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How to Say ‘What time is it now?’ in Japanese

今、何時ですか。

ima nan ji desu ka

[Ima nahn ji dess ka]

💬 Usage Tip: Adding か (ka) to the end of です turns a statement into a question, with no change in word order.

Phrase Breakdown

今、

ima

now

Read as 'ima'. Pause briefly at the comma before asking the question.

Example

今、忙しいです。

I'm busy now.

Words in this phrase

今

ima

[Ima]

now

At the present moment or time.

Example

今すぐ来て。

Come right now.

何時ですか。

nan ji desu ka

what time is it?

Read as 'nan-ji desu ka'. 何時 (nanji) means 'what time', and か turns the sentence into a question. Raise your voice a little on 'ka'.

Example

会議は何時ですか。

What time is the meeting?

Words in this phrase

何

nan

[nahn]

how many; what number

Used to ask quantity or number.

Example

何名様ですかと聞かれました。

I was asked, 'How many people are in your party?'

時

[ji]

o'clock

Used to specify the hour in time.

Example

授業は九時に始まります。

The class starts at nine o'clock.

です

desu

[dess]

is; am; are

A basic polite copula used to say 'is/am/are.'

Example

田中です。

I am Tanaka.

か

[ka]

question particle

Added at the end of a sentence to indicate a question.

Example

お茶を飲みますか？

Do you drink tea?

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