How to Say ‘Do you have time after work today?’ in Japanese
今日、仕事のあと時間ありますか？
kyou shigoto no ato jikan ari masu ka
[kyoh shee-goh-toh noh ato jee-kahn ah-ree mahs kah]
🇯🇵 In Japan: Asking whether someone is free before saying what for gives them an easy way to decline. Japanese invitations often open this way instead of asking directly.
Phrase Breakdown
今日、仕事のあと
kyou shigoto no ato
today, after work
今日 (kyou) means 'today'. Pause briefly after it, then say 仕事のあと (after work).
今日、仕事のあと買い物します。
Today I'll go shopping after work.
Words in this phrase
今日
kyou
[kyoh]
today
The current day.
今日のコンサートは満席です。
Today's concert is full.
仕事
shigoto
[shee-goh-toh]
work; job
Refers to work, occupation, or a job role; common in business and career conversations.
今は営業の仕事をしています。
Right now I work in sales.
の
no
[noh]
of
A linking particle connecting nouns, like 'of' or showing description.
前の方が見やすいです。
The front area is easier to see from.
あと
ato
[ato]
later; afterward
Refers to a time after now, often used when postponing an action.
あとでメールを送ります。
I will send an email later.
時間ありますか？
jikan ari masu ka
do you have time?
A polite question about someone's availability. Raise your pitch on か.
少し時間ありますか？
Do you have a little time?
Words in this phrase
時間
jikan
[jee-kahn]
time
Refers to time or someone's availability; often used politely in business contexts.
少しお時間をいただきたいです。
I would like to ask for a little of your time.
あり
ari
[ah-ree]
exist/have
The stem of ある, used for existence or availability of things.
S席はありましたか。
Were S seats available?
ます
masu
[mahs]
polite verb ending
A standard polite ending added to verbs, often used in customer service and formal speech.
予約を確認し ます。
I will confirm the reservation.
か
ka
[kah]
question marker
Placed at the end of a sentence to make it a question.
A席はありますか。
Are there A seats available?
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