時間

See also: 时间

Chinese

		o'clock; time; when o'clock; time; when; hour; season; period	interstice; separate; between interstice; separate; between; among; space; (measure word)
trad. (時間)		時	間
simp. (时间)		时	间

Etymology

For the modern sense of “time” (as opposed to “space”), reborrowed from Japanese 時間 (jikan, “time”).

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Standard)

  (Pinyin): shíjiān

  (Zhuyin): ㄕˊ ㄐㄧㄢ

  (Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): si² jian¹

  (Xi'an, Guanzhong Pinyin): síjiǎn

• Cantonese

  (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): si⁴ gaan³ / si⁴ gaan¹

  (Taishan, Wiktionary): si³ gan¹

• Gan (Wiktionary): si⁴ gan
• Hakka

  (Sixian, PFS): sṳ̀-kiên / sṳ̀-kiân

  (Hailu, HRS): shi gien^ˋ

• Eastern Min (BUC): sì-găng
• Puxian Min (Pouseng Ping'ing): si² gang¹
• Southern Min

  (Hokkien, POJ): sî-kan

  (Teochew, Peng'im): si⁵ gang¹

• Wu (Shanghai, Wugniu): ⁶zy-ci
• Xiang

  (Changsha, Wiktionary): shr² gan¹

  (Hengyang, Wiktionary): sr² jian¹

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: shíjiān
    • Zhuyin: ㄕˊ ㄐㄧㄢ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: shíhjian
    • Wade–Giles: shih²-chien¹
    • Yale: shŕ-jyān
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: shyrjian
    • Palladius: шицзянь (šiczjanʹ)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵/
  • (Chengdu)
    • Sichuanese Pinyin: si² jian¹
    • Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: sgian
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /sz̩²¹ t͡ɕiɛn⁵⁵/
  • (Xi'an)
    • Guanzhong Pinyin: síjiǎn
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /sz̩²⁴ t͡ɕiã²¹/
• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)⁺
    • Jyutping: si⁴ gaan³ / si⁴ gaan¹
    • Yale: sìh gaan / sìh gāan
    • Cantonese Pinyin: si⁴ gaan³ / si⁴ gaan¹
    • Guangdong Romanization: xi⁴ gan³ / xi⁴ gan¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /siː²¹ kaːn³³/, /siː²¹ kaːn⁵⁵/
  • (Taishanese, Taicheng)
    • Wiktionary: si³ gan¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /si²² kan³³/
• Gan
  • (Nanchang)
    • Wiktionary: si⁴ gan
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /sz̩³⁵ kan²/
• Hakka
  • (Northern Sixian, incl. Miaoli)
    • Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: sṳ̀-kiên
    • Hakka Romanization System: sii^ˇ gien^ˊ
    • Hagfa Pinyim: si² gian¹
    • Sinological IPA: /sɨ¹¹ ki̯en²⁴/
  • (Southern Sixian, incl. Neipu)
    • Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: sṳ̀-kiân
    • Hakka Romanization System: sii^ˇ gian^ˊ
    • Hagfa Pinyim: si² gian¹
    • Sinological IPA: /sɨ¹¹ ki̯an²⁴/
  • (Hailu, incl. Zhudong)
    • Hakka Romanization System: shi gien^ˋ
    • Sinological IPA: /ʃi⁵⁵ kien⁵³/
• Eastern Min
  • (Fuzhou)
    • Bàng-uâ-cê: sì-găng
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /si⁵³⁻⁵⁵ ^(k-)aŋ⁵⁵/
• Puxian Min
  • (Putian, Xianyou)
    • Pouseng Ping'ing: si² gang¹ [Phonetic: si⁵ ang¹]
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /ɬi¹³⁻²¹ ^(k-)aŋ⁵³³/
• Southern Min
  • (Hokkien: Kaohsiung, Quanzhou, General Taiwanese, Zhangzhou)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: sî-kan
    • Tâi-lô: sî-kan
    • Phofsit Daibuun: si'kafn
    • IPA (Zhangzhou): /si¹³⁻²² kan⁴⁴/
    • IPA (Kaohsiung, Kaohsiung): /si²³⁻³³ kan⁴⁴/
    • IPA (Taipei): /si²⁴⁻¹¹ kan⁴⁴/
    • IPA (Quanzhou): /si²⁴⁻²² kan³³/
  • (Teochew)
    • Peng'im: si⁵ gang¹
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: sî kang
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /si⁵⁵⁻¹¹ kaŋ³³/
• Wu
  • (Northern: Shanghai)
    • Wugniu: ⁶zy-ci
    • MiniDict: zy^去 ci
    • Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): ³zr-ji
    • Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /zz̩²² t͡ɕi⁴⁴/
• Xiang
  • (Changsha)
    • Wiktionary: shr² gan¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key) (old-style): /ʂʐ̩¹³ kan³³/
    • Sinological IPA ^(key) (new-style): /sz̩¹³ kan³³/
  • (Hengyang)
    • Wiktionary: sr² jian¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /z̥z̩¹¹ t͡ɕi̯an⁴⁴⁵/

