Important! I highly recommend reviewing the following courses :
– 位置の単語 - Time marks,
– Time complement,
– Adverbs and adverbial particles
A little further up, we saw the course More on spatial landmarks where we delved into the subject. Now it is time to do the same with the time markers. I would like to offer you this little course which aims to deepen things that we have already seen throughout this second season.
In the aforementioned courses that I invite you to review, we studied :
– Prepositions used to indicate the position of objects or people in time,
– The time complement also called the circumstantial complement of time which allows us to indicate in our sentences the moment when the action is carried out,
– Adverbs and adverbial particles.
Okay, that is all very well, but now I would like to show you how you can combine temporal prepositions with other words to be more precise in your indication.
I’m going to remind you of some grammatical rules that we saw in the course named The Time Complement.
When our time complement will indicate a specific point in time, a specific period, a specific date, a day of the week or even a year, we use the particle に.
And when our time complement is, in our sentence, a word relative to the moment of utterance, we do not use any particle.
For example, if I say « today, », « today, » indicates a specific day. But it will change every day, and every day will be a different day. The same goes for « tomorrow », « yesterday », « the day after tomorrow », « the day before yesterday », « last week », « next week »… These are relative words.
There are very few relative words where we do not use the particle に. On the other hand, there are many nouns and nominal groups indicating a specific point in time. And these are the ones we are going to discover together.
We will start with a quick refresher. Below I give you a list of relative words with which we DO NOT use the particle に. You already know all the words below :
昨日 .
きのう . yesterday
今日 .
きょう . today
明日 .
あした . tomorrow
毎日 .
マイニチ . everyday
先週 .
センシュウ . last week
今週 .
コンシュウ . this week
来週 .
ライシュウ . next week
毎週 .
マイシュウ . every week, weekly
先月 .
センゲツ . last month
今月 .
コンゲツ . this month
来月 .
ライゲツ . next month
毎月 .
マイつき. every month
去年 .
キョネン . last year
今年 .
ことし . this year
来年 .
ライネン . next year
毎年 .
マイとし. every year
Now, let’s see some examples of cases in which we will use the particle に. These are the same examples as in the above-mentioned course.
七時に .
シチじに. at seven o’clock
十五世紀に .
ジュウゴせいきに. in the fifteenth century
五日後に .
いつかごに . five days later / in five days
三日後に .
みっかごに . three days later / in three days
二週間後に .
ニジュウカンごに. two weeks later / in two weeks
八週間後に .
ハチジュウカンごに. eight weeks later / in eight weeks
Now, I will give you a quick reminder of the words and noun groups where we use the particle に. Remember, if we add a day name to say for example 毎週金曜日 . マイシュウキンヨウび (every Friday) or 来週の日曜日 . ライシュウのニチヨウび (Sunday of next week), then this new time supplement is considered to be time accurate. So, we use the particle に.
毎週月曜日 .
マイシュウゲツヨウび. every Monday
毎週火曜日 .
マイシュウカヨウび. every Tuesday
毎週水曜日 .
マイシュウスイヨウび. every Wednesday
毎週木曜日 .
マイシュウモクヨウび. every Thursday
毎週金曜日 .
マイシュウキンヨウび. every Friday
毎週土曜日 .
マイシュウドヨウび. every Saturday
毎週日曜日 .
マイシュウニチヨウび. every Sunday
来週の毎週月曜日 .
ライシュウのマイシュウゲツヨウ び. Monday of next week
来週の毎週火曜日 .
ライシュウのマイシュウカヨウ び. Tuesday of next week
来週の毎週水曜日 .
ライシュウのマイシュウスイヨウ び. Wednesday of next week
来週の毎週木曜日 .
ライシュウのマイシュウモクヨウ び. Thursday of next week
来週の毎週金曜日 .
ライシュウのマイシュウキンヨウ び. Friday of next week
来週の毎週土曜日 .
ライシュウのマイシュウドヨウ び. Saturday of next week
来週の毎週日曜日 .
ライシュウのマイシュウニチヨウ び. Sunday of next week
It is also possible to say the same thing by replacing 来週 + の with 次 + の.
