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.”