Casual and Formal : What Time Is It? in Japanese

There are a lot of ways to ask the time to people. And 今何時いまなんじですか? means “What time is it?” which you might have known, however, this is what so basic Japanese is. Today, let me introduce how you ask the time and answer it both as casual and formal like native speakers!

今何時いまなんじですか？

What time is it? / Do you have the time?

“今何時いまなんじですか？” means “What time is it? / Do you have the time?” and which you could use as polite and business situations as well to a person you just met for the first time or just acquaintance. This way to ask the time is basic but polite. Before asking it, adding すいません which means “Excuse me?” is the best way to ask the time such as “すいません、今何時いまなんじですか？”. Lastly, everybody could you this in daily conversations as a little bit formal.
　　

Example

今何時いまなんじですか？ (Do you have the time?) (现在几点了？) (지금 몇 시예요?) (Bây giờ là mấy giờ ạ?)

3時さんじ22分にじゅうにふんですよ。 (It’s three twenty two.) (现在3点22分。) (3시 22분이에요.) (3 giờ 22 phút rồi đấy.)

すいません、今何時いまなんじですか？ (Excuse me, what’s the time now?) (不好意思，现在几点了？) (죄송한데, 지금 몇 신가요?) (Xin cho hỏi bây giờ là mấy giờ rồi ạ?)

午後ごご11時23分じゅういちじにじゅうさんぷんですよ。 (It’s eleven twenty three p.m.) (现在晚上11:23咯。) (오후 11시 23분이에요.) (Bây giờ là 11 giờ 23 phút ạ.)

今何時いまなんじ？

What time is it?

“今何時いまなんじ？” also means “What time is it?”, however, which is used as casual, so you could use this to only your family, friends and someone who you are close to and which is called “タメ口ぐち” means casual talk. So, don’t use “今何時いまなんじ？” to your boss, elderly people or people you have met for the first time. They would be pretty offensive. Rather you would use this for your friends or someone who you are close to because it sounds friendly between friends. Lastly, everybody could you this in daily conversations as casual.
　

Example

今何時いまなんじ？ (What time is it?) (现在几点了？) (지금 몇 시야?) (Mấy giờ rồi?)

8時はちじだよ。 (It’s 8 p.m.) (现在8点钟。) (8시야.) (8 giờ rồi.)

ねぇ、今何時いまなんじ？ (Hey, do you know what time it is?) (欸，现在几点？) (저기, 지금 몇 시야?) (Nè, mấy giờ rồi?)

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あと8分はっぷんで9時くじだよ。 (It’s 8 to 9.) (还差8分钟就9点啦。) (8분 후면 9시야.) (Còn 8 phút nữa là đến 9 giờ rồi đó.)

今何時いまなんじか教おしえていただけませんか？

Could you tell me what time it is?

“今何時いまなんじか教おしえていただけませんか？” means “Could you tell me what time it is?”. This is used in business situations as formal and as the politest way to ask the time to people who are your boss, elder people, people you have met for the first time. Before asking it, adding すいません which means “Excuse me?” is the best way to ask the time such as “すいません、今何時いまなんじか教おしえていただけませんか？”. Lastly, everybody could use “今何時いまなんじか教おしえていただけませんか？” to all of the people except a person who you are close to.

Example

今何時いまなんじか教おしえていただけませんか？ (Could you tell me what time it is?) (你能告诉我我现在几点吗？) (지금 몇 시인지 알려주실 수 있나요?) (Làm ơn cho tôi biết bây giờ là mấy giờ rồi ạ?)

4時よじ3分前さんふんまえですよ。 (It’s 3 minutes before 4.) (还差3分钟就4点了。) (4시 되기 3분 전이에요.) (4 giờ kém 3 phút ạ.)

すいません、今何時いまなんじか教おしええていただけませんか？ (Excuse me, would you tell me what time it is?) (不好意思，你能告诉我现在几点了吗？) (실례합니다, 지금 몇 시인지 알려주실 수 있나요?) (Xin lỗi làm ơn cho tôi biết bây giờ là mấy giờ rồi ạ?)