Japanese Learning: Quantifier “fun” that follows number for minute to say what time it is; Need to learn to use “Fun” or “Pun” depending on numbers (minutes)

Yesterday, we learned the following conversation.

A : Ima Nan ji desuka. (What time is it now?)

B : Ima Ku ji Juu-kyuu fun desu. (Now it is Nine Nineteen.)

Today, let’s learn how to read time for hours and minutes.

Hours

Gozen Rei ji = 0:00 a.m. (Japanese don’t use “12:00 a.m.”)

Gozen Ichi ji = 1:00 a.m.

Gozen Ni ji = 2:00 a.m.

Gozen San ji = 3:00 a.m.

Gozen Yo ji = 4:00 a.m. (Don’t say “Yon ji”)

Gozen Go ji = 5:00 a.m.

Gozen Roku ji = 6:00 a.m.

Gozen Shichi ji = 7:00 a.m. (Sometimes it’s “Nana ji”)

Gozen Hachi ji = 8:00 a.m.

Gozen Ku ji = 9:00 a.m. (Don’t say “Kyuu ji”)

Gozen Juu ji = 10:00 a.m.

Gozen Juu Ichi ji = 11:00 a.m.

Gogo Rei ji = 0:00 p.m.

Gogo Ichi ji = 1:00 p.m.

Gogo Ni ji = 2:00 p.m.

Gogo San ji = 3:00 p.m.

Gogo Yo ji = 4:00 p.m. (Don’t say “Yon ji”)

Gogo Go ji = 5:00 p.m.

Gogo Roku ji = 6:00 p.m.

Gogo Shichi ji = 7:00 p.m. (Sometimes it’s “Nana ji”)

Gogo Hachi ji = 8:00 p.m.

Gogo Ku ji = 9:00 p.m. (Don’t say “Kyuu ji”)

Gogo Juu ji = 10:00 p.m.

Gogo Juu Ichi ji = 11:00 p.m.

Gozen an Gogo are omitted when it is not necessary.

Minutes

Look at carefully if it’s “fun” or “pun” for minutes.

Ippun = Ichi + fun : One

Ni fun = Ni + fun : Two

Sampun = San + fun : Three

Yompun = Yon + fun : Four

Go fun = Go + fun : Five

Roppun = Roku + fun : Six

Nana fun = Nana + fun : Seven

Happun = Hachi + fun : Eight

Kyuu fun = Kyuu + fun : Nine

Juppun = Juu + fun : Ten (Old people may say “Jippun”)

Practice well how to read time in Japanese like the following examples;

 0:41a.m. = Gozen Rei ji Yon Juu Ippun

 3:27a.m. = Gozen San ji Ni Juu Nana fun

 6:03a.m. = Gozen Roku ji Sampun

 9:59 = Ku ji Go Juu Kyuu fun

 12:35 = Juu Ni ji San Juu Go fun

 4:11p.m. = Gogo Yo ji Juu Ippun

 7:44p.m.= Gogo Shichi ji Yon Juu Yompun

Sometimes 24 hour system is used like 21:36 that is “Ni Juu Ichi ji San Juu Roppun”.