What do we say,　”Ｉｔ is 10 a.m..” or “It is 2 p.m.” in Japanese?

“Gozen” means “a.m.”

“Gogo” means “p.m.”

So we say “Gozen Jyuu-ji” for “10 a.m.” and “Gogo Ni-ji” for “2 p.m.”

Please, pay attention to the words order.

In Japanese, Larger concept comes first and smaller concept last.

Thererfore, “Gozen (a.m.)/ Gogo (p.m.)” comes first and time comes last. 

We have special word for 30 minutes.

For example, we call 1 o`clock 30 minutes “Ichi-ji-han”, like one and half in English.

“Han” means “half”

However, we do not have the proper word for “Quarter”.

In English they say “Quarter past Ten” or “Quarter to Eleven”.

We simply say “Jyuu-ji-jyuu-go-hun” for 10 o`clok 15 minutes.

Ichi-ji ni-hun desu. (It is 1 o`clock 2 minutes)

“Hun” means “minute”.

I-ppun means  1 minute.

Ni-hun does 2 minute.

San-pun: 3 minutes.

Yon-hun: 4 minutes.

Go-hun: 5 minutes.

Ro-ppun: 6 minutes.

Nana-hun: 7 minutes.

Ha-ppun: 8 minutes.

Kyuu-hun: 9 minutes.

Jyu-ppun: 10 minutes.

Jyuu-i-ppun: 11minutes.

Let’s answer to the question, “Ima Nan-ji desu ka”.

“Ichi-ji desu.” means “It is 1 o`clock.”

Ni-ji means 2 o`clock.

San-ji: 3 o`clock

Yo-ji: 4 o`clock

Go-ji: 5 o`clock

Roku-ji: 6 o`clock

Nana-ji: 7 o`clock

Hachi-ji: 8 o`clock

Ku-ji: 9 o`clock

Jyuu-ji: 10 o`clock

Jyuu-ichi-ji: 11 o`clock

Jyuu-ni-ji: 12 o`clock

Today’ s phrase is “Ima Nan-ji desu ka”.

It means “What time is it now?”

“Ima” means “now”.

And “Nan-ji” means “what time”.

Let’s try to ask people present time in the station or at the cafe by saying, “Ima nan-ji desu ka.”

Numbers 1000～

We call 1,000 “sen”.

For example, we call 2,354 as “ni-sen-sann-byaku-go-jyuu-yon”.

Please, do the simple math.  2,354 = 2 x 1,000 + 3 x 100 + 5 x 10 + 4 and read the numbers without “+”　and “x”.

Please, pay attention to 1,111 becasue 1,111 = 1,000 + 100 +10 +1, not 1,111 = 1 x 1,000 + 1 x 100 + 1 x 10 +1

Therefore, the pronunciation is “sen-hyaku-jyuu-ichi”, not “ichi-sen-ichi-hyaku-ichi-jyuu-ichi”.

Numbers 100～

We say 100 as “hyaku”.

101: hyaku-ichi

Since 101=100+1, you can simply read 100 and 1 without “+”

In the same way,

102: hyaku-ni

103: hyaku-san

104: hyaku-yon

110: hyaku-jyuu

111: hyaku-jyuu-ichi  *111=100(hyaku)+10(jyuu)+1(ichi)

How about 213?

Since 243=2×100+4×10+3

You can merely read 2(ni),100(hyaku), 4(yon),10(jyuu) and 3(san)

Ni-hyaku-yon-jyuu-san

Did you get this?

Numbers from 11 to 99.

11: Jyuu-ichi

Since 11 = 10 + 1, you can simply read the numbers in the equation without “+”.

10(Jyuu) and 1(Ichi), meaning Jyuu-ichi.

In the same way, 12 is Jyuu-ni, 13 is Jyuu-san, and 14 is Jyuu-yon

Then, how about 21?

Since 21 = 2 x 10 + 1, you can also simply read the numbers in the equation without “x” and “+”.

2(Ni), 10(jyuu) and 1(Ichi), meanin Ni-jyuu-ichi.

In the same way you can read until 99.

For example, 44 = 4 x 10 + 4 (Yon-jyuu-yon) and 87 =8 x 10 + 7 (Hachi-jyuu-nana)

Did you get it?

1: Ichi

2: Ni

3: San

4: Yon

5: Go

6: Roku

7: Nana

8: Hachi

9: Kyuu

10: Jyuu

Let’s ask price today!

“How much” is “Ikura desu ka” in Japanese.

“this” is “kore”.

Then, What do you say “How much is this” in Japanese?

The answer is

“Kore wa ikura desu ka”

「これは、いくらですか。」

This is very useful phrase and you can use this in various situations at shops and stores.