Learn the question "What time is it?" in Japanese and how to answer it
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| INTRODUCTION |
| Janet: In each lesson of this 25 part series, you'll master a common question for Japanese learners, and then learn how to answer it like a native speaker. You'll learn how these key phrases work by breaking them down into each component. Then through repetition and new vocabulary, you'll expand your understanding of the question, its answers, and any variations. |
Lesson focus |
|---|
| Janet: In this lesson, you'll learn how to respond to the common question “What time is it?” In Japanese this is |
| Kaori: 何時ですか。 |
| (なんじですか。 Nanji desu ka.) |
| Janet: The first word in the question is |
| Kaori: 何 |
| (なん nan) |
| Janet: meaning “what” in English. |
| Kaori: (Slow, by syllable) 何 |
| Janet: Listen again and repeat. |
| Kaori: 何 |
| {Pause} |
| Janet: This pattern of first introducing a word at natural speed, providing the translation, breaking it down, and then giving it again at natural speed will be repeated throughout the series. Try to speak aloud as often as possible. The next word in the question is |
| Kaori: 時 |
| (ji) |
| Janet: meaning “hour” |
| Kaori: (Slow, by syllable) 時 |
| Janet: Now repeat. |
| Kaori: 時 |
| {Pause} |
| Janet: Listen to the the first 2 words of the question and repeat. |
| Kaori: 何時 |
| {Pause} |
| Janet: And next |
| Kaori: です |
| (desu) |
| Janet: This is a sentence ending particle meaning something like “is.” |
| Kaori: (Slow, by syllable) です |
| (desu) |
| Janet: Now repeat. |
| Kaori: です |
| (desu) |
| {Pause} |
| Janet: Listen to the the first 3 words of the question and repeat. |
| Kaori: 何時 です |
| (なんじ です nanji desu) |
| Janet: And next |
| Kaori: か |
| (ka) |
| Janet: the question marker |
| Kaori: (Slow, by syllable) か |
| (ka) |
| Janet: Now repeat. |
| Kaori: か |
| (ka) |
| {Pause} |
| Janet: Listen to the entire question and repeat. |
| Kaori: 何時ですか。 |
| (なんじですか。 Nanji desu ka.) |
| {pause} |
| Janet: (You will hear this common question again and again throughout your studies.) Master the following pattern and responses to the question What time is it?? |
| Kaori: 12時です。 |
| (12じです。 Juuniji desu.) |
| Janet: "It's 12 o'clock”. Again, slowly. Repeat the phrase. |
| Kaori: (Slow) 12時です。 |
| (12じです。 Juuniji desu.) |
| {pause} |
| In Japan, the concept of "a.m." and "p.m." is slightly different and when Japanese people say "12 p.m.", it's midnight. In the Japanese time concept, "0 a.m" is same as "12 p.m." And "12 a.m." is equal to "0 p.m." |
| Janet: Let's break it down from the beginning. The first word: |
| Kaori: 12時 |
| (12じ juuniji) |
| Janet: meaning 12 o'clock. |
| Kaori: (Slow, by syllable) 12時 |
| (12じ juuniji) |
| Janet: Now repeat |
| Kaori: 12時 |
| (12じ juuniji) |
| {Pause} |
| Janet: And after that |
| Kaori: です |
| (desu) |
| Janet: sentence ending particle |
| Kaori: (Slow, by syllable) です |
| (desu) |
| Janet: Now repeat. |
| Kaori: です |
| (desu) |
| {Pause} |
| Janet: Listen to the speaker say, “It's 12 o'clock”, and then repeat. |
| Kaori: 12時です。 |
| (12じです。 Juuniji desu.) |
| {pause} |
| Janet: To use a different phrase, replace “12 o'clock” with “10 o'clock.” |
| Kaori: 10時 |
| (10じ juuji) |
| Janet: 10 o'clock |
| Kaori: (slow) 10時 |
| (10じ juuji) (regular) 10時 |
| (10じ juuji) |
| Janet: Listen to the phrase again, this time with “10 o'clock” |
| Kaori: 10時です。 |
| (10じです。 Juuji desu.) |
| Janet: It mostly stays the same. Simply replace “12 o'clock” with “10 o’clock.” Say It's “10 o'clock”. |
| {pause} |
| Kaori: 10時です。 |
| (10じです。 Juuji desu.) |
| Janet: To make another phrase, replace “10 o'clock” with “3 o'clock.” |
| Kaori: 3時 |
| (3じ sanji) |
| Janet: 3 o'clock |
| Kaori: (slow) 3時 |
| (3じ sanji) (regular) 3時 |
| (3じ sanji) |
| Janet: Listen to the phrase again, this time with “3 o'clock” |
| Kaori: 3時です。 |
| (3じです。) |
| Janet: It mostly stays the same. Simply replace “10 o'clock” with “3 o’clock.” Say “It's 3 o'clock.” |
| {pause} |
| Kaori: 3時です。 |
| (3じです。 Sanji desu.) |
| Janet: To expand on the pattern, replace “3 o'clock” with “9 o'clock.” |
| Kaori: 9時 |
| (9じ kuji) |
| Janet: 9 o'clock |
| Kaori: (slow) 9時 |
| (9じ kuji) (regular) 9時 |
| (9じ kuji) |
| Janet: Listen to the phrase again, this time with “9 o'clock” |
| Kaori: 9時です。 |
| (9じです。 Kuji desu.) |
| Janet: It mostly stays the same. Simply replace 3 o'clock with 9 o’clock. Say It's 9 o'clock. |
| {pause} |
| Kaori: 9時です。 |
| (9じです。 Kuji desu.) |
| QUIZ |
| Now it's time for a quiz. Imagine you are visiting Japan and someone asks you what time it is. It's 12 o'clock. Respond to the question. |
| Kaori: 何時ですか。 |
| (なんじですか。 Nanji desu ka.) |
| (five seconds) 12時です。 |
| (12じです。 Juuniji desu.) |
| Janet: Now imagine it's 10 o'clock Respond to the question. |
| Kaori: 何時ですか。 |
| (なんじですか。 Nanji desu ka.) |
| (five seconds) 10時です。 |
| (10じです。 Juuji desu.) |
| Janet: Imagine it's 3 o'clock. . Answer the speaker's question. |
| Kaori: 何時ですか。 |
| (なんじですか。 Nanji desu ka.) |
| (five seconds) 3時です。 |
| (3じです。 Sanji desu.) |
| Janet: Imagine it's 9 o'clock. Respond to the question. |
| Kaori: 何時ですか。 |
| (なんじですか。 Nanji desu ka.) |
| (five seconds) 9時です。 |
| (9じです。 Kuji desu.) |
| Janet: You want to ask someone what time it is. Ask the question |
| (5 seconds) |
| Kaori: 何時ですか。 |
| (なんじですか。 Nanji desu ka.) |
| {pause} |
Outro |
| Janet: This is the end of Lesson 17 |
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