---

• Middle Chinese: dzyi kean|keanH

Rime
Character	時	間	間
Reading #	1/1	1/2	2/2
Initial (聲)	常 (25)	見 (28)	見 (28)
Final (韻)	之 (19)	山 (73)	山 (73)
Tone (調)	Level (Ø)	Level (Ø)	Departing (H)
Openness (開合)	Open	Open	Open
Division (等)	III	II	II
Fanqie	市之切	古閑切	古莧切
Baxter	dzyi	kean	keanH
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/d͡ʑɨ/	/kˠɛn/	/kˠɛnH/
Pan Wuyun	/d͡ʑɨ/	/kᵚæn/	/kᵚænH/
Shao Rongfen	/d͡ʑie/	/kæn/	/kænH/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/d͡ʑɨ/	/kəɨn/	/kəɨnH/
Li Rong	/ʑiə/	/kɛn/	/kɛnH/
Wang Li	/ʑĭə/	/kæn/	/kænH/
Bernhard Karlgren	/ʑi/	/kăn/	/kănH/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	chí	jiān	jiàn
Expected Cantonese Reflex	si4	gaan1	gaan3

Noun

時間

1. (uncountable) time (the inevitable passing of events from future to present then past)

   愛惜時間／爱惜时间  ―  àixī shíjiān  ―  to treasure time

   浪費時間／浪费时间  ―  làngfèi shíjiān  ―  to waste time

   打發時間／打发时间  ―  dǎfa shíjiān  ―  to kill time

   合理支配時間／合理支配时间  ―  hélǐ zhīpèi shíjiān  ―  to manage time reasonably; reasonable time management

   時間不等人。／时间不等人。  ―  Shíjiān bù děngrén.  ―  Time waits for no one.

   時間催人老。／时间催人老。  ―  Shíjiān cuī rén lǎo.  ―  Time ages us.

   時間還來得及。／时间还来得及。  ―  Shíjiān hái láidejí.  ―  All in good time.

   抓緊時間！／抓紧时间！  ―  Zhuājǐn shíjiān!  ―  Get a move on!

2. (countable) time (a measurement of a quantity of time; a numerical indication of a length of time) (Classifier: 段 m)

   辦公時間／办公时间  ―  bàngōng shíjiān  ―  office hours

   我們還有多少時間呢？ [MSC, trad.]
   我们还有多少时间呢？ [MSC, simp.]

   Wǒmen hái yǒu duōshao shíjiān ne? [Pinyin]

   How much time do we have left?

   別在他身上浪費時間了。 [MSC, trad.]
   别在他身上浪费时间了。 [MSC, simp.]

   Bié zài tā shēnshàng làngfèi shíjiān le. [Pinyin]

   Don't waste time on him.

