How to Say ‘What time?’ in Japanese
何時ですか？
なんじですか？
💬 Usage Tip: This phrase literally means 'What hour is it?' with [何] meaning 'what' and [時] meaning 'hour/time'.
🇯🇵 In Japan: Asking this politely is common and vital in a culture that values punctuality.
Phrase Breakdown
何時なんじ
what time
This is a question word asking about the time.
何時に行きますか？
What time are you going?
ですです
is
A copula used to indicate that something is or exists.
これです。
It is this.
かか
question marker
Used at the end of a sentence to indicate a question.
あなたは学生ですか？
Are you a student?
Word-by-Word Breakdown
何なん
[nan]
what
An interrogative word used to ask questions.
今は何時ですか？
What time is it now?
時じ
[ji]
time
A point of time as measured in hours and minutes.
何時に行きますか？
What time will you go?
ですです
[desu]
is
A form of "to be" used in presenting information.
これは本です。
This is a book.
かか
[ka]
question particle
A particle used at the end of a sentence to form a question.
それは大丈夫ですか？
Is that okay?
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