How to say “watch” or “clock” in Japanese | 時計 (とけい、tokei)

The Japanese vocabulary「時計 (とけい、tokei)」means “watch” or “clock.” Please learn the pronunciation and the example sentences.

Japanese vocabulary and the meaning

Key Word時計
Hiraganaとけい
Romaji Readingtokei
English Meaningclock, watch

The correct Japanese pronunciations

Please learn the pronunciation by watching the attached video. You can also learn example sentences.

Our YouTube channel: Ichiyo’s Japanese YouTube Channel

The example Japanese sentences

It is important to have skills in both non-honorific and honorific languages in order to use Japanese correctly.

There is a clock in the classroom.

Plain form:

きょうしつけいひとつある。
Kyōshitsu ni tokei ga hitotsu aru.

Polite form:

教室に時計が一つあります。
Kyōshitsu ni tokei ga hitotsu arimasu.


The clock is running 5 minutes behind.

Plain form:

けいはり5ふんおくれている。
Tokei no hari ga 5-hun okurete iru.

Polite form:

時計の針が5分遅れています。
Tokei no hari ga 5-hun okurete imasu.


The clock’s battery has run out.

Plain form:

けいでんれた。
Tokei no denchi ga kireta.

Polite form:

時計の電池が切れました。
Tokei no denchi ga kiremashita.


I’ll go shopping for matching watches with my boyfriend.

Plain form:

彼氏かれしとおそろいの時計とけいいにく。
Kareshi to osoroi no tokei o kai ni iku.

Polite form:

彼氏とお揃いの時計を買いに行きます。
Kareshi to osoroi no tokei o kai ni ikimasu.


I want a clock with big numbers.

Plain form:

数字すうじおおきい時計とけいしい。
Sūji ga ōkī tokei ga hoshī.

Polite form:

数字が大きい時計が欲しいです。
Sūji ga ōkī tokei ga hoshī desu.


I want a clock with big numbers.

Plain form:

この部屋へやには時計がい。
Kono heya ni wa tokei ga nai.

Polite form:

この部屋には時計がありません。
Kono heya ni wa tokei ga arimasen.

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