1.
on time; on schedule; punctually
Exactly at the planned or expected time. Used to describe events, arrivals, departures, and actions happening as scheduled.
時間通りに着いた。
I arrived on time.
電車は時間通りに運行している。
The trains are running on schedule.
会議は時間通りに始まるので、遅れないようにしてください。
The meeting will start on time, so please make sure you're not late.
Composed of 時間 (time) + 通り (as, in accordance with). Literally means "as the time dictates" — i.e., at the appointed time.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 時間通りに来る (to come on time)
- 時間通りに始まる (to start on time)
- 時間通りに届く (to arrive on time [deliveries])
- 時間通りに進む (to proceed on schedule)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 定刻どおり — on the dot, at the appointed time; more formal, used for scheduled departure/arrival times
- 予定通り — as planned; broader, covering any kind of plan, not just time
- 時間に間に合う — to be in time; focuses on making it before a deadline
CULTURAL NOTE:
Japan's emphasis on punctuality makes 時間通り a frequently used expression. Japanese trains are famously 時間通り, and even slight delays prompt formal announcements and apologies.