From what time to what time? Checking hours with から・まで
A conversation asking when a library is open. から and まで give the start and the end.
Scene: the front desk of a library. Hitomi, this site's guide, asks about the hours. The conversation is written for learners.
Conversation
- Hitomiすみません。図書館は何時から何時までですか。Sumimasen. toshokan wa nanji kara nanji made desu ka.Excuse me. From what time to what time is the library open?
- Library staff九時から五時までです。Kuji kara goji made desu.From nine to five.
- Hitomi日曜日は休みですか。Nichiyoubi wa yasumi desu ka.Is Sunday a day off?
- Library staffはい、日曜日は休みです。月曜日から土曜日までです。Hai, nichiyoubi wa yasumi desu. getsuyoubi kara doyoubi made desu.Yes, Sunday is a day off. We are open from Monday to Saturday.
- Hitomiわかりました。ありがとうございます。Wakarimashita. arigatou gozaimasu.I understand. Thank you very much.
Key points
"A kara B made"
から marks the start (from) and まで marks the end (until). 九時から五時まで means "starting at nine and ending at five".
Telling the hour
Add 時 (ji) after the number. Note the special readings: 四時 is よじ, 七時 is しちじ, and 九時 is くじ. To ask the time, say "Nanji desu ka."
It works with days, too
Use it with days as in 月曜日から土曜日まで. It also works with places: "Koko kara eki made" (from here to the station).
| 一時 | いちじ | Ichiji |
| 二時 | にじ | Niji |
| 三時 | さんじ | Sanji |
| 四時 | よじ | Yoji |
| 五時 | ごじ | Goji |
| 六時 | ろくじ | Rokuji |
| 七時 | しちじ | Shichiji |
| 八時 | はちじ | Hachiji |
| 九時 | くじ | Kuji |
| 十時 | じゅうじ | Juuji |
| 十一時 | じゅういちじ | Juuichiji |
| 十二時 | じゅうにじ | Juuniji |
A small tip
Add 午前 (a.m.) or 午後 (p.m.) for clarity, as in 午後三時 (3 p.m.).
Words in this conversation
Read next
The opening hours are an example made for learning. They do not refer to a real library.