How to Say ‘The start is at 8:30.’ in Japanese
スタートは八時半です。
sutaato wa hachi ji han desu
[soo-TAH-toh wah hachi ji hahn dess]
💬 Usage Tip: Add 半 (han) "half" after the hour for half past: 八時半 (hachiji-han). Also 三時半 "3:30".
Phrase Breakdown
スタートは
sutaato wa
The start
スタート (sutaato) is a loanword from 'start', with a long 'a'. は is read 'wa' and marks the topic.
スタートは何時ですか。
What time is the start?
Words in this phrase
スタート
sutaato
[soo-TAH-toh]
start; tee-off
Loanword from English 'start'; in golf, the scheduled tee-off time.
スタートの時間を確認します。
I'll check the start time.
は
wa
[wah]
topic marker
は marks the topic of the sentence.
空席はありますか。
Are there any seats available?
八時半です。
hachi ji han desu
is at 8:30.
八時 (hachi-ji) means 8 o'clock, and 半 (han) means 'half past'. です makes it polite.
会議は八時半です。
The meeting is at 8:30.
Words in this phrase
八
hachi
[hachi]
eight
The number eight in Japanese.
テーブルに八脚があります。
There are eight chairs at the table.
時
ji
[ji]
o'clock
Counter used for hours on the clock.
夜九時まで受け付けています。
We accept it until 9 p.m.
半
han
[hahn]
half; half past
Added after an hour to mean thirty minutes past.
二時半に会いましょう。
Let's meet at half past two.
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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