Japanese · Daily Life
時計
tokei
Clock / Watch
Beginnernoun
Definition
A device for measuring and displaying time. Japan is famous for its precision in punctuality, and clocks and watches are culturally significant objects.
Example
時計を見て急いで出発しました。
I looked at the clock and hurried to depart.
Etymology
'時計' (tokei) combines the kanji '時' (toki, 'time') and '計' (kei, 'measure'), illustrating the function of measuring time. This term has been prevalent since the introduction of clocks in Japan.
How & Where It’s Used
'時計' (tokei) features widely in both spoken and written contexts from everyday discussions about time and is applicable in both formal and informal settings.