Japanese Conversation · Level 12
90 words
Japanese word
いつ
Pronunciation
Romajiitsu
Meaning
- pronounwhen
Example
次の電車はいつ来ますか？tsugi no den sha wa i tsu ki ma su ka
When does the next train come?
More examples
宿題はいつしますか？shuku dai wa i tsu shi ma su ka
When do you do your homework?
夏休みはいつから始まりますか。natsu yasu mi wa i tsu ka ra haji ma ri ma su ka
When does summer vacation start?
Core concept
Identifies the time at which something happens or is expected to happen.
Common phrases
いつからi tsu ka ra
since when
いつまでi tsu ma de
until when
いつごろi tsu go ro
around when
Definition in Japanese
ある事柄が行われる時点を尋ねる語。a ru koto gara ga okona wa re ru ji ten o tazu ne ru go
Word origin
いつ (itsu) is an old native Japanese interrogative pronoun meaning "when"; no more specific origin is certain.
Usage tips
- In beginner conversation, いつ (itsu) asks when something happens, while 何時 (nanji) asks for the specific clock time.
Other meanings
- what timepronoun
- how soonpronoun