Stating the Time / Asking for a special time

Fujibayashi · 10 Jul 2009

Hi,
so in this Book I use they have a chapter about time and it's always like
"Ima nanji desu ka?" -> What time is it (right now)?
and you answer like "Gogo Juuji desu" -> 10 pm
just wondered how would you state "It is 10 pm right now"?
"Ima ha gogo juuji desu"?
"Ima gogo juuji desu"?
(on that ocassion another question, can you add a "yo" to these 2 sentences? so "desu yo")
or just "gogo juuji desu" again?
Also how would you ask for like "Is it 10 pm (right now)?"
I came up with "ima ha gogo juuji desu ka?" and "ima goog juuji desu ka?" but a bit unsure if that is the proper use and which is right :?

pocopoco · 10 Jul 2009

The sentences you came up with are all correct. There are a lot of ways to say that. It depends mainly on what the relationship between you and listner is. When you talk to your friend, です /desu/ sounds too polite. If I were to ask a friend of mine or my Mom or Dad what time it is now, I would say, simply, 「いま何時？」/ima nanji/. Then he or she would answer 「１０時(だよ)」/juuzi dayo/ or something like that.

But if I were to ask my boss, teacher etc, I would ask 「いま何時ですか？」or 「いま何時でしょうか？」. If I were to answer to them, I would say 「１０時です」.

Fujibayashi · 11 Jul 2009

Hm ok, the main thing I was unsure is if you should put "ima" or "ima ha" before saying the time to say thats the current time

pocopoco · 11 Jul 2009

No need to add "ima" or "ima wa", if it is clear from the situation that you're asking the current time. But I prefer to add "ima" for clarity. Adding は"wa" like 「今は何時？」 sounds a bit redundant (but not wrong) when spoken. In the です form (e.g. 「今は何時ですか？」「今は１０時です」）, however, it sounds natural both with and without は"wa". It's maybe because the です form requires a more complete sentence.

Fujibayashi · 11 Jul 2009

Hm k, thanks, still a bit unsure, but probably that will clear up when I learn more

Elizabeth · 11 Jul 2009

pocopoco said:
The sentences you came up with are all correct. There are a lot of ways to say that. It depends mainly on what the relationship between you and listner is. When you talk to your friend, です /desu/ sounds too polite. If I were to ask a friend of mine or my Mom or Dad what time it is now, I would say, simply, 「いま何時？」/ima nanji/. Then he or she would answer 「１０時(だよ)」/juuzi dayo/ or something like that.
But if I were to ask my boss, teacher etc, I would ask 「いま何時ですか？」or 「いま何時でしょうか？」. If I were to answer to them, I would say 「１０時です」.

You never say 時間(時刻)は、１０時です like some crazy folks who butcher the English language "And the time is....10 o clock." :?

Toritoribe · 11 Jul 2009

I'm curious about the case the OP thought of, too. For instance, when do you say "it is 10pm now" except when answering to the question what time it is?

Stating the Time / Asking for a special time

Fujibayashi

後輩

pocopoco

後輩

Fujibayashi

後輩

pocopoco

後輩

Fujibayashi

後輩

Elizabeth

先輩

Toritoribe

松葉解禁

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