秒読(びょうよ)み

びょうよみ
noun
countdown
time-general
1. countdown
Counting down seconds before an event, such as a rocket launch or New Year's. Also used in shogi/go for time pressure at the end of a game.
秒読(びょうよ)みが始(はじ)まった。
The countdown has begun.
打(う)ち上(あ)げの秒読(びょうよ)みに入(はい)った。
The launch has entered the countdown phase.
開幕(かいまく)まであと三日(みっか)、いよいよ秒読(びょうよ)みだ。
Three days until the opening — the countdown is on.

Counting down seconds before an event. Used both literally (rocket launches, New Year's) and figuratively (any situation approaching a deadline).

Forms

秒(びょう) (second) + 読(よ)み (reading/counting).

Common collocations

Board games

In 将棋(しょうぎ) and 囲碁(いご), 秒読(びょうよ)み refers to the time-pressure phase where a player must move within a set number of seconds. The timekeeper counts aloud.

Usage

Often used metaphorically: 閉店(へいてん)の秒読(びょうよ)みに入(はい)った (the store has entered the countdown to closing).

general
Added 2026.3.14 13:25 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
16500/16697_byouyomi