I am adding to the list the time complements below and which are only used in sentences in the past tense. Conjugating verbs in the past tense, we will see this in season three. I give them to you below so that you can already familiarize yourself :
先週の月曜日 .
センシュウのマイシュウゲツヨウ び. Monday of last week
先週の火曜日 .
センシュウのマイシュウカヨウ び. Tuesday of last week
先週の水曜日 .
センシュウのマイシュウスイヨウ び. Wednesday of last week
先週の木曜日 .
センシュウのマイシュウモクヨウ び. Thursday of last week
先週の金曜日 .
センシュウのマイシュウキンヨウ び. Friday of last week
先週の土曜日 .
センシュウのマイシュウドヨウ び. Saturday of last week
先週の日曜日 .
センシュウのマイシュウニチヨウ び. Sunday of last week
It is also possible to say the same thing by replacing 先週 + の with 最後 + の.
In Japanese, the months of the year are also considered precise in time, so we use the particle に again.
First, let’s review the months of the year. You should know them, you first learned them in season one :
一月 .
イチガツ . January
二月 .
ニガツ . February
三月 .
サンガツ . March
四月 .
シガツ . April
五月 .
ゴガツ . May
六月 .
ロクガツ . June
七月 .
シチガツ . July
八月 .
ハチガツ . August
九月 .
クガツ . September
十月 .
ジュウガツ . October
十一月 .
ジュウイチガツ . November
十二月 .
ジュウニガツ . December
And if we want to say « next January » or « next July »…, we will formulate it following this model: 来年 + (の) + [month].
The same if we want to say in the other direction « last January » or « last July »…, we will formulate following this model: 昨年 + (の) + [month].
You recognize the kanji 年 since this next month will necessarily be that of next year and this last month will necessarily be that of the previous year. It could not be more logical.
At least, it is for the Japanese. Indeed, let’s imagine that it is April and something is planned for next August, that is to say August of this year since August has not yet passed. Well, in this scenario we could say 来年八月, but we can also go simple and say 八月.
Good. At this point, I do not tell you much. But because I want to do things well, I give you below some very inspired examples :
If we want to say :
In December we celebrate Yūka’s birthday.
We use the particle に because the word 十二月 is considered precise in time.
十二月には優香の誕生日を祝う。
じゅうにがつにはゆうかのたんじょうびをいわう。
In December we celebrate Yūka’s birthday.
If we want to say :
In July, May and Chelsea will go to Ushuaia together.
We use the particle に because the word 七月 is considered precise in time.
七月にメイとチェルシーは一緒にウシュアイアに行く。
しちがつにメイとチェルシーはいっしょにウシュアイアにいく。
In July, May and Chelsea will go to Ushuaia together.
If we want to say :
Starting tomorrow Monday, Ryan will distribute free bread.
Since « tomorrow Monday » is a starting point, we have the particle から which replaces the particle に.
明日月曜日からライアンは無料でパンを配る。
あしたげつようびからライアンはむりょうでパンをくばる。
Starting tomorrow Monday, Ryan will distribute free bread.
If we want to say :
Julia will go to Japan next year.
We do not use the particle に because 来年 is not considered precise in time. It could be any day in the next year.
ジュリアは来年日本に行く。
ジュリアはらいねんにほんにいく。
Julia will go to Japan next year.
If we want to say :
Isaac works in a pet store six days a week.
We use the particle に because the word 週に六日 is considered precise in time. Additionally, do not forget that the particle に is also used to specify a frequency in Japanese, that is, an occurrence in relation to a duration.
アイザックは週に六日ペットショップで働く。
アイザックはしゅうにむいかペットショップではたらく。
Isaac works in a pet store six days a week.
If we want to say :
There is a bus every ten minutes here.
We use the particle に because the word 十分 is considered precise in time. Again, we have an idea of frequency.
ここには十分に一台バスがある。
ここにはじゅうぶんにいったいバスがある。
There is a bus every ten minutes here.
If we want to say :
Mikoto eats two pears and two apples every day.
We do not use the particle に because 毎日 is not considered precise in time.
