはんをたべます.

Hiru juuni-ji ni hirugohan o tabemasu.

I eat lunch at 12:00 in the afternoon.

よる

yoru

夜よる

night

Example

よる１０時じにねます.

Yoru juu-ji ni nemasu.

I sleep at 10:00 at night.

ごぜん

gozen

午前ごぜん

a.m.

Example

ごぜん９時じからしごとです.

Gozen ku-ji kara shigoto desu.

Work is from 9:00 a.m.

ごご

gogo

午後ごご

p.m.

Example

ごご３時じにかいぎがあります.

Gogo san-ji ni kaigi ga arimasu.

There is a meeting at 3:00 p.m.

げつようび

getsuyoubi

月曜げつよう日げつようび

Monday

Example

げつようびからしごとはじめます.

Getsuyoubi kara shigoto hajimemasu.

I start work from Monday.

かようび

kayoubi

火曜かよう日かようび

Tuesday

Example

かようびはかいぎがあります.

Kayoubi wa kaigi ga arimasu.

There is a meeting on Tuesday.

すいようび

suiyoubi

水曜すいよう日すいようび

Wednesday

Example

すいようびはべんきょうがあります.

Suiyoubi wa benkyou ga arimasu.

There is study on Wednesday.

もくようび

mokuyoubi

木曜もくよう日もくようび

Thursday

Example

もくようびはやすみです.

Mokuyoubi wa yasumi desu.

Thursday is off.

きんようび

kinyoubi

金曜きんよう日きんようび

Friday

Example

きんようびはパーティーがあります.

Kinyoubi wa paatii ga arimasu.

There is a party on Friday.

どようび

doyoubi

土曜どよう日どようび

Saturday

Example

どようびはやすみです.

Doyoubi wa yasumi desu.

Saturday is off.

にちようび

nichiyoubi

日曜にちよう日にちようび

Sunday

Example

にちようびはかぞくとすごします.

Nichiyoubi wa kazoku to sugoshimasu.

I spend Sundays with family.

なんようび

nanyoubi

何曜なんよう日なんようび

which day of the week

Example

かいぎはなんようびですか？

Kaigi wa nanyoubi desu ka?

Which day of the week is the meeting?

２時

ni-ji

two o'clock

Example

しごとは２時じからです.

Shigoto wa ni-ji kara desu.

Work starts from 2:00.

５時

go-ji

five o'clock

Example

５時じにしごとがおわります.

Go-ji ni shigoto ga owarimasu.

Work finishes at 5:00.

１５分

juugo-fun

__ 15 / quarter past __

Example

３時じ１５分ふんです.

San-ji juugo-fun desu.

It's 3:15.

３０分

sanjuppun

__ 30 / half past __

Example

７時じ３０分ふんです.

Shichi-ji sanjuppun desu.

It's 7:30.

はん

han

半はん

__ 30 / half past __

Example

７時じはんです.

Shichi-ji han desu.

It's 7:30.

ふん / ぷん

fun / pun

分ぶん

__ minutes (indicate the time)

Example

３時じ１５分ぶんです.

San-ji juugo-fun desu.

It's 3:15.

なんじ

nan-ji

何なん時なんじ

what time

Example

かいぎはなんじですか？

Kaigi wa nan-ji desu ka?

What time is the meeting?

いつ

itsu

when

Example

かいぎはいつですか？

Kaigi wa itsu desu ka?

When is the meeting?

えいが

eiga

映画えいが

movie

Example

えいがをみにいきます.

Eiga o mini ikimasu.

I go to see a movie.

ジョギング

jogingu

jogging

Example

あさジョギングをします.

Asa jogingu o shimasu.

I jog in the morning.

ゲーム

geemu

games

Example

よるゲームをします.

Yoru geemu o shimasu.

I play games at night.

プール

puuru

swimming pool

Example

どようびにプールにいきます.

Doyoubi ni puuru ni ikimasu.

I go to the swimming pool on Saturday.

しごと

shigoto

仕事しごと

work

Example

しごとは９時じから５時じまでです.

Shigoto wa ku-ji kara go-ji made desu.

Work is from 9:00 to 5:00.

そうたい

soutai

早退そうたい

left early

Example

きょうはそうたいしました.

Kyou wa soutai shimashita.

I left early today.

ちこく

chikoku

遅刻ちこく

late

Example

きょうはちこくしました.

Kyou wa chikoku shimashita.

I was late today.

ふそく

fuzoku

不在ふそく

absent

Example

きのうはふそくでした.

