現在時

げんざいじ
nounIntermediate current time
formal

The time at the present moment, referring to the exact hour and minute now.

現在時は午後3時15分です。

The current time is 3:15 PM.

💡

Often used in formal or instructional contexts, such as announcements or educational settings.

Collocations

現在時刻current time (more common)現在の時present time (less formal)

Related Phrases

現在時刻を表示するphrase
to display the current time

💡Pro Tip

Use 現在時刻 in daily life

In most situations, especially in casual conversation, use 現在時刻 (げんざいじこく) instead of 現在時. For example, '今何時ですか?' (What time is it now?) is far more natural than using 現在時.

Gold Rule

Formality matters

Use 現在時 in formal or technical contexts where precision is required, such as announcements, clocks, or educational materials. Avoid using it in casual speech.

📖Word Origin

Composed of 現在 (げんざい, 'present/current') and 時 (じ, 'time'). The phrase literally means 'present time' and is used to refer to the exact time at the moment of speaking.

📝Usage Notes

While 現在時 is grammatically correct, it is less commonly used in everyday speech compared to 現在時刻 (げんざいじこく). The latter is the standard term in Japanese for 'current time.' 現在時 is more likely to appear in formal writing or technical contexts.

Word Breakdown

現在
present/current
noun
+
time
noun
和英辞典