   地球自轉一周的時間是23小時56分4秒。 [MSC, trad.]
   地球自转一周的时间是23小时56分4秒。 [MSC, simp.]

   Dìqiú zìzhuàn yī zhōu de shíjiān shì 23 xiǎoshí 56 fēn 4 miǎo. [Pinyin]

   The time taken for the Earth to make one rotation is 23 hours 56 minutes 4 seconds.

3. a point in time

   現在的時間是一點零五分。 [MSC, trad.]
   现在的时间是一点零五分。 [MSC, simp.]

   Xiànzài de shíjiān shì yīdiǎn líng wǔ fēn. [Pinyin]

   The time now is five minutes past one.

4. (uncountable) free time; leisure; spare time

   不知您是否有時間。 [MSC, trad.]
   不知您是否有时间。 [MSC, simp.]

   Bùzhī nín shìfǒu yǒu shíjiān. [Pinyin]

   I wonder if you might have time.

   我想約你明天一起去吃飯，不知道你有沒有時間。 [MSC, trad.]
   我想约你明天一起去吃饭，不知道你有没有时间。 [MSC, simp.]

   Wǒ xiǎng yuē nǐ míngtiān yīqǐ qù chīfàn, bù zhīdào nǐ yǒu méiyǒu shíjiān. [Pinyin]

   I'd like to invite you out to have a meal tomorrow, if you have time.

Synonyms

• (time): 年數／年数 (niánshù), 年代 (niándài), (archaic) 年紀／年纪 (niánjì), 時候／时候 (shíhou), (Hokkien, Teochew) 時陣／时阵 (sî-chūn), (Wu) 辰光 (zen kuaan (T3))

Dialectal synonyms of 時候 (“time”) [map]

Variety	Location	Words edit
Formal (Written Standard Chinese)		時候
Northeastern Mandarin	Beijing	時候兒, 工夫兒
	Taiwan	時候
	Malaysia	時候
	Singapore	時候
Jilu Mandarin	Jinan	時候
Central Plains Mandarin	Luoyang	時候兒
	Wanrong	時候
	Xi'an	時候, 時間
	Xining	時候
	Sokuluk (Gansu Dungan)	時候, 時候兒
Lanyin Mandarin	Ürümqi	時節
Southwestern Mandarin	Chengdu	時候
	Wuhan	時辰, 時候
Jianghuai Mandarin	Yangzhou	時候
	Hefei	時候
Cantonese	Guangzhou	時候
	Hong Kong	時候
	Yangjiang	時候
	Singapore (Guangfu)	時候
Gan	Nanchang	時間, 時候, 場中
	Pingxiang	時會
Hakka	Meixian	時候
	Changting	時節
	Liancheng	時節
	Miaoli (N. Sixian)	時節
	Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian)	時節
	Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu)	時節
	Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu)	時節
	Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping)	時節
	Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an)	時務
Huizhou	Jixi	時候
Jin	Taiyuan	時候
Northern Min	Jian'ou	時候
Eastern Min	Fuzhou	辰候, 時候
	Fuzhou (Changle)	辰候
	Fuqing	時辰
	Yongtai	辰候
	Gutian	辰候
	Fu'an	辰候
	Ningde	流桓
	Shouning	辰候
	Zhouning	辰候
	Fuding	辰候
Southern Min	Xiamen	時陣, 時節
	Xiamen (Tong'an)	時陣
	Quanzhou	時陣
	Jinjiang	時節, 時陣
	Shishi	時陣
	Anxi	時陣
	Yongchun	時節, 時陣
	Zhangzhou	時陣
	Zhangzhou (Longhai)	時陣
	Zhangzhou (Changtai)	時陣
	Zhao'an	時陣
	Taipei	時陣
	New Taipei (Sanxia)	時陣
	Kaohsiung	時陣
	Yilan	時陣, 當時
	Changhua (Lukang)	時陣
	Taichung	時陣
	Taichung (Wuqi)	時陣
	Tainan	時陣
	Taitung	時陣
	Hsinchu	時陣
	Kinmen	時陣
	Penghu (Magong)	時陣
	Singapore (Hokkien)	時陣
	Manila (Hokkien)	時陣, 時節
	Chaozhou	時陣, 時候
	Shantou	時候
	Shantou (Chaoyang)	時候
	Jieyang	時陣
	Singapore (Teochew)	時候
	Wenchang	時候
	Qionghai	時候
	Singapore (Hainanese)	時候
Puxian Min	Putian	時節, 時頭
	Xianyou	時節
Wu	Shanghai	辰光
	Shanghai (Chongming)	辰光
	Suzhou	辰光
	Danyang	時候, 辰光
	Hangzhou	辰光
	Hangzhou (Yuhang)	辰光
	Ningbo	辰光, 時節 rare, 時候 dated
	Wenzhou	時節
	Jinhua	時節
Xiang	Changsha	時候
	Loudi	時界, 時界唧, 時際
	Shuangfeng	時候, 時基, 時家

