時間(じかん)が経(た)つ

One of the most frequently used time expressions in Japanese. The verb 経(た)つ ('to elapse; to pass') is specific to the passage of time and is distinct from the homophone 立(た)つ ('to stand').

Usage

• Often used with のが早(はや)い to express surprise at how quickly time passes.
• The pattern 時間(じかん)が経(た)つにつれて ('as time passes') is very common for describing gradual change.
• Can be modified with specific time periods: 一時間(いちじかん)が経(た)つ ('one hour passes'), 長(なが)い時間(じかん)が経(た)つ ('a long time passes').
• In casual speech, 時間(じかん)が経(た)つ is sometimes shortened to 時(とき)が経(た)つ or 月日(つきひ)が経(た)つ.

Common collocations

• 時間(じかん)が経(た)つのが早(はや)い: time passes quickly
• 時間(じかん)が経(た)つにつれて: as time goes by
• だいぶ時間(じかん)が経(た)った: quite some time has passed
• 時間(じかん)が経(た)っても: even after time passes

Similar words

• 月日(つきひ)が経(た)つ: days and months pass — a more literary or reflective variant emphasizing the slow accumulation of time
• 時(とき)が流(なが)れる: time flows — a more poetic expression
• 年月(ねんげつ)が過(す)ぎる: years pass — emphasizes the passage of longer periods