美琴は毎日梨二個とリンゴ二個を食べる。
みことはまいにちなしにことりんごにこをたべる。
Mikoto eats two pears and two apples every day.
If we want to say :
Teacher Mugino gives two jars of strawberry jam and three jars of apricot jam to Ryōko as gifts every week.
We do not use the particle に because 毎週 is not considered precise in time.
麦野先生は毎週涼子にイチゴジャム２瓶とアプリコットジャム３瓶を贈る。
むぎのせんせいはまいしゅうりょうこにいちごじゃむにびんとあぷりこじゃむさんびんをおくる。
Teacher Mugino gives two jars of strawberry jam and three jars of apricot jam to Ryōko as gifts every week.
If we want to say :
Tomorrow at 5:30 p.m., Anna and Claudia will go to the cinema.
In this sentence we have the word « tomorrow » and « 5:30 p.m. », the latter being a precise indicator in time, we use the particle に.
明日の午後五時半にアンナとクラウディアは映画館に行く。
あしたのごごごじはんにアンナとクラウディアはえいがかんにいく。
Tomorrow at 5:30 p.m., Anna and Claudia will go to the cinema.
If we want to say :
The anime “Ranma 1/2” starts at 8 a.m.
We use the particle に because the word 午前八時 is considered precise in time.
アニメ『らんま1/2』は午前八時に始まる。
アニメ『らんま1/2』はごぜんはちじにはじまる。
The anime “Ranma 1/2” starts at 8 a.m.
If we want to say :
My big sister Honami’s clarinet exam takes place on the first Wednesday in June.
Okay, is it necessary to give any more explanations? We use the particle に, that is obvious.
私の姉の穂波のクラリネットの試験は六月の第一水曜日に行われる。
わたしのあねのほなみのクラリネットのしけんはろくがつのだいいちすいようびにおこなわれる。
My big sister Honami’s clarinet exam takes place on the first Wednesday in June.
After all these examples which, I hope, have got you back into the swing of things, it is time to broaden your horizons by creating new time complements. I will start by giving you these new time complements by explaining to you how they are constructed :
Model : [month] + の + 初め + に → Early [month]
一月の初めに .
イチガツのはじめに . Early January; at the beginning of January
二月の初めに .
ニガツのはじめに . Early February; at the beginning of February
三月の初めに .
サンガツのはじめに . Early March; at the beginning of March
四月の初めに .
シガツのはじめに . Early April; at the beginning of April
五月の初めに .
ゴガツのはじめに . Early May; at the beginning of May
六月の初めに .
ロクガツのはじめに . Early June; at the beginning of June
七月の初めに .
シチガツのはじめに . Early July; at the beginning of July
八月の初めに .
ハチガツのはじめに . Early August; at the beginning of August
九月の初めに .
クガツのはじめに . Early September; at the beginning of September
十月の初めに .
ジュウガツのはじめに . Early October; at the beginning of October
十一月の初めに .
ジュウイチガツのはじめに . Early November; at the beginning of November
十二月の初めに .
ジュウニガツのはじめに . Early December; at the beginning of December
Model: [month] + 上旬 + に → Early [month]
一月上旬に .
イチガツジョウジュンに . Early January; at the beginning of January
二月上旬に .
ニガツジョウジュンに . Early February; at the beginning of February
三月上旬に .
サンガツジョウジュンに . Early March; at the beginning of March
四月上旬に .
シガツジョウジュンに . Early April; at the beginning of April
五月上旬に .
ゴガツジョウジュンに . Early May; at the beginning of May
六月上旬に .
ロクガツジョウジュンに . Early June; at the beginning of June
七月上旬に .
シチガツジョウジュンに . Early July; at the beginning of July
八月上旬に .
ハチガツジョウジュンに . Early August; at the beginning of August
九月上旬に .
クガツジョウジュンに . Early September; at the beginning of September
十月上旬に .
ジュウガツジョウジュンに . Early October; at the beginning of October
十一月上旬に .
ジュウイチガツジョウジュンに . Early November; at the beginning of November
十二月上旬に .
