(いちじ)

いちじ
noun/adverb
temporarily, for a time, one o'clock
1. temporarily, for a time, for a while
For a limited period, not permanent.
It's a temporary measure.
The rain stopped temporarily.
一時(いちじ)帰国(きこく)する
To return home temporarily.
I'd like temporary storage, please.
一時(いちじ)停止(ていし)する
To pause temporarily.
2. at one time, once
At a certain point in the past.
At one point I thought about giving up.
It was popular at one time.
It was famous at one time.
一時(いちじ)断念(だんねん)した
I once gave up.
At one point I wondered what would happen.
3. one o'clock
The time of day.
Let's meet at 1 PM.
Time reading
I woke up at 1 AM.
It starts at 1:30.
Meet at 1 PM.
一時(いちじ)(かえ)ります
I'll go home at one o'clock.

一時(いちじ) is a versatile word with three distinct uses depending on context.

SENSE 1 — TEMPORARILY:

  • 一時(いちじ)(てき)な: temporary
  • 一時(いちじ)停止(ていし): temporary stop, pause
  • 一時(いちじ)帰国(きこく): temporary return home
  • 一時(いちじ)(あず)かり: temporary storage/custody

SENSE 2 — AT ONE TIME:

  • 一時(いちじ)は: at one point, once (often followed by a contrasting statement)
  • Example pattern: 一時(いちじ)は~が、(いま)は~ (once it was ~, but now ~)

SENSE 3 — ONE O'CLOCK:
Simply the time 1:00. Used with 午前(ごぜん)/午後(ごご).

ALTERNATE READING:
ひととき means "a moment" or "a short time" — a different word with its own nuance of a brief, precious period.