N5 Vocabulary: Time & dates — 24 words with memory tricks
N5 time words look like a lot, but they follow a clear pattern: memorize four prefixes — 今 / 先 / 来 / 毎 — and combine them with 週 (week) / 月 (month) / 年 (year) to unlock a dozen words. This lesson teaches the pattern, with a hook for the irregular readings.
01
今
いま
ima
now
💡 "ima" = now. Base kanji for "this/present" (今週, 今月, 今年).
今、何時ですか？What time is it now?
02
今日
きょう
kyou
today, this day
💡 今 (now) + 日 (day) → today. Irregular reading: "kyou".
今日はいい天気ですね。It's nice weather today, isn't it?
03
明日
あした
ashita
tomorrow
💡 明 (bright) + 日 (day) → the bright day ahead = tomorrow. "ashita".
明日は雨が降るでしょう。It will probably rain tomorrow.
04
昨日
きのう
kinou
yesterday
💡 昨 (previous) + 日 (day) → yesterday. "kinou".
昨日は雨でした。It was raining yesterday.
05
朝
あさ
asa
morning
💡 "asa" = morning.
朝、パンを食べます。I eat bread in the morning.
06
昼
ひる
hiru
noon, daytime
💡 "hiru" = midday/noon.
お昼になりました。It has become noon.
07
晩
ばん
ban
evening
💡 "ban" = evening.
晩ご飯を食べましたか？Did you eat dinner?
08
夜
よる
yoru
evening, night
💡 "yoru" = night.
夜、勉強します。I study at night.
09
午前
ごぜん
gozen
morning, A.M.
💡 午 (noon) + 前 (before) → before noon = A.M.
午前中に掃除をします。I do the cleaning in the morning.
10
午後
ごご
gogo
afternoon, P.M.
💡 午 (noon) + 後 (after) → after noon = P.M.
午後に買い物に行きます。I go shopping in the afternoon.
11
今週
こんしゅう
konshū
this week
💡 今 (this) + 週 (week) → this week.
今週は雨が多いです。There is much rain this week.
12
先週
せんしゅう
senshū
last week
💡 先 (previous) + 週 → last week.
先週は忙しかったです。I was busy last week.
13
来週
らいしゅう
raishū
next week
💡 来 (coming) + 週 → next week.
来週は忙しいです。Next week is busy.
14
今月
こんげつ
kongetsu
this month
💡 今 (this) + 月 (month) → this month.
今月は忙しいです。I am busy this month.
15
先月
せんげつ
sengetsu
last month
💡 先 (previous) + 月 → last month.
先月日本へ行きました。I went to Japan last month.
16
来月
らいげつ
raigetsu
next month
💡 来 (coming) + 月 → next month.
来月日本へ行きます。I will go to Japan next month.
17
今年
ことし
kotoshi
this year
💡 今 (this) + 年 (year) → this year. "kotoshi".
今年は日本へ行きたいです。I want to go to Japan this year.
18
去年
きょねん
kyonen
last year
💡 去 (past/gone) + 年 → last year.
去年日本へ来ました。I came to Japan last year.
19
来年
らいねん
rainen
next year
💡 来 (coming) + 年 → next year.
来年卒業します。I will graduate next year.
20
毎日
まいにち
mainichi
every day
💡 毎 (every) + 日 → every day. "mainichi".
毎日勉強します。I study every day.
21
毎週
まいしゅう
maishū
every week
💡 毎 (every) + 週 → every week.
毎週日曜日にテニスをします。I play tennis every Sunday.
22
毎月
まいつき
maitsuki
every month, monthly
💡 毎 (every) + 月 → every month.
毎月一回旅行します。I travel once a month.
23
時間
じかん
jikan
time
💡 時 (time/hour) + 間 (interval) → time.
時間がありません。I have no time.
24
半
はん
han
half (e.g., にじはん | half-past two)
💡 "han" = half (past). 3時半 = 3:30.
三時半です。It's 3:30.
Memory tricks
- Four prefixes unlock ~16 words: 今 (this) · 先 (last) · 来 (next) · 毎 (every) + 週/月/年. E.g. 今週 this week, 先月 last month, 来年 next year, 毎日 every day.
- Relative days: 昨日 (yesterday) ← 今日 (today) → 明日 (tomorrow).
- 午 = noon: 午前 (before noon = A.M.), 午後 (after noon = P.M.).
- Parts of the day: 朝 morning · 昼 midday · 晩 evening · 夜 night.
- Spaced repetition in Memoro helps with the irregular readings (今日 kyou, 明日 ashita).
→ See all N5 Time & dates vocabulary
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