How to Use Time Expressions in Japanese | With and Without Particles

level1 (N5)

Video

Let’s watch this short video for a quick overview.

How to Use Time Expressions in Japanese | With and Without Particles
Source: gokigen japanese official YouTube Channel

Introduction

When do you wake up? What time do you study? How long does the café stay open?

In Japanese, time expressions are essential for daily conversation — but here’s the catch:
Sometimes you use particles, and sometimes you don’t. 🤯

Don’t worry! This beginner-friendly guide will walk you through:

✔ Which time expressions need the particle に
✔ When no particle is required
✔ How to say “from __ to __” using から and まで
✔ Lots of real-life examples to sound natural
✔ Common mistakes and an FAQ
✔ How to say “around _ o’clock” using ごろ
✔ How to combine time expressions using の

Let’s jump into Japanese time talk!

1. Time Expressions: With or Without Particles?

In Japanese, you describe time using two basic types of expressions:

Specific / Absolute Time → Use the particle に

Words expressing specific or absolute time such as 日曜日にちようび (Sunday), or 七時しちじ (seven o’lock) do require the particle に.

  • 🕗 7:00 → しちじ
  • 🗓 Sunday → にちようび
JapaneseEnglish
七時しちじに起おきます。I get up at 7 o’clock.
日曜日にちようびに映画えいがを見みます。I watch a movie on Sunday.

✅ Add に to say “at ___” or “on ___”

Tip: How to say “Around…” (ごろ)

If you want to say “around” a specific time, you can add ごろ (頃, goro) after the time. It means “approximately.”

In this case, the particle に is optional, but often used.

Example: 私わたしは いつも 七時しちじごろ（に）起おきます。→ I usually get up around 7 o’clock.

Relative to the time of use → No particle

Words that express relative time such as 昨日きのう (yesterday), 今日きょう (today) or 明日あした (tomorrow), do not require any particles.

  • Today → きょう
  • Tomorrow → あした
  • Yesterday → きのう
JapaneseEnglish
今日きょう、勉強べんきょうします。I’ll study today.
明日あした、アメリカに帰かえります。I’m going back to the U.S. tomorrow.
昨日きのう、コーヒーを飲のみました。I drank coffee yesterday.

❌ No particle needed! These words already work as time markers.

2. From When to When? Use から and まで

To talk about a time range in Japanese, use:

  • から → from
  • まで → until

Example:

JapaneseEnglish
その店みせは十一時じゅういちじから二十一時にじゅういちじまであいています。The store opens from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
七時しちじから八時はちじまで勉強べんきょうします。I study from 7 to 8.

These are super common when talking about business hours, class schedules, or routines.

3. Advanced: Combining Time with の

You can combine time expressions to be more specific. Just like using の (no) to show possession (e.g., わたしのほん – my book), you can use の to connect time units, moving from a larger unit to a smaller one.

This allows you to create detailed time markers, like “Monday at 9:00.”

  • 月曜日げつようび (Monday) + 九時くじ (9:00) → 月曜日げつようびの九時くじに (at 9:00 on Monday)
  • 明日あした (Tomorrow) + 朝あさ (Morning) → 明日あしたの朝あさ (Tomorrow morning)
  • 来年らいねん (Next year) + 夏なつ (Summer) → 来年らいねんの夏なつ (Next summer)
JapaneseEnglish
月曜日げつようびの九時くじに会議かいぎがあります。There is a meeting at 9:00 on Monday.
明日あしたの朝あさ、電話でんわします。I will call you tomorrow morning.
来年らいねんの夏なつ、日本にほんに行いきます。I’m going to Japan next summer.

4. Time Expression Cheat Sheet

ExpressionParticleExample Sentence
8:00 (specific)に八時はちじに朝あさご飯はんを食たべます。
Sundayに日曜日にちようびに映画えいがを見みます。
Today❌今日きょう 勉強べんきょうします。
Tomorrow❌明日あした アメリカに帰かえります。
From 6:00から六時ろくじから走はしります。
Until 7:00まで七時しちじまで走はしります。
Around 8:00ごろ（に）八時はちじごろ（に）電話でんわします。
9:00 on Mondayの / に月曜日げつようびの九時くじに電話でんわします。

5. Practice Time: Can You Spot the Particle?

Rewrite the sentence with the correct time expression:

  1. I will sleep at 10:00.
    → 十時じゅうじに寝ねます。
  2. I will go to the cafe tomorrow.
    → 明日あした、カフェに行いきます。
  3. I will watch TV from 9:00 to 10:00.
    → 九時くじから十時じゅうじまでテレビを見みます。
  4. I will wake up around 8:00.
    → 八時はちじごろ（に）起おきます。
  5. I will study at 3:00 on Friday.
    → 金曜日きんようびの三時さんじに勉強べんきょうします。

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

Q
Why does “today” not use a particle, but “Sunday” does?
A

Great question! Words like today, tomorrow, yesterday are relative and act like adverbs — they don’t need a particle. Words like Sunday, 8:00, noon are specific points in time and need に.

Q
Can I drop “に” even with specific time?
A

Sometimes! Native speakers sometimes omit に in casual speech. But as a beginner, it’s safer to include it until you’re more confident.

Q
Can I use “に” with から and まで?
A

No, you don’t need to. Use から and まで on their own to express a range. Example: 七時しちじから八時はちじまで働はたらきます。= I will work from seven to eight.

Q
How do I say “at night” or “in the morning”?
A

Use words like:

  • あさ（朝）→ morning
  • よる（夜）→ night
  • ごぜん（午前）→ a.m.
  • ごご（午後）→ p.m.

Conclusion: Talk About Time Like a Native!

Understanding when to use a particle with time expressions — and when not to — is a key part of sounding natural in Japanese.

Now you can:

✅ Use に with specific times
✅ Use no particle with relative time words
✅ Say “from ___ to ___” with から and まで
✅ Make your daily routine sound native-like!
✅ Use ごろ to say “around” a time
✅ Combine time expressions with の

Want to improve your Japanese with real conversations?

Our native Japanese instructors at gokigen japanese can help you perfect your pronunciation and learn real-life usage.

Whether you’re completely new to Japanese or looking to refine your skills, book a one-on-one session.


Author and Reviewer

  • gokigen japanese
    Author:

    gokigen japanese is an online Japanese tutoring service launched in 2023. Flexible, interactive, and culture-rich, gokigen japanese supports learners at all levels with bilingual Japanese tutors.
    Over 1,000 students from 30+ countries have used our 300+ original materials, including grammar guides and cultural content.

    gokigen japanese was founded by Hirofumi Naramura, a Kyoto University graduate and former Project Leader at the Boston Consulting Group (2010–2020). The service has received recognition such as the Chiyoda CULTURE x TECH Award 2024 and acceptance into NEXs Tokyo, a startup program by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
  • Reviewer:

    Japanese native and language educator with about 10 years of experience teaching and developing courses and materials.
    She studied and taught in 5 different countries. Her most recent teaching role was at University of Pennsylvania in the U.S.
    Other than teaching all levels of Japanese in various settings from personal tutoring to college courses, she also has experience writing articles about Japanese language and culture and teaching English.
    Education: M.A. in Japanese pedagogy, Purdue University. B.A from the school of Japanese language and culture, Tsukuba University.