How to Say ‘About how long does it take?’ in Japanese
どのくらいかかりますか。
dono kurai kakari masu ka
[doh-noh koo-rai kah-kah-ree mahss kah]
💬 Usage Tip: This asks the required time/cost in general. If you want “to the station,” add a destination before it in conversation.
🇯🇵 In Japan: You’ll often hear answers like “walk 5 minutes,” or “just a little” rather than exact times.
Phrase Breakdown
どのくらい
dono kurai
how long; how much (degree/amount)
Question phrase asking about duration/amount/degree. With time: “how long (does it take)?”
東京までどのくらいですか。
How far/long is it to Tokyo?
Words in this phrase
どの
dono
[doh-noh]
which / what (in “how long”)
Works with くらい to form どのくらい = “how long/how much.” Used in polite questions about time.
ここから駅までどのくらいかかりますか。
How long does it take from here to the station?
くらい
kurai
[koo-rai]
about / approximately / how long
In the full question, どのくらい asks for an approximate amount of time/distance.
歩いてどのくらいかかりますか。
About how long does it take on foot?
かかります
kakari masu
takes (time/money/effort) (polite)
Verb かかる in polite form. Used for time/cost: 時間がかかります / お金がかかります.
一時間かかります。
It takes one hour.
Words in this phrase
かかり
kakari
[kah-kah-ree]
take (time/money) (stem)
Stem of かかります. In directions, it refers to time needed (minutes) rather than money unless context says cost.
駅までどのくらいかかりますか。
How long does it take to the station?
ます
masu
[mahss]
polite verb ending
Polite ending for verbs; makes the question appropriate when speaking to staff or strangers.
バスでどのくらいかかりますか。
How long does it take by bus?
か
ka
[kah]
question particle
Placed at the end to make a polite question. Often followed by 。 in writing.
次の駅はどこですか。
Where is the next station?
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