How to Say ‘Do you have time now?’ in Japanese
今、時間がありますか。
ima jikan ga ari masu ka
[ee-mah jee-kahn gah ah-ree mahss kah]
💬 Usage Tip: This is a polite way to check availability. [今、] softens an invitation by asking about the other person's situation first.
🇯🇵 In Japan: In Japan, checking if someone is free before inviting them can feel more considerate than jumping straight to [飲みに行きませんか].
Phrase Breakdown
今
ima
[ee-mah]
now
Sets the time as the present moment.
今、時間がありますか。
Do you have time now?
時間
jikan
[jee-kahn]
time
Refers to available time in this question.
時間 があります。
I have time.
がありますか
ga ari masu ka
do you have?
A polite question form asking whether something exists or is available.
時間がありますか。
Do you have time?
Words in this phrase
が
ga
[gah]
subject marker
Marks 時間 as the thing that exists.
時間 が あります。
There is time.
あり
ari
[ah-ree]
exist / have
Shows existence or availability.
今、時間が あり ます。
I have time now.
ます
masu
[mahss]
polite verb ending
Makes the sentence sound polite.
あります は 丁寧です。
"Arimasu" is polite.
か
ka
[kah]
question marker
Turns the sentence into a question.
時間があります か。
Do you have time?
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