Translation and Meaning of: 何時 - itsu

If you have started studying Japanese, you have probably come across the word 何時[いつ] and wondered: "When exactly should I use this?". This expression, which means "when" or "in how much time", is one of the most useful in daily life, whether for scheduling meetings, asking about events, or planning something. In this article, you will discover the origin of this word, how it is written in kanji and hiragana, as well as practical tips to memorize it and use it correctly. And if you use Anki or another spaced repetition system, get ready to include real examples in your deck!

The interesting thing about いつ is that, despite often being written in hiragana, its kanji 何時 has a curious history. Many people think it has to do with time, but the truth is quite different. Let's explore from the etymology to the everyday situations in which Japanese people use this word, including that classic question: "Why does it sometimes appear with kanji and other times not?".

Origin and etymology of 何時 [いつ]

The word いつ has ancient roots in archaic Japanese, where it was already used to indicate an indefinite time. The kanji 何時 was later applied as an ateji, meaning characters borrowed more for their sound than for their literal meaning. Here, 何 (nani/なん) means "what" and 時 (toki) represents "time," but together they do not form an obvious reading—it is purely phonetic. Therefore, even Japanese people prefer to write it in hiragana most of the time.

One detail that confuses many students is that 何時 can also be read as なんじ (nanji), which means "what time." The difference lies in the context and intonation. For example: "いつ来ますか？" (When are you coming?) versus "何時ですか？" (What time is it?). If you've ever mixed this up, don't worry—even natives make this mistake in text messages!

Lies in everyday life and cultural nuances

In Japan, asking いつ？ is as common as asking "how are you?" in Brazil. It appears in informal conversations among friends ("いつ映画に行く？" — When are we going to the movies?) and even in more formal situations, like scheduling ("会議はいつですか？" — When is the meeting?). An interesting fact is that Japanese people tend to avoid being too direct when responding; instead of giving an exact date, we often hear "そのうち" (soon, later), especially at work.

Another interesting point is the use of いつから (since when) and いつまで (until when), which expand the utility of the word. For example, in stores: "このセールはいつまでですか？" (Until when does this sale last?). If you want to sound more natural, notice how young people shorten phrases: "いつ来る？" (instead of the full "いつ来ますか？"). This flexibility makes いつ one of the first words worth mastering.

Tips for memorization and common mistakes

To avoid forgetting いつ, an infallible technique is to associate it with real situations. Mentally note every time you ask "when" in Portuguese and try to translate it mentally. Another idea is to create flashcards with questions like "いつ日本に行きますか？" (When are you going to Japan?)—this way, you practice both vocabulary and sentence structures. A common mistake is to confuse いつ with とき (toki), which means "moment." Remember: いつ is for questions, とき is for describing occasions.

And if you love puns, here's a bonus: the phrase "いつもいつ？" seems repetitive, but it actually means "Always... when?". It's a common joke when someone says they'll do something "always," but doesn't specify the timing. These little details show how Japanese can be fun—and いつ is a great starting point to explore this richness.