ζ
Time, Hour
γ¨γ (toki)
JLPT N5
Interesting Fact
The kanji ζ contains ε―Ί (temple) because temples played an important role in marking time for local communities. Long before smartphones and wristwatches, the sound of a bell could tell an entire village that part of the day had begunβor ended.
Memory Trick
Left = Sun (ζ₯), Right = Temple (ε―Ί). Before modern clocks, Japanese people watched the sun and listened to temple bells to keep track of time.
Readings
Onyomi: γΈ (ji)
Kunyomi: γ¨γ (toki)
Example Words
ζι
γγγ (jikan)
Time
ζθ¨
γ¨γγ (tokei)
Clock
δΈζ
γγ‘γ (ichiji)
One o'clock
ζγ
γ¨γγ©γ (tokidoki)
Sometimes
Example Sentence
δ»δ½ζγ§γγγ
γγΎ γͺγγ γ§γγγ
ima nanji desu ka
What time is it now?