Meaning
The kanji 秒 (byou) primarily signifies a 'second' as a unit of time, representing a tiny, precise division of an hour or minute. Its origins point to components that evoke something small and fleeting. The character is composed of two radicals: 禾 (nogihen), meaning 'grain' or 'cereal,' and 少 (shou), meaning 'few' or 'little.'
Historically, combining a grain stalk with the idea of 'little' suggested an incredibly small, almost immeasurable quantity or a minute particle. Over time, this concept evolved, coming to denote a small, fixed unit of time—much like how a tiny grain might represent a brief moment when counted or measured.
Visually, the 禾 radical on the left side, resembling a stalk of grain, conveys a sense of measurement or quantity, often linked to agriculture and the passage of seasons. The 少 radical on the right, with its small strokes, further emphasizes minuteness. Together, these elements form a clear image of a precise, small unit of measurement, perfectly capturing the concept of a second. This kanji is essential for expressing duration and timing in various contexts, from daily conversations about schedules to complex scientific calculations.
秒 has 9 strokes and is not officially a Joyo kanji. However, it is frequently encountered at the N2 level of the JLPT, highlighting its common usage in modern Japanese.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The primary, almost exclusive On'yomi for 秒 is ビョウ (byou). This reading, derived from its Chinese pronunciation, is consistently used in compound words related to units of time, speed, or precision. It signifies a direct measurement or a very brief duration.
秒速 (byousoku) — Meaning 'speed per second,' this compound describes the rate of movement or change. For instance, a runner's speed might be measured in meters per second (例：陸上選手が秒速10メートルで走る).
毎秒 (maibyou) — Meaning 'every second' or 'per second,' this term highlights an action or state that recurs continuously. An example is data refreshing on a screen every second (例：ウェブサイトのデータが毎秒更新される).
秒針 (byoushin) — This refers to the 'second hand' of a clock, directly illustrating the measurement of seconds on a timepiece. The constant movement of the second hand visually represents time passing in one-second increments.
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The kanji 秒 does not have any commonly used standalone Kun'yomi. It functions almost entirely within compound words, relying on its On'yomi (ビョウ) to convey its meaning. This is typical for kanji denoting precise units of measurement, which usually adopt a single, consistent reading across contexts. Unlike some kanji with multiple Kun'yomi to express nuances or different verbs/adjectives, 秒 maintains a straightforward role, making its On'yomi the dominant, practically sole reading in common usage.
Common Words & Compounds
The kanji 秒 is frequently found in Japanese to describe measurements of time, speed, and precision. Below are some common words and compounds grouped by theme:
Time Measurement:
一秒 (ichibyou) — one second. Used for expressing a single unit of time (例：あと一秒で着く).
何秒 (nanbyou) — how many seconds? A question inquiring about a duration in seconds (例：ゴールまであと何秒？).
数秒 (suubyou) — several seconds, a few seconds. Indicates a short, unspecified duration (例：数秒考えた後、彼は答えた).
秒単位 (byoutan'i) — in seconds (unit). Denotes something measured in units of seconds, emphasizing precision (例：この機械は秒単位で時間を測る).
秒読み (byouyomi) — countdown. Commonly used for rocket launches or any event requiring a precise countdown (例：ロケットの打ち上げは秒読み段階に入った).
Speed & Rate:
秒速 (byousoku) — speed per second. Used to describe velocity or rate of change over one second across various fields (例：光は秒速約30万キロメートルで進む).
毎秒 (maibyou) — per second, every second. Indicates a recurring action or measurement that happens each second (例：株価は毎秒変動している).
Precision & Instantaneity:
秒殺 (byousatsu) — instant kill, instant defeat. A vivid term in games or sports describing a very quick, decisive victory (例：そのボクサーは相手を秒殺した).
分秒 (funbyou) — minutes and seconds. Refers to both units of time, often used when discussing precise timing (例：彼は時間を分秒単位で管理している).
秒間 (byoukan) — during a second, for a second. Specifies a duration of one second (例：一秒間だけ彼の方を見た).
Science & Technology:
光秒 (koubyou) — light-second. An astronomical unit of distance, representing the distance light travels in one second (例：地球から月までは約1.28光秒の距離がある).
秒間隔 (byou kankaku) — second interval. Describes a period of one second between events or measurements (例：心臓の鼓動が秒間隔で聞こえる).
Example Sentences
この時計は毎秒、正確です。
Kono tokei wa maibyou, seikaku desu.
This clock is accurate every second.
彼は一秒も無駄にしませんでした。
Kare wa ichibyou mo muda ni shimasen deshita.
He didn't waste even a single second.
ロケットの秒読みが始まりました。
Roketto no byouyomi ga hajimarimashita.
The rocket's countdown has started.
目標まで秒速100メートルで進む。
Mokuhyou made byousoku hyaku meetoru de susumu.
Advance at 100 meters per second towards the target.
事故は数秒の出来事でした。
Jiko wa suubyou no dekigoto deshita.
The accident happened in a matter of seconds.
彼は試合を秒殺で終わらせた。
Kare wa shiai o byousatsu de owaraseta.
He finished the match with an instant defeat.
腕時計の秒針が静かに動いている。
Udedokei no byoushin ga shizuka ni ugoiteiru.
The second hand of the watch is moving quietly.
彼は毎秒の情報を分析します。
Kare wa maibyou no jouhou o bunseki shimasu.
He analyzes information every second.
時間を分と秒で計算する。
Jikan o fun to byou de keisan suru.
Calculate time in minutes and seconds.
このカメラは数秒で起動します。
Kono kamera wa suubyou de kidou shimasu.
This camera starts up in a few seconds.
Memory Tip
To remember the kanji 秒 (byou), meaning 'second,' visualize its components: 禾 (nogihen) on the left, representing a grain stalk, and 少 (shou) on the right, meaning 'few' or 'little.' Imagine a single, tiny grain of rice (禾) falling through a narrow opening, symbolizing a very 'little' (少) unit of time passing. The swift, almost imperceptible drop of that grain precisely marks one 'second.' This mnemonic connects the kanji's visual elements to the idea of a brief, yet exact measurement of time, much like counting falling grains.