• (free time):

edit

• 暇隙 (xiáxì)
• 業餘／业余 (yèyú)
• 空 (kòng)
• 空兒／空儿 (kòngr)
• 空暇 (kòngxiá)
• 空閒／空闲 (kòngxián)
• 美國時間／美国时间 (Taiwanese Hokkien)
• 閒工／闲工 (Hokkien)
• 閒工夫／闲工夫 (xiángōngfu)
• 閒手腳／闲手脚 (Hakka)
• 閒暇／闲暇 (xiánxiá)
• 閒神／闲神 (Hakka)
• 閒空／闲空 (xiánkòng)
• 餘暇／余暇 (yúxiá)
• 餘閒／余闲 (yúxián)

 

Coordinate terms

• 空間／空间 (kōngjiān, “space”)

Derived terms

• 北京時間／北京时间 (Běijīng Shíjiān)
• 抽時間／抽时间 (chōu shíjiān)
• 挨時間／挨时间 (ái shíjiān)
• 春天後母面，欲變一時間／春天后母面，欲变一时间 (chhun-thiⁿ āu-bú bīn, beh piàn chi̍t sî-kan) (Min Nan)
• 時間囊／时间囊 (shíjiānnáng)
• 時間差／时间差 (shíjiānchā)
• 時間序列／时间序列 (shíjiān xùliè)
• 時間性／时间性 (shíjiānxìng)
• 時間戳／时间戳 (shíjiānchuō)
• 時間管理／时间管理 (shíjiān guǎnlǐ)
• 時間能治癒一切創傷／时间能治愈一切创伤
• 時間膠囊／时间胶囊 (shíjiān jiāonáng)
• 時間表／时间表 (shíjiānbiǎo)
• 時間複雜度／时间复杂度 (shíjiān fùzádù)
• 時間詞／时间词 (shíjiāncí)
• 時間軸／时间轴 (shíjiānzhóu)
• 時間點／时间点 (shíjiāndiǎn)
• 本地時間／本地时间 (běndì shíjiān)
• 標準時間／标准时间 (biāozhǔn shíjiān)
• 殺時間／杀时间 (shā shíjiān)
• 營業時間／营业时间 (yíngyè shíjiān)
• 當地時間／当地时间 (dāngdì shíjiān)
• 社會必要勞動時間／社会必要劳动时间 (shèhuì bìyāo láodòng shíjiān)
• 第一時間／第一时间 (dì-yī shíjiān)
• 趕時間／赶时间 (gǎn shíjiān)
• 開放時間／开放时间 (kāifàng shíjiān)
• 黃金時間／黄金时间 (huángjīn shíjiān)

 

Further reading

• “Entry #6050”, in 教育部臺灣台語常用詞辭典 [Dictionary of Frequently-Used Taiwanese Taigi] (overall work in Mandarin and Hokkien), Ministry of Education, R.O.C., 2024.

