Japanese Time Words

like I said

時々

ときどき = sometimes

毎日

まいにち = every day

毎週

まいしゅう = every week

毎月

まいつき = every month

毎年

まいとし = every year

先週

せんしゅう = last week

先月

せんげつ = last month

去年

きょねん = last year

昨日

きのう = yesterday

前回

ぜんかい = last time

昼

ひる = noon or daytime

未来

みらい = future, Ex: 未来を考える。= Think about the future., Ex: 明るい未来。= a bright future

昔

むかし = long ago, the past, bygone days, Ex: 昔の話 = むかし の はなし = stories from long ago.

週末

しゅうまつ = weekend, Ex: 週末に何をしますか。= What will you do on the weekend.

先週の週末

せんしゅうのしゅうまつ = last weekend, Ex: 先週の週末はとても楽しかった。= Last weekend was very fun.

その後

そのあと = after that, afterwards, Ex: その後、私たちは映画を見に行きました。= After that, we went to see a movie. {Note: this pattern is masu-form without masu + に to define purpose and then the ending verb. Another example: コーヒーを飲みに行きましょう。= Let’s go drink coffee.

何れ

いずれ = in time, sooner or later

今夜

こんや = tonight, this evening, Ex: 今夜はパーティーがあります。= There is a party tonight.

本日

ほんじつ = formal word for today, this day, used on signs and in announcements Ex: 本日、図書館は休館です。= ほんじつ、としょかん は きゅうかん です。= Today the library is closed.

今更

いまさら = at this late hour, now that it's too late, often used to indicate a sense of regret or realization that comes too late. {Natsumi says to Minori 今更やけど = It’s too late now but. . . when relaying that she wishes they had more time together.}