Japanese Conversation · Level 39
90 words
Japanese word
秒
Pronunciation
Romajibyō
Meaning
- nounsecond
Example
一秒待ってください。ichi byō ma tte ku da sa i
Wait one second.
More examples
あと三秒で始まります。a to san byō de haji ma ri ma su
It starts in three seconds.
合図のあと、十秒数えます。ai zu no a to jū byō kazo e ma su
I count ten seconds after the signal.
Core concept
Describes a small, exact measure of time between one moment and the next.
Common phrases
一秒待つichi byō ma tsu
wait one second
三秒後san byō ato
three seconds later
数秒かかるsū byō ka ka ru
take several seconds
Definition in Japanese
一分を六十等分した時間の単位。ip pun o roku jū tō bun shi ta ji kan no tan i
Word origin
The Sino-Japanese word 秒 (byō, "second") is based on a character that originally referred to something very small, which suits this short time unit.
Usage tips
- The phrase 一秒 (ichibyō) appears in everyday requests such as asking someone to wait briefly, so its meaning can be less exact than a clock measurement.