Japanese

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
時	間
じ Grade: 2	かん Grade: 2
goon	kan'on

Probably originally borrowed from Middle Chinese compound 時間 (dzyi kɛn, literally “time interval”). Repurposed in the early Meiji period as a translation of the western term time in relation to philosophy in the 1881 publication of 哲学字彙 (Tetsugaku Jii, “Philosophy Dictionary”) compiled by Inoue Tetsujirō. The meaning "hour" can be analyzed as a compound of 時(じ) (-ji, “o'clock”) + 間(かん) (-kan, time interval suffix). Compare other terms formed with the suffix 間(かん) (-kan) like 三(さん)分(ぷん)間(かん) (sanpunkan) and 三日(みっか)間(かん) (mikkakan).

The reading is a mix of the goon reading ji and the kan'on reading kan, suggesting either that the reading changed after borrowing (from the expected goon pronunciation of jiken or the expected kan'on pronunciation of shikan), or that this term was independently coined in Japanese after the constituent terms 時(じ) (ji) and 間(かん) (kan) were borrowed.

Alternative forms

• (honorific) お時間(じかん) (o-jikan)

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) じかん [jìkáń] (Heiban – [0])
• IPA^(key): [d͡ʑikã̠ɴ]

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

時(じ)間(かん) • (jikan) 

1. time

   時(じ)間(かん)はありますか？

   Jikan wa arimasu ka?

   Do you have any time?

   時(じ)間(かん)はいつでも大(だい)丈(じょう)夫(ぶ)です。

   Jikan wa itsu de mo daijōbu desu.

   Any time works for me.

   (literally, “As for time, whenever is fine.”)

   もうこんな時(じ)間(かん)！

   Mō konna jikan!

   My, will you look at the time!

   (literally, “[it's] already this sort of time!”)

   時(じ)間(かん)にルーズ

   jikan ni rūzu

   never on time

   (literally, “lax about time”)

   時(じ)間(かん)と空(くう)間(かん)の関(かん)係(けい)

   jikan to kūkan no kankei

   the relationship between time and space

2. hour

   1(いち)時(じ)間(かん)は 60(ろくじっ)分(ぷん)です。

   Ichi-jikan wa rokujippun desu.

   One hour is 60 minutes.

3. the hours or time when something happens

   試(し)験(けん)時(じ)間(かん)に遅(おく)れた

   shiken jikan ni okureta

   was late for the exam

   (literally, “late to the time of the exam”)

   営(えい)業(ぎょう)時間(じかん)は月(げつ)火(か)水(すい)、午(ご)前(ぜん) ９(く)時(じ)から午(ご)後(ご) ２(に)時(じ)までです。

   Eigyō jikan wa getsu-ka-sui, gozen ku-ji kara gogo ni-ji made desu.

   Business hours are Monday to Wednesday, 9 AM to 2 PM.

   開(かい)館(かん)時(じ)間(かん)

   kaikan jikan

   hours of operation

   時(じ)間(かん)です！

   Jikan desu!

   Time's up!

   (literally, “It's time!”)

   閉(へい)園(えん)の時(じ)間(かん)です！

   Heien no jikan desu!

   We're closing now!

   (literally, “It's time for our closing!”)

   あまり時(じ)間(かん)がなくてすみません

   amari jikan ga nakute sumimasen

   sorry for not having the time [to do something]

   • 2002 July 27, Mashiba, Shin, “第(だい)壱(いち)夜(や)　下(クダ)リ階(カイ)段(ダン) [Night 1: Downward Stairway]”, in [夢](ゆめ)[喰](くい)[見](けん)[聞](ぶん) [The Dream-Eating Inspector], volume 1 (fiction), Tokyo: Square Enix, page 21:

     目(め)覚(ざ)めの時(じ)間(かん)だ

     Mezame no jikan da

     It’s time to wake up

Usage notes

The more general word for time, as in "when something happens", is 時 (toki).

