JLPT N5 Expressions – Japanese Time Expressions: How to Say “15分” and “45分”
Table of Contents
1. Expression for “quarter past” or “quarter to”
2. Other expressions related to time
3. Be careful with the readings “ふん” and “ぷん”
4. Summary
5. Quiz
6. Similar Articles
7. Comment
Q: Is there a Japanese expression for “quarter past” or “quarter to,” like in English, to represent 15 minutes and 45 aminutes?
A: There aren’t any.
However, there are other time-related expressions worth learning.
Expression for “quarter past” or “quarter to”
In Japanese, when telling the time, the basic rule is to use the numbers just as they are.
English-speaking countries: It is common to read the clock in four quarters (quarter units).
Japan: There is a strong tendency to read the numbers directly, and expressing time in 分 units feels natural.
The expression “〜半（はん）” to mean ◯時30分 is used very often in daily life.
[Example] 5時半（5:30）
On the other hand, Japanese does not have fixed expressions that correspond to the English
• “quarter past 〜” for ◯時15分
• “quarter to 〜” for ◯時45分
[Examples]
5時 (ごじ)
5時15分 (ごじ じゅうごふん)
5時半 (ごじはん) 、 5時30分 (ごじ さんじゅっぷん)
5時45分 (ごじ よんじゅうごふん)
[Did old Japanese have it? The time expression “刻”]
In old Japanese, there was a time unit called “一刻,” which meant approximately 30 minutes.
It is no longer used in everyday conversation today, but you may hear it in movies or period dramas.
Although it is completely different from the English system of dividing time into quarters (four equal parts),
it provides an interesting comparison that shows how ways of counting time can change depending on the era and culture.
Other expressions related to time
There are also other expressions used to talk about time that are commonly heard in everyday conversation.
[～過ぎ]
This corresponds to the English “past” and is used to express that a certain time has just passed by a little.
[Examples]
3時過ぎ
just after 3
10時に会社に着きました。
I arrived at the office just after 0 o’clock.
今朝は8時
I woke up just after 8 o’clock this morning.
[～前]
It corresponds to the English “just before” and is used to express a little before a certain time.
[Examples]
3時前
just before 3
6時前に家を出たいです。
I want to leave home before 6 o’clock.
7時ちょっと前に着くと思います。
I think I’ll arrive a little before 7 o’clock.
Be careful with the readings “ふん” and “ぷん”
The reading of “分”changes depending on the number that comes before it.
| Minutes | Reading |
|---|---|
| 1分 | いっぷん |
| 2分 | にふん |
| 3分 | さんぷん |
| 4分 | よんぷん |
| 5分 | ごふん |
| 6分 | ろっぷん |
| 7分 | ななふん |
| 8分 | はっぷん |
| 9分 | きゅうふん |
| 10分 | じゅっぷん |
Summary
- In Japanese, there are no special words that correspond to “15 minutes” or “45 minutes,” so time is expressed simply as “X o’clock X minutes.”
- The kanji for “minute” has two possible readings—ふん and ぷん—and the reading changes depending on the number that comes before it.
Quiz
How do you express the time shown on the following clock in Japanese?
When you click [Answer], the answer will be displayed.
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