Kinou wa fuzoku deshita.

I was absent yesterday.

やすみ

yasumi

off

Example

きんようびはやすみです.

Kinyoubi wa yasumi desu.

Friday is off.

やすみじかん

yasumi jikan

休やすみ時間じかん

break time

Example

やすみじかんは１０時じからです.

Yasumi jikan wa juu-ji kara desu.

Break time is from 10:00.

ひるやすみ

hiru yasumi

昼ひる休ひるやすみ

lunch break

Example

ひるやすみは１２時じから１時じまでです.

Hiru yasumi wa juuni-ji kara ichi-ji made desu.

Lunch break is from 12:00 to 1:00.

だめ(な)

dame (na)

no good

Example

ちこくはだめです.

Chikoku wa dame desu.

Being late is no good.

だいじょうぶ(な)

daijoubu (na)

大丈夫だいじょうぶ

fine

Example

ちこくしてもだいじょうぶです.

Chikoku shite mo daijoubu desu.

It's fine even if you're late.

だいたい

daitai

about

Example

だいたい７時じにおきます.

Daitai shichi-ji ni okimasu.

I wake up at about 7:00.

まいにち

mainichi

毎日まいにち

every day

Example

まいにち７時じにおきます.

Mainichi shichi-ji ni okimasu.

I wake up at 7:00 every day.

まいあさ

maiasa

毎朝まいあさ

every morning

Example

まいあさ７時じにおきます.

Maiasa shichi-ji ni okimasu.

I wake up at 7:00 every morning.

ときどき

tokidoki

sometimes

Example

ときどきジョギングをします.

Tokidoki jogingu o shimasu.

I sometimes jog.

はじめに

hajimeni

first

Example

はじめにしごとをします.

Hajimeni shigoto o shimasu.

First, I do work.

Conversation

ひるやすみは１２時から１時までです.

Hiru yasumi wa juuni-ji kara ichi-ji made desu.

Lunch break is from 12:00 to 1:00.

Example Usage

しごとのひるやすみは１２時じから１時じまでです.

Shigoto no Hiru yasumi wa juuni-ji kara ichi-ji made desu.

Work lunch break is from 12:00 to 1:00.

なんじにはじまりますか？

Nan-ji ni hajimarimasu ka?

What time does it start?

Example Usage

かいぎはなんじにはじまりますか？

Kaigi wa Nan-ji ni hajimarimasu ka?

What time does the meeting start?

いつも７時におきます.

Itsumo shichi-ji ni okimasu.

I always wake up at 7:00.

Example Usage

わたしはいつも７時じにおきます.

Watashi wa Itsumo shichi-ji ni okimasu.

I always wake up at 7:00.

はやいですね.

Hayai desu ne.

That's early.

Example Usage

６時じおきるんですか？はやいですね.

Roku-ji okirun desu ka? Hayai desu ne.

You wake up at 6:00? That's early.

おそいですね

osoi desu ne

That's late.

Example Usage

１２時じにねるんですか？おそいですね.

Juuni-ji ni nerun desu ka? Osoi desu ne.

You sleep at 12:00? That's late.

__ にしましょう

ni shimashou

Let's do it on __

Example Usage

どようびにしましょう.

Doyoubi ni shimashou.

Let's do it on Saturday.

Kanji

午前ごぜん

a.m. / morning (before noon)

午🎬

noon

前🎬

before

Example

ごぜん９時じからしごとです.

Gozen ku-ji kara shigoto desu.

Work is from 9:00 a.m.

午後ごご

p.m. / afternoon (after noon)

午🎬

noon

後🎬

after

Example

ごご３時じにかいぎがあります.

Gogo san-ji ni kaigi ga arimasu.

There is a meeting at 3:00 p.m.

朝あさ

morning

朝🎬

morning

Example

あさ７時じにおきます.

Asa shichi-ji ni okimasu.

I wake up at 7:00 in the morning.

昼ひる

afternoon, daytime, noon

昼🎬

daytime, noon

Example

ひる１２時じにひるごはんをたべます.

Hiru juuni-ji ni hirugohan o tabemasu.

I eat lunch at 12:00 in the afternoon.

夜よる

night, evening

夜🎬

night, evening

Example

よる１０時じにねます.

Yoru juu-ji ni nemasu.

I sleep at 10:00 at night.

在ざい

present, in (at work)

在🎬

to be, to exist

Example

わたしは在ざいです.

Watashi wa zai desu.

