How often something happens, when in the month or year, and what comes just before or after.
Time words at this level do two jobs: they say how often something happens, as 頻繁に, 時折 and 絶えず do, and they pin an event to a point in a sequence, as 直前, 直後 and 途端 do. Two habits differ from English. A month is divided into thirds, 上旬, 中旬 and 下旬, which is how a notice gives a date it cannot fix yet. And the year that counts at school and at work is the 年度, which begins in April, not in January.
The words
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Verb (1)
相次ぐto follow one after anotherVerbN2
その年の夏は、大きな台風が相次いだ。That summer, big typhoons came one after another.
Noun (25)
頻度frequency; how oftenNounN2
運動する頻度を、週二回に増やした。I have increased how often I exercise to twice a week.
不定期irregular; at no fixed timesNounN2
この店は不定期に休むので、行く前に確認したほうがいい。This shop closes on no fixed days, so it is best to check before you go.
Before a noun with の: 不定期の仕事.
隔週every other weekNounN2
会議は、隔週の金曜日に行われる。The meeting is held every other Friday.
Every other month is 隔月.
月末end of the monthNounN3
家賃は、毎月月末までに払うことになっている。The rent is due by the end of each month.
The start of the month is 月初め.
年度fiscal year; school yearNounN2
日本の学校の年度は、四月に始まる。The school year in Japan begins in April.
Also in 今年度 and 来年度, this and next year counted from April.
年明けthe start of the new yearNounN2
引っ越しは、年明けにする予定だ。We are planning to move house early in the new year.
上旬first ten days of a monthNounN2
結果は、来月上旬にお知らせします。We will let you know the results early next month.
中旬middle ten days of a monthNounN2
この辺りでは、四月中旬ごろまで桜が楽しめる。Around here the cherry blossom can be enjoyed until about the middle of April.
下旬last ten days of a monthNounN2
三月下旬になると、暖かい日が増えてくる。From late March on, there are more and more warm days.
翌月the following monthNounN2
今月使った分は、翌月に請求される。Whatever you use this month is billed the following month.
昨年last year (formal)NounN3
昨年は大変お世話になりました。Thank you for all your help last year.
The formal word for 去年; the sentence is a standard New Year greeting.
直前just beforeNounN3
試験の直前になって、慌てて勉強を始めた。I only started studying, in a panic, just before the exam.
直後immediately afterNounN3
地震の直後は、電話がつながらなかった。Right after the earthquake, calls would not go through.
事前beforehand; in advanceNounN2
見学を希望する方は、事前にご連絡ください。If you would like to visit, please let us know in advance.
The opposite is 事後, after the event.
即座on the spot; immediatelyNounN2
急に聞かれて、即座には答えられなかった。I was asked out of the blue and could not answer on the spot.
Usually as 即座に.
途端the moment (that); just asNounN3
家を出た途端に、雨が降り出した。The moment I left the house, it started to rain.
After a past-tense verb, 〜た途端に; what follows just happens, it is not a choice.
同時the same timeNounN3
二人は、同時に手を挙げた。The two of them put their hands up at the same time.
従来up to now; conventionalNounN2
新しい機械は、従来のものより音が静かだ。The new machine is quieter than the earlier ones.
当初at first; the original (plan)NounN2
当初の予定より、工事がだいぶ遅れている。The building work is well behind the original schedule.
以来since; ever sinceNounN3
卒業して以来、彼には一度も会っていない。I have not seen him once since we left school.
最中in the middle ofNounN3
食事の最中に、電話が鳴った。The phone rang in the middle of the meal.
間際just before; on the point ofNounN2
出発間際になって、財布がないことに気づいた。Just as we were about to leave, I noticed my wallet was missing.
Like 直前, but with a sense of time running out.
連日day after dayNounN2
連日の暑さで、すっかり疲れてしまった。The heat day after day has completely worn me out.
終日all dayNounN2
明日は終日会議のため、お電話に出られません。Tomorrow I will be in meetings all day and unable to take calls.
Formal; on signs: 終日禁煙, no smoking at any time.
当面for the time being; for nowNounN2
工事のため、北口は当面使えません。Because of building work, the north exit cannot be used for the time being.
Adverb (12)
度々often; again and againAdverbN2
度々ご迷惑をおかけして、申し訳ありません。I am sorry to have caused you trouble so many times.
Also written in kana: たびたび.
しばしばoften; frequentlyAdverbN2
彼は、しばしば会議に遅れてくる。He often turns up late to meetings.
Mostly written; in speech people say よく.
時折now and then; occasionallyAdverbN2
窓の外から、時折鳥の声が聞こえる。Now and then birdsong can be heard from outside the window.
絶えずconstantly; without a breakAdverbN2
この交差点は、絶えず車が行き来している。Cars come and go through this junction constantly.
始終all the time; from start to finishAdverbN2
弟は始終スマホを見ている。My younger brother is looking at his phone all the time.
随時at any time; as neededAdverbN2
このサークルでは、新しい会員を随時募集している。This club takes new members at any time.
Common on notices: 随時受付, applications accepted at any time.
年々year by year; every yearAdverbN2
この町の人口は、年々減っている。The population of this town is falling year by year.
日増しにday by day; more every dayAdverbN2
日増しに寒くなってきた。It is getting colder by the day.
至急urgently; as soon as possibleAdverbN2
至急、折り返しお電話をください。Please call me back as a matter of urgency.
順次in turn; one after anotherAdverbN2
準備ができた方から、順次ご案内いたします。We will show you in one by one as each of you is ready.
依然still; as beforeAdverbN2
薬を飲んだが、熱は依然として高いままだ。I took some medicine, but my temperature is still high.
Usually 依然として.
一旦once; for the moment; firstAdverbN2
一旦家に帰ってから、また出かけた。I went home first and then went out again.
Often written in kana: いったん.
na-adjective (2)
頻繁frequentna-adjectiveN2
この道では、事故が頻繁に起きる。Accidents happen frequently on this road.
定期的regular; periodicna-adjectiveN2
このエレベーターは、定期的に点検されている。This lift is inspected regularly.
