Japanese word

昼間

Pronunciation

Romajihiruma

Meaning

  • noundaytime

Example

昼間は暖かいです。hiru ma wa atata ka i de su

It is warm during the day.

Illustration for 昼間 (daytime)

More examples

私は昼間に買い物へ行きます。watashi wa hiru ma ni ka i mono e i ki ma su

I go shopping during the day.

Core concept

Marks the hours when daylight is present and ordinary daytime activity takes place rather than at night.

Common phrases

  • 昼間に出かけるhiru ma ni de ka ke ru

    go out during the day

  • 昼間に電話するhiru ma ni den wa su ru

    call during the day

  • 昼間の仕事hiru ma no shi goto

    daytime job

Similar words

日中nitchū: The period from morning to evening, often used when stating when an event occurs.
昼hiru: The daylight part of the day, with a meaning that can also include noon.

Definition in Japanese

日の出から日没ごろまでの時間帯。hi no de ka ra nichi botsu go ro ma de no ji kan tai

Word origin

昼間 (hiruma) is a native Japanese compound of 昼 (hiru, "daytime") and 間 (ma, "interval"), meaning the interval of the day.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Japanese, 昼間 (hiruma) commonly contrasts with 夜 (yoru, "night") when speakers describe when an event occurs.

Other meanings

  • during the dayadverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word