十 二 時(じゅうにじ)

じゅうにじ

noun

twelve o'clock

time-general

1. twelve o'clock

The time at twelve hours past midnight or noon. Noon or midnight.

十二時(じゅうにじ)に昼(ひる)ごはんを食(た)べる。

I eat lunch at twelve o'clock.

毎日(まいにち)十二時(じゅうにじ)に寝(ね)る。

I go to bed at twelve o'clock every day.

昼(ひる)の十二時(じゅうにじ)に駅(えき)で会(あ)いましょう。

Let's meet at the station at noon.

Usage

十二時(じゅうにじ) alone can mean noon or midnight, so speakers often say which:

昼(ひる)の十二時(じゅうにじ): noon (12:00 PM)
夜(よる)の十二時(じゅうにじ): midnight (12:00 AM)
正午(しょうご): noon (formal, unambiguous)
午前零時(ごぜんれいじ): midnight (formal, unambiguous)

Common patterns

十二時半(じゅうにじはん): 12:30
十二時(じゅうにじ)ちょうど: exactly twelve o'clock
十二時(じゅうにじ)過(す)ぎ: past twelve

Cultural note

In Japan, 昼休(ひるやす)み (lunch break) typically starts at noon, so 十二時(じゅうにじ) without qualification often implies lunchtime in workplace and school contexts.

general

Added 2026.2.12 8:55 · Revised 2026.10.13 3:22

10500/10981_juuniji