何時

Chinese

Pronunciation

Pronoun

何時

1. (literary) when; what time

   無論何時何地，只要你有困難或有任何疑問，都歡迎隨時聯繫我。 [MSC, trad.]
   无论何时何地，只要你有困难或有任何疑问，都欢迎随时联系我。 [MSC, simp.]

   Wúlùn héshí hédì, zhǐyào nǐ yǒu kùnnan huò yǒu rènhé yíwèn, dōu huānyíng suíshí liánxì wǒ.

   No matter when or where you have any difficulties or questions, please feel free to contact me.

   • 唉，我不知何時再能與他相見。 [MSC, trad.]
     唉，我不知何时再能与他相见。 [MSC, simp.]

     From: 1925, 朱自清 (Zhu Ziqing), 背影 (Retreating Figure)

     Ài, wǒ bùzhī héshí zài néng yǔ tā xiāngjiàn.

     Alas, I do not know when I will see him again.

Synonyms

Japanese

Etymology 1

Etymology 2

Compound of 何 (nan, “what”) +‎ 時 (ji, “hour”). The nan portion is derived from Old Japanese 何 (nani, “what”), while the ji portion is derived from Middle Chinese 時 (MC dzyi).

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) な​んじ (Atamadaka – )
• IPA^(key):

Pronoun

何(なん)時(じ) • (nanji) 

1. what time, when

   今(いま)何(なん)時(じ)ですか

   ima nanji desu ka

   What time is it right now?

Usage notes

• Often spelled in kanji. Nanji is more commonly used to mean when in terms of time of day, while itsu is more commonly used to mean when in terms of dates or days.

Etymology 3

Compound of 何 (nan, “what”) +‎ 時 (toki, “time”). The toki changes to doki as an instance of rendaku (連濁).

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) なんどき (Heiban – )
• IPA^(key):

Pronoun

何(なん)時(どき) • (nandoki) 

1. (dated) what time, when

Usage notes

• Use is more limited than nanji or itsu. Most commonly found in set phrase いつなんどき (itsu nandoki), comparable to English phrase “when and at what time”, but only used when expressing ignorance, never used in questions.
• May sound old-fashioned.

References