How do you say "clock" in Japanese?

時計

tokei

Noun Kanji

In Japanese, "clock" is 時計 (tokei).

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Pronunciation

時計 is written using kanji. Romanised as tokei, it sounds roughly like "toh-keh" to an English ear.

Writing and usage

Tokei combines time (時) and machine or implement (計). It's the standard word for any timekeeping device from wall clocks to watches.

Example sentence

机の上に時計があります。

Tsukue no ue ni Tokei ga arimasu.

There is a clock on the desk.

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How to remember 時計

Toki (時) is time, with day radical. Kei (計) looks like measuring or calculating. A device for measuring time.

Related words

Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.

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Questions about 時計

How do you pronounce 時計?

時計 is romanised as tokei. Say it roughly like "toh-keh" in English. Each Japanese syllable has even weight, so keep the rhythm steady.

Is 時計 formal or casual?

時計 is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech. The level of formality comes from the sentence structure around it, not from the word itself.

How is 時計 written in Japanese?

時計 is written using kanji. Tokei combines time (時) and machine or implement (計).

Where can I practice Japanese words for free?

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"Clock" in other languages

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