How to Say ‘The time went by fast.’ in Japanese
時間が早かったです。
jikan ga hayakatsu ta desu
[jee-kahn ga hah-YAH-kah tah dess]
💬 Usage Tip: Japanese says time was "fast" using 早い in its past form 早かった, where English would say it "flew by." Describing words change their own ending for the past: い becomes かった.
Phrase Breakdown
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.
が
ga
[ga]
subject marker
A particle marking the subject of the sentence.
興味がある分野を教えてください。
Please tell me the field you are interested in.
早かっ
hayakatsu
[hah-YAH-kah]
was fast; went by quickly
The past stem of 早い (early/fast). Followed by た, it means something was quick.
夏休みは早かったです。
Summer vacation went by fast.
た
ta
[tah]
past tense marker
Indicates past tense.
彼は来た。
He came.
です
desu
[dess]
is; polite copula
A polite sentence ending used in formal conversation.
少し伺いたいです。
I would like to ask a little.
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