Translation guide
Describes something happening or changing continuously as each hour passes, or considered on an hourly basis.
To express that a situation, condition, or feeling is changing gradually or noticeably with every passing hour.
An adverb meaning 'moment by moment' or 'hour by hour', emphasizing continuous, often dramatic change. Commonly used with verbs of change.
状況は刻々と変化している。
The situation is changing hour by hour.
刻々と迫る締め切りに焦っている。
I'm panicking as the deadline approaches hour by hour.
To describe schedules, payments, or monitoring that is done for each hour separately.
Means 'on an hourly basis' or 'in hourly units'. Used for planning, billing, or measuring by the hour.
この駐車場は時間単位で料金がかかる。
This parking lot charges hour by hour.
The phrase 'hour by hour' cannot be directly translated as '時間によって' or '時間ごとに' in all contexts. For gradual change, 刻々と is more natural. For scheduled intervals, use 時間単位で or 1時間刻みで.
Literally 'per hour' or 'every hour'. Used when something is done or changes at hourly intervals. More concrete than 刻々と.
この薬は時間ごとに効き目が強くなる。
This medicine becomes more effective hour by hour.
Similar to 時間ごとに but explicitly 'every one hour'. Slightly more emphatic about the hourly interval.
一時間ごとにデータが更新される。
The data is updated hour by hour.
時間単位でスケジュールを組んだ。
I planned the schedule hour by hour.
Literally 'in one-hour increments'. Often used for schedules or appointments set exactly on the hour.
ツアーは1時間刻みで出発する。
Tours depart hour by hour.