XはYです

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Here are the key points of this lesson: Omission of the subject (Xは) Using 'は' for clarity Nouns in Japanese” Omission of the subject (Xは) In Japanese, sentences often omit subjects when the context makes them clear, unlike in English where subjects like "I" or "it" are typically included.  For example, "I am a student," "My major is Japanese language," and "It is 12:30" translate into Japanese as "がくせいです," "にほんごです," and "12じはんです," respectively, without direct subjects. Using 'は' for clarity If the context doesn't provide clarity, Japanese sentences can start with a topic marked by "wa" (は in hiragana), indicating "As for X, it is Y.” For example,  “わたしは がくせいです" (As for me, I am a student), “せんこうは にほんごです" (As for my major, it is Japanese language), and "じかんは12じはんです" (As for the current time, it is 12:30). The particle "wa" (は), used to denote ...
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31. Can you say what time is it now in Japanese?

 31. Asking and Telling Time in Japanese 


Do you wonder how to ask for the time in Japanese? The structure pattern "なんじ ですか" (nanji desu ka?) is your go-to for asking about the time, while the formula "(number) +時 (number)+分 です" is used to tell the time. 

Asking the Time:
To ask someone for the time, you can use the phrase "なんじ ですか" (nanji desu ka?): 
いま なんじ です か (ima nanji desu ka?)。 - What time is it now?


Telling the Time:
When it comes to telling time, follow this formula:
いま じゅうにじ ごじゅうごふん です(今12時55分です)。- It is twelve fifty-five now.


しちじはんです (7時半です)。- It is half past seven. 

よじ さんぷん まえ です(４時３分前です)。- It is three to four.


くじ じゅうごふん すぎ です(9時15分すぎです)。- It is fifteen minutes past nine.


Important Notes:
There are a few essential things to keep in mind when discussing time in Japanese:

  • Clock Reading: Pay attention to the correct readings for specific hours. 
    • 
Incorrect: よん じ, なな じ, きゅう じ

    • Correct: よ じ, しち じ, く じ
  • Using "Sugi" and "Mae": "Sugi" (すぎ), which means “past", can be dropped when expressing time, but "mae" (まえ), which means "to" must be used with time expressions.

    • Correct: 9ji 15fun sugi → 9ji 15fun

    • Correct: 4ji 3pun mae → 4ji 3pun
  • “Han" and "30pun": "Han" (はん) and "30pun" (30ぷん) are interchangeable.

    • Equivalent: 9ji han ⇔ 9ji 30pun
  • Pronunciation of Minutes: When stating the minutes in Japanese, use either “ふん(fun)” or “ぷん(pun)”, depending on the number.

    • Examples: いっぷん, にふん, さんぷん, よんぷん, ごふん, ろっぷん, ななふん, はっぷん, きゅうふん, じゅっぷん, じゅうごふん, にじゅっぷん, さんじゅっぷん, よんじゅっぷん, ごじゅっぷん, ろくじゅっぷん


Location: Japan

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