I am present (in the office).

不在ふそく

absent, out (not at work)

不🎬

not, negation

在🎬

to be, to exist

Example

きのうはふそくでした.

Kinou wa fuzoku deshita.

I was absent yesterday.

遅刻ちこく

late, tardiness

遅🎬

late, slow

刻🎬

carve, time

Example

きょうはちこくしました.

Kyou wa chikoku shimashita.

I was late today.

休やすみ

rest, day off, absent

休🎬

rest, break

Example

きんようびはやすみです.

Kinyoubi wa yasumi desu.

Friday is off.

早退そうたい

leaving early

早🎬

early

退🎬

retreat, leave

Example

きょうはそうたいしました.

Kyou wa soutai shimashita.

I left early today.

Grammar Rules

Rule 1: Saying when an action happens

Structure: [Time] + に + V-ます / [Time] + ごろ + V-ます

These expressions are for giving the time. They are used here to give the time one wakes up and sleeps. [Time] + に + V-ます indicates that the action is performed at that exact time, while [Time] + ごろ indicates an approximate time.

How to use: Add に to a specific time: [Time] + に + V-ます, as in ５時ときに. Use [Time] + ごろ + V-ます for an approximate time. The question form is 何時なんじにV-ますか.The negative is V-ません. Related: ごろ is for approximate points in time.

💡 Pro Tip: に is used with specific clock times and dates; relative time words like 今日きょう and 明日あした usually do not take に. ごろ is for approximate points in time, while くらい/ぐらい often refers to approximate amounts or duration. ききます means「 wake up/get up," and ねます means「 sleep."

Examples

５時ときにおきます.

Go-ji ni okimasu.

I wake up at 5 o'clock.

11時ときごろねます.

Jūichi-ji goro nemasu.

I sleep at around 11 o'clock.

Rule 2: Giving a start and end time

Structure: [Time] + から + [Time] + まで

This expression is for giving the time something starts and ends. It is used here to explain the work schedule for the day. The particle から indicates the start, and the particle まで indicates the end.

How to use: Use [Time] + から + [Time] + まで. から marks the starting point and まで marks the ending point. The question form is 何時なんじから何時なんじまでですか.から and まで can also attach to places: [Place] + から + [Place] + まで. For a deadline, use までに.

💡 Pro Tip: Do not confuse まで (until) with までに (by a deadline). から can also mean「 from" for places or sources. 12時ときから1時ときまで includes the start and end boundaries in context.

Examples

12時ときから１時ときまで、昼ひる休ひるやすみです.

Jūni-ji kara ichi-ji made, hiruyasumi desu.

Lunch break is from 12 o'clock until 1 o'clock.

９時ときから５時ときまではたらきます.

Ku-ji kara go-ji made hatarakimasu.

I work from 9 to 5.

Rule 3: Asking or saying what time is convenient

Structure: [Date/Time] + が + いいです

This expression is for asking the other person and answering about a convenient schedule. いいです means that it is convenient. Add the particle が to the day, date, or time, as in 土曜日どようびが or ６時ときが.

How to use: Use [Date/Time] + が + いいです. The topic can be marked with は: [Person] + は + [Date/Time] + が + いいです. To ask for a convenient date or time, use いつ or 何時なんじ: いつがいいですか？何時なんじがいいですか？ To say it is inconvenient, reply with ～はだめです or ～はちょっと…. The negative ～がよくないです is possible but less natural for this set phrase.

💡 Pro Tip: が marks the item that is good or convenient, while は in ～はだめです marks the item being rejected. ちょっと… is a soft, polite refusal and usually implies a problem without saying it directly. In casual speech, いい can sound blunt; adding けど or んですが softens it.

Examples

わたしは、土曜どよう日どようびがいいです.

Watashi wa, Doyōbi ga ii desu.

Saturday is convenient for me.

何なん時なんじがいいですか.

Nanji ga ii desu ka.

What time is convenient?

Lesson 9: ランチは12時から1時までです – Telling Time in Japanese

Talking about daily schedules, time, days of the week, and routines.

Key topics:

Vocabulary

Conversation

Kanji

Grammar Rules

Rule 1: Saying when an action happens

Rule 2: Giving a start and end time

Rule 3: Asking or saying what time is convenient

Exercises

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Question 4

Question 5

Question 6

Question 7

Question 8

Question 9

Question 10

Question 11

Question 12

Question 13

Question 14

Question 15

Question 16

Question 17

Question 18

Question 19

Question 20