時計

• Reading: とけい
• Romaji: tokei
• Kanji breakdown: 時 (ji/toki) — time, hour; 計 (kei/haka) — to measure, to calculate
• Pronunciation: /to.ke.i/

Meaning

Clock; watch; timepiece. Any device that shows the time.

Covers all types of timekeeping devices: 腕時計 (udedokei — wristwatch), 目覚まし時計 (mezamashi dokei — alarm clock), 壁掛け時計 (kabegake dokei — wall clock). Note the rendaku voicing in compounds: tokei becomes dokei. Common phrases: 時計を見る (look at the clock/watch), 時計が遅れている (the clock is slow).

Examples

1. あの時計は今何時ですか。 What time does that clock say?
2. 誕生日に腕時計をもらいました。 I received a wristwatch for my birthday.
3. 目覚まし時計が鳴っています。 The alarm clock is ringing.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, time, accessories

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Composed of 時 (time/hour) and 計 (to measure/calculate), literally 'time measurer.' The compound was created in Japanese to describe the mechanical clocks introduced from Europe.

Cultural Context

Era: Pre-modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal