Here, we introduce the basic numbers from one to ten. See Part 2; Chapter 1 for further numbers.

The sentence structure of [A] wa [B] desu is also used when you ask or tell the time.
-ji is a number counter indicating time; e.g., 5-ji (go-ji) means "five o'clock."

The numbers 4, 7 and 9 have more than one reading. For expressing time yo-ji should be used for 4:00, ku-ji should be used for 9:00. Both shichi-ji and nana-ji are used for 7:00

nan means "what" and Nan-ji desu ka? means "What time is it?"

Kara and/or made is used to ask and tell the time, when the event such as cinema or conference starts and ends, or the store opens and closes.

Kara means "from." There are a few ways to translate 1-ji kara desu; "it is from 1:00," "it opens from 1:00" or "it starts at 1:00." Made means "until." 2-ji made desu means "it is until 2:00," "it closes at 2:00" or "it ends at 2:00."

Kara and made are also used with the other words for time such as day, week, month and year, or even place; Tokyo kara Kyoto made "from Tokyo to Kyoto."

See the third sentence in the dialogue. nan-ji kara is an expression to ask the starting time of something. Nan-ji made is used to ask what time it ends.

As described in Chapter 1, the interrogative sentence is simply made by adding ka? at the end. The word order does not change.
Goro means "around." This is used only for words for time. This is quite often used because the Japanese prefer vague expressions in general. In the sentences, 5 and 6 above, the subject (eiga=movie) is omitted.