• 海(うみ)辺(べ)に行(い)った時(とき)

  umibe ni itta toki

  the time I went to the beach, when I went to the beach

Derived terms

Derived terms

• 時(じ)間(かん)切(ぎ)れ (jikangire): out of time, past the deadline
• 時(じ)間(かん)帯(たい) (jikantai): time zone; time slot (such as for a TV program)
• 時(じ)間(かん)つぶし (jikan tsubushi): wasting time; killing time
• 時(じ)間(かん)割(わり) (jikanwari): timetable
• 営(えい)業(ぎょう)時(じ)間(かん) (eigyō jikan): business hours
• 所(しょ)要(よう)時(じ)間(かん) (shoyō jikan): required time

Related terms

• 期(き)間(かん) (kikan): duration, period

Descendants

• → Chinese: 時間／时间 (shíjiān)
• → Korean: 시간(時間) (sigan)
• → Vietnamese: thời gian

See also

• 時(じ)空(くう) (jikū): time and space
• 空(くう)間(かん) (kūkan): space, a space
• 時(じ)空(くう)間(かん) (jikūkan): spacetime
• 日(にっ)数(すう) (nissū): number of days (duration)

Counter

時(じ)間(かん) • (-jikan) 

1. an hour-long period

   一(いち)時(じ)間(かん)、二(に)時(じ)間(かん)、五(ご)時(じ)間(かん)半(はん)

   ichi-jikan, ni-jikan, go-jikan han

   one hour, two hours, five and a half hours

   何(なん)時(じ)間(かん)もかかりそうです。

   Nan-jikan mo kakari sō desu.

   Apparently it will take many hours.

See also

Japanese number-counter combinations for 時(じ)間(かん) (jikan)
1	2	3	4	5
一(いち)時(じ)間(かん) (ichijikan)	二(に)時(じ)間(かん) (nijikan)	三(さん)時(じ)間(かん) (sanjikan)	四(よ)時(じ)間(かん) (yojikan)	五(ご)時(じ)間(かん) (gojikan)
6	7	8	9	10
六(ろく)時(じ)間(かん) (rokujikan)	七(しち)時(じ)間(かん) (shichijikan) 七(なな)時(じ)間(かん) (nanajikan)	八(はち)時(じ)間(かん) (hachijikan)	九(く)時(じ)間(かん) (kujikan)	十(じゅう)時(じ)間(かん) (jūjikan)
100	1,000	10,000	How many?
百(ひゃく)時(じ)間(かん) (hyakujikan)	千(せん)時(じ)間(かん) (senjikan)	一(いち)万(まん)時(じ)間(かん) (ichimanjikan)	何(なん)時(じ)間(かん) (nanjikan)

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
時	間
じ > ち Grade: 2	かん Grade: 2
irregular	kan'on

Pronunciation shift to a devoiced initial consonant in certain dialects.

/d͡ʑikaɴ/ → /t͡ɕikaɴ/

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [t͡ɕikã̠ɴ]

Noun

時(ち)間(かん) • (chikan) 

1. (Ibaraki) time
2. (Ibaraki) hour
3. (Ibaraki) the hours or time when something happens

Counter

時(ち)間(かん) • (-chikan) 

1. (Ibaraki) an hour-long period

References

• Shōgaku Tosho (1988) 国語大辞典（新装版） [Unabridged Dictionary of Japanese (Revised Edition)] (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan, →ISBN

Korean

Hanja in this term
時	間

Noun

時間 • (sigan) (hangeul 시간)

1. hanja form^? of 시간 (“time, an hour or hours”)

Vietnamese

chữ Hán Nôm in this term
時	間

Noun

時間

1. chữ Hán form of thời gian (“time”).