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時 - time

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public4889
New in Town
Posts: 1
Joined: September 7th, 2012 3:28 am

時 - time

Postby public4889 » November 30th, 2012 7:13 pm

Hi,

In absolute beginner video, 時 is pronounced じ. But Google Translate pronounces 時 as とき. Is Google wrong or is this an alternative pronunciation?

なんじですか - what time is it?

ericf
Expert on Something
Posts: 169
Joined: May 11th, 2008 8:01 am

Re: 時 - time

Postby ericf » November 30th, 2012 7:33 pm

Hi,

Both are correct, there are usually two pronunciations; one of Chinese origin (the on reading) and one original Japanese (the kun reading.) Sometimes there are some rarer pronunciations too. Don't worry about that, you'll get used to it in time.

じ as in:
いまは、なん時ですか。(as you already pointed out)
3時間。さん じ かん - 3 hours (time length)
and others...

とき as in:
時時。ときどき - sometimes
and others...

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community.japanese
Expert on Something
Posts: 2704
Joined: November 16th, 2012 8:54 am

Re: 時 - time

Postby community.japanese » December 1st, 2012 1:58 pm

public4889-san, エリックsan,
That's right! Like Eric-san answered, both are correct readings. :D
Thank you, Eric-san, for good advice!! I'd just want to add (you might learn later, or you might already know...)
that ときどき is written as 時々; second kanji is a special one :wink:

Natsuko(奈津子),
Team JapanesePod101.com

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