ジュウニガツジョウジュンに . Early December; at the beginning of December
Model: [month] + 半ば + に → Mid-[month]
一月半ばに .
イチガツなかばに . Mid-January
二月半ばに .
ニガツなかばに . Mid-February
三月半ばに .
サンガツなかばに . Mid-March
四月半ばに .
シガツなかばに . Mid-April
五月半ばに .
ゴガツなかばに . Mid-May
六月半ばに .
ロクガツなかばに . Mid-June
七月半ばに .
シチガツなかばに . Mid-July
八月半ばに .
ハチガツなかばに . Mid-August
九月半ばに .
クガツなかばに . Mid-September
十月半ばに .
ジュウガツなかばに . Mid-October
十一月半ばに .
ジュウイチガツなかばに . Mid-November
十二月半ばに .
ジュウニガツなかばに . Mid-December
Model: [month] + 中旬 + に → Mid-[month]
一月中旬に .
イチガツチュウジュンに . Mid-January
二月中旬に .
ニガツチュウジュンに . Mid-February
三月中旬に .
サンガツチュウジュンに . Mid-March
四月中旬に .
シガツチュウジュンに . Mid-April
五月中旬に .
ゴガツチュウジュンに . Mid-May
六月中旬に .
ロクガツチュウジュンに . Mid-June
七月中旬に .
シチガツチュウジュンに . Mid-July
八月中旬に .
ハチガツチュウジュンに . Mid-August
九月中旬に .
クガツチュウジュンに . Mid-September
十月中旬に .
ジュウガツチュウジュンに . Mid-October
十一月中旬に .
ジュウイチガツチュウジュンに . Mid-November
十二月中旬に .
ジュウニガツチュウジュンに . Mid-December
Model: [month] + の + 終わり + に → End of [month]
一月の終わりに .
イチガツのおわりに . End of January
二月の終わりに .
ニガツのおわりに . End of February
三月の終わりに .
サンガツのおわりに . End of March
四月の終わりに .
シガツのおわりに . End of April
五月の終わりに .
ゴガツのおわりに . End of May
六月の終わりに .
ロクガツのおわりに . End of June
七月の終わりに .
シチガツのおわりに . End of July
八月の終わりに .
ハチガツのおわりに . End of August
九月の終わりに .
クガツのおわりに . End of September
十月の終わりに .
ジュウガツのおわりに . End of October
十一月の終わりに .
ジュウイチガツのおわりに . End of November
十二月の終わりに .
ジュウニガツのおわりに . End of December
Model : [month] + 末 + に → End of [month]
一月末に .
イチガツマツに . End of January
二月末に .
ニガツマツに . End of February
三月末に .
サンガツマツに . End of March
四月末に .
シガツマツに . End of April
五月末に .
ゴガツマツに . End of May
六月末に .
ロクガツマツに . End of June
七月末に .
シチガツマツに . End of July
八月末に .
ハチガツマツに . End of August
九月末に .
クガツマツに . End of September
十月末に .
ジュウガツマツに . End of October
十一月末に .
ジュウイチガツマツに . End of November
十二月末に .
ジュウニガツマツに . End of December
Model : [month] + 下旬 + に → End of [month]
一月下旬に .
イチガツゲジュンに . End of January
二月下旬に .
ニガツゲジュンに . End of February
三月下旬に .
サンガツゲジュンに . End of March
四月下旬に .
シガツゲジュンに . End of April
五月下旬に .
ゴガツゲジュンに . End of May
六月下旬に .
ロクガツゲジュンに . End of June
七月下旬に .
シチガツゲジュンに . End of July
八月下旬に .
ハチガツゲジュンに . End of August
九月下旬に .
クガツゲジュンに . End of September
十月下旬に .
ジュウガツゲジュンに . End of October
十一月下旬に .
ジュウイチガツゲジュンに . End of November
十二月下旬に .
