Recently, next year, every morning, once in a while — and being on time.
Most of these words slot into a sentence without a particle: 来年日本に行きます, not 来年に. That is the opposite of clock times and dates, which take に (三時に), and it is one of the commonest slips for English speakers. Watch also the endings that attach to a number: 〜ごろ for a point in time, 〜ぐらい for an amount, and 〜中 for "during", which is read じゅう when it means "all through": 一日中.
The words
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Verb (2)
間に合うto be in timeVerbN4
タクシーに乗ったので、電車に間に合いました。I took a taxi, so I made the train.
With に: 授業に間に合う.
遅れるto be lateVerbN4
雪で、バスが三十分遅れました。The bus was thirty minutes late because of the snow.
With に for what you are late for: 約束に遅れる.
Noun (25)
最近recently; these daysNounN4
最近、夜あまり眠れません。I have not been able to sleep much at night lately.
先週last weekNounN5
先週、友達と映画を見ました。I saw a film with a friend last week.
この頃these days; latelyNounN4
この頃、朝がとても寒くなりました。The mornings have got very cold lately.
Often written このごろ. Close to 最近, but for a state or a habit, never for a single event.
普段usually; ordinarilyNounN4
普段は自転車で会社に行きます。I usually cycle to work.
Also 普段の before a noun: 普段の服, everyday clothes.
来年next yearNounN5
来年から大阪で働きます。From next year I will be working in Osaka.
毎朝every morningNounN5
毎朝コーヒーを一杯飲みます。I drink a cup of coffee every morning.
先日the other dayNounN4
先日はありがとうございました。Thank you for the other day.
More formal than この間; common in letters and at work.
翌日the next day; the following dayNounN3
パーティーの翌日は一日中寝ていました。The day after the party I slept all day.
Counted from a day in the past or the future; tomorrow from today is 明日.
期間period; termNounN3
セールの期間は一週間です。The sale lasts for one week.
時間time; hourNounN5
すみません、今ちょっと時間がありません。Sorry, I do not have time just now.
After a number it counts hours: 二時間, two hours.
以前before; formerlyNounN4
以前はこの町に住んでいました。I used to live in this town.
この間the other dayNounN4
この間、駅で先生に会いました。I bumped into my teacher at the station the other day.
今度next time; this timeNounN4
今度、一緒に食事に行きませんか。Shall we go for a meal together some time?
Usually points forward: "next time, some time soon".
朝晩morning and eveningNounN4
十月になって、朝晩は涼しくなりました。Now that it is October, the mornings and evenings have turned cool.
平日weekdayNounN4
この店は平日だけ開いています。This shop is only open on weekdays.
半年half a yearNounN4
日本語を習い始めて半年になります。It is half a year since I started learning Japanese.
一日中all day longNounN4
日曜日は一日中部屋で本を読んでいました。On Sunday I spent the whole day reading in my room.
昔long ago; the old daysNounN4
昔、ここには小さい川がありました。Long ago there was a small river here.
最初the first; the beginningNounN4
最初は日本の生活が大変でした。At first, life in Japan was hard.
最後the last; the endNounN4
映画の最後で泣いてしまいました。I ended up crying at the end of the film.
途中on the way; partway throughNounN4
会社に行く途中で、雨が降ってきました。On my way to work it started to rain.
一度once; one timeNounN4
富士山には一度登ったことがあります。I have climbed Mount Fuji once.
A little more formal than 一回.
今夜tonightNounN4
今夜は早く寝ようと思います。I think I will go to bed early tonight.
夜中the middle of the nightNounN4
夜中に電話が鳴って、起きてしまいました。The phone rang in the middle of the night and woke me up.
毎回every timeNounN4
この店に来ると、毎回同じものを頼みます。Every time I come to this restaurant I order the same thing.
Adverb (4)
後でlaterAdverbN5
今は忙しいので、後で電話します。I am busy now, so I will call you later.
しばらくfor a while; for some timeAdverbN4
しばらく待ってから、もう一度電話してください。Please wait a little while and then call again.
たまにonce in a whileAdverbN4
普段は家で料理をしますが、たまに外で食べます。I usually cook at home, but once in a while I eat out.
Less often than 時々.
めったにhardly ever (with a negative)AdverbN4
父はめったにテレビを見ません。My father hardly ever watches television.
Always with a negative verb.
Suffix (8)
〜ごろaround, about (a point in time)SuffixN5
七時ごろ家に帰ります。I will be home around seven.
For a time; for an amount use 〜ぐらい.
〜ぐらいabout, roughly (an amount)SuffixN5
駅まで歩いて十分ぐらいです。It is about ten minutes on foot to the station.
Also くらい.
〜中during; in the middle ofSuffixN4
会議中なので、電話に出られません。I am in a meeting, so I cannot take the call.
Read じゅう when it means "all through": 一日中.
〜間for (a length of time)SuffixN4
三日間、京都に泊まりました。I stayed in Kyoto for three days.
Joins counted time: 一週間, 二年間.
〜後after; laterSuffixN4
一年後にまた日本に来たいです。I would like to come to Japan again in a year.
With a length of time: 三日後, three days later.
〜前ago; (a length of time) beforeSuffixN5
十年前に東京へ来ました。I came to Tokyo ten years ago.
Unlike English "ago", it can also count forward to an event: 試験の三日前.
〜おきevery other; at intervals ofSuffixN3
この薬は六時間おきに飲んでください。Please take this medicine every six hours.
一日おき means every other day, not every day.
〜目-th (first, second, third ...)SuffixN4
日本に来るのは三回目です。This is my third time coming to Japan.
Turns a count into an order: 二人目, the second person.
na-adjective (1)
久しぶりfor the first time in a long whilena-adjectiveN4
久しぶりに高校の友達に会いました。I met a friend from secondary school for the first time in ages.
