Time and occasions with 時
時 represents time, a specific moment, or a particular period.
Etymology
This kanji is a phono-semantic compound comprised of 日 (sun) as the semantic component and 寺 as the phonetic component, giving the on-reading ジ. The sun anchors the meaning because the movement of the sun is what lets people measure the passing of time. A measured point under the sun becomes both a clock moment and the broader sense of “when”.
Time Boundaries and Limits
時限 (Time limit)
時限 is a term that refers to the division of time or a period, or to a specific, defined period of time resulting from such a division.
It combines 時 (time) with 限 (limit) to show a time boundary or fixed time period.
Two murders on a yacht leave the passengers on edge. A blackout occurs followed by another attempted murder. This should narrow down the list of suspects to those who weren’t gathered in the dining room. However, Detective Kogoro finds the power switch had a weight tied to it by rope, with a candle having burned the rope to drop the weight. This allowed the power to be turned off unattended.
- 小五郎:
- 「一種の時限装置です」
- “It's a timing device of sorts.”
Time Periods and Duration
時間 (Time)
時間 refers to a single moment in the flow of time, or the duration or interval between two points in time.
It combines 時 (time) with 間 (interval) to show a measured span of time.
After a traffic accident sends Hiyori to the hospital, she misses the first few months of the school year. Once she’s finally able to attend, an embarrassing situation occurs, and she runs out of the classroom and hides. Yuushin tracks her down, and Hiyori tells him she should never have come to school.
- ひより:
- 「ケガなんて とっくに治ってたの…」
- “I'd already healed from my injuries.”
- 「たげと… 時間が経てば経つほど教室に入るのがこわくなってーー…」
- “But, the more time passed, the more scary it became to return to class.”
- “I'd already healed from my injuries.”
Timekeeping and Measurement
時計 (Clock)
時計 is a general term for any device or mechanism that measures and displays the current time (the hour and minute).
It combines 時 (time) with 計 (measure) to show a device that measures time.
Having received a letter requesting help solving a mystery, Kogoro finds himself in a house filled with animal designs everywhere, including the doors, the chairs, and the plates. His attention turns to the clocks covering the walls.
- 小五郎:
- 「しかし動物もさることながら、時計もたくさんありますなー．．．」
- “But aside from the animals, there are also a lot of clocks, huh...”
- 男:
- 「当たり前ですよ．．． 祖父は時計職人だったんですから．．．」
- “Of course there are... Grandfather was a clock maker, after all...”
時刻 (Time)
時刻 means the time or hour. It is used for specific clock time or a designated moment.
It combines 時 (time) with 刻 (moment) to show a marked point in time.
Conan overhears Gin and Vodka discuss a bomb they’ve planted. There’s little time left for Conan to find the bomb and get it off the bullet train before it explodes. As he tries to determine who is unknowingly carrying the bomb, he thinks back to what the two had said.
- ジン:
- 「爆発時刻は３時１０分だ．．．」
- “The explosion time is 3:10.”
- ウォッカ:
- 「時限爆弾ですかい？」
- “Is it a time bomb?”
