🇯🇵 Japanese phrases

How to Say "What time is it?" in Japanese

The SPAIKING TeamJuly 27, 2026
今何時ですか
"What time is it?" in Japanese · say it like ee-mah nahn-ji desu kah

The most natural way to say "What time is it?" in Japanese is 今何時ですか. Tap the speaker above to hear it, then say it back out loud. That is the fastest way to make it stick.

Other ways to say it

今何時?
This is a more casual way to ask.
今、何時ですか?
This variant emphasizes the current time.

When to use it

Use this phrase when you want to ask someone for the current time. It is polite and appropriate in most situations. You can use the casual variant with friends or family.

Say it out loud, get corrected

Reading it is not the same as saying it. Practice "What time is it?" and thousands more with an AI coach that listens.

Examples in Japanese

JapaneseEnglish
すみません、今何時ですか?Excuse me, what time is it?
Common mistake
A common mistake is to forget the particle 'ですか' at the end, which makes it sound less polite.

The fastest way to remember it

Vocabulary you only read fades fast. Vocabulary you say out loud sticks. Hear 今何時ですか, repeat it a few times, then use it in a real sentence. SPAIKING lets you practice exactly that, speaking Japanese with a coach that corrects your pronunciation in real time. You can start with two free conversations.

Frequently asked questions

Can I just say '何時'?

Yes, but it sounds very casual and may not be appropriate in formal situations.

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