Nuance & Usage
朝 refers to the morning hours, roughly from dawn until around noon. It appears in many essential daily expressions: 朝ごはん (asagohan — breakfast), 毎朝 (maiasa — every morning), 今朝 (kesa — this morning — note the irregular reading). The standard morning greeting is おはようございます (ohayou gozaimasu), often shortened to おはよう in casual speech. Related: 朝日 (asahi — morning sun), 朝寝坊 (asanebou — oversleeping).
Common Mistakes
A common reading mistake: 今朝 is read as けさ (kesa), not いまあさ (ima asa). This is an irregular compound reading that must be memorized. Also, 朝 by itself is a noun, not an adverb — to say "in the morning" as a time expression, use 朝に or simply 朝 as a time word at the start: 朝、コーヒーを飲みます (I drink coffee in the morning).
Example Sentences (3)
朝は何時に起きますか？
あさはなんじにおきますか？
What time do you wake up in the morning?
今朝はとても寒かったです。
けさはとてもさむかったです。
It was very cold this morning.
朝ごはんを食べてから学校に行きます。
あさごはんをたべてからがっこうにいきます。
I go to school after eating breakfast.
Quick Quiz
Quick Quiz
N54 questionsTest your knowledge of 朝 with 4 different question types.
Want to practice this word?
Add to Fujiyama & Study with AI
Generate more example sentences, listen to native pronunciation, and review with SRS — all personalized to your JLPT level.