時間を守る
彼は時間を守る人です。
He is a punctual person.
To arrive or complete something at the agreed or expected time; to be punctual.
会議に時間を守ってください。
Please be punctual for the meeting.
彼は時間を守らないので、信頼できない。
He is unreliable because he isn’t punctual.
Often used in professional or formal contexts to emphasize the importance of timeliness.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Cultural Context
In Japan, punctuality is highly valued in both social and professional contexts. Arriving late without notice is often seen as disrespectful. The phrase 「時間を守る」 reflects this cultural emphasis on timeliness.
Gold Rule
Formal vs. Informal
Use 「時間を守る」 in formal or polite contexts. For casual speech, you might say 「時間に間に合う」 (jikan ni maniau, 'to make it on time') or 「時間に遅れない」 (jikan ni okurenai, 'not to be late').
Word Origin
The phrase combines 「時間」 (jikan, 'time') and 「守る」 (mamoru, 'to protect/obey'). The verb 「守る」 here implies adherence to a rule or schedule, extending its meaning to 'to keep' or 'to be faithful to' time.
Usage Notes
This phrase is commonly used in both personal and professional settings to stress the importance of punctuality. It can also be used metaphorically to describe reliability in broader contexts (e.g., meeting deadlines).