ジュウニガツゲジュンに . End of December
Good. That makes a lot. I summarize below all the models that I have just presented to you. I add the years because it is possible to follow all these models with the years as well :
Model: [month / year] + の + 初め + に → Early [month / year]
Model: [month / year] + 上旬 + に → Early [month / year]
Model: [month / year] + 半ば + に → Mid-[month / year]
Model: [month / year] + 中旬 + に → Mid-[month / year]
Model: [month / year] + の + 終わり + に → End of [month / year]
Model: [month / year] + 末 + に → End of [month / year]
Model: [month / year] + 下旬 + に → End of [month / year]
As always, it is not complicated. It is all just logic. Above, I used the months of the year to illustrate but it is entirely possible to do the same thing with the years. However, be careful! When it is about the centuries, there are some differences.
Among the models above, pay attention to 上旬, 中旬 and 下旬. These three words are only used with months and years. For centuries, it is different. Observe below :
Model: [century] + の + 初め + に → Early [century]
Model: [century] + 初頭 + に → Early [century]
Model: [century] + 半ば + に → Mid [century]
Model: [century] + 末 + に → End of [century]
Model: [century] + の + 終わり + に → End of [century]
And for the weeks, in your opinion, how is it going? Observe below :
週の初め .シュウのはじめ . the beginning of the week
週半ば . シュウなかば . mid-week
週末 . シュウマツ . the weekend
来週末 . ライシュウマツ . next weekend
先週末 . センシュウマツ . last weekend
Yes, the weekend is 週末 . シュウマツ . A word you already know.
All the time complements that we have just seen will be very useful to you and it is possible to go even further. See below :
午前の残り .
ゴゼンののこり . the rest of the morning
午後の残り .
ゴゴののこり . the rest of the afternoon
夕方の残り .
ゆうがたののこり . the rest of the evening
その日の残り .
そのひののこり . the rest of the day
今週の残り .
コンシュウののこり . the rest of the week
今週末の残り .
コンシュウマツののこり . the rest of the weekend
今月の残り .
コンゲツののこり . the rest of the month
今年の残り .
コとしののこり . the rest of the year
朝遅く残りに .
あさおそくに . late in the morning
午後遅く残りに .
ゴゴおそくに . late in the afternoon
夜遅く残りに .
よるおそくに . late in the night, late at night
Except for the last three, note that we do not use the particle に avec with the time complements above because they are not time precise.
I will give you a few more examples :
数秒 .
スウビョウ . A few seconds, several seconds
数分 .
スウフン . A few minutes, several minutes
数時間 .
スウジカン . A few hours, several hours
数日 .
スウジツ . A few days, several days
数週間 .
スウネン . A few weeks, several weeks
数年 .
スウビョウ . A few years, several years
数十年 .
スウジュウネン . A few decades, several decades
数世紀 .
スウセイキ . A few centuries, several centuries
数秒後 .
スウビョウゴ . A few seconds later, after several seconds
数分後 .
スウフンゴ . A few minutes later, after several minutes
数時間後 .
スウジカンゴ . A few hours later, after several hours
数日後 .
スウジツゴ . A few days later, after several days
数週間後 .
スウネンゴ . A few weeks later, after several weeks
数年後 .
スウビョウゴ . A few years later, after several years
数十年後 .
スウジュウネンゴ . A few decades later, after several decades
数世紀後 .
スウセイキゴ . A few centuries later, after several centuries
For 数秒, 数分, 数日 and 数年, the suffix 間 . カン is often added to make it clear that it is a period of time.
Another course coming to an end. I can now give you your exercises, theme, and version. You will find some of the new time complements that we have just seen. As usual, do not hesitate to reread this course from time to time to refresh your memory.
Work well. Stay strong. And do not forget the vocabulary below.
上旬 .
ジョウジュン . first ten of the month (from the 1st to the 10th of the month) [month / year]
中旬 .
チュウジュン . second tenth of the month (between the 10th and 20th at least) [month / year]
下旬 .
ゲジュン . last ten of the month (from the 20th to the 30th of the month) [month / year]
半ば .
なかば . mid-, middle [month/year]
祝う .
いわう . to feast, to celebrate, to congratulate (new verb)
配る .
くばる . to distribute (new verb)
無料 .
ムリョウ . free
無料で .
ムリョウで . free, for free
Introduction