零時(れいじ)

れいじ
noun
midnight; zero o'clock
1. midnight; zero o'clock; 12:00 AM
The point in time at exactly 0:00, the start of a new day. Used in formal time-telling and schedules.
零時(れいじ)を過(す)ぎた。
It's past midnight.
零時(れいじ)ちょうどに新年(しんねん)のカウントダウンが始(はじ)まる。
The New Year's countdown begins at exactly midnight.
セールは零時(れいじ)から開始(かいし)されるので、夜更(よふ)かしして待(ま)っていた。
The sale starts at midnight, so I stayed up late waiting.

USAGE:
Used in formal contexts, schedules, and when specifying exact times. In casual speech, 夜中(よなか)の十二時(じゅうにじ) (12 o'clock at night) is more common.

RELATED TIME EXPRESSIONS:

  • 午前零時(ごぜんれいじ) (0:00 AM — formal/official)
  • 正午(しょうご) (noon — 12:00 PM)
  • 深夜(しんや) (late at night — less precise than 零時(れいじ))

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 零時(れいじ)を回(まわ)る (to pass midnight)
  • 午前(ごぜん)零時(れいじ) (12:00 AM)
  • 零時(れいじ)過(す)ぎ (just after midnight)
general
Added 2026.3.17 9:13
17000/17204_reiji