How to Say ‘It’s about five minutes on foot.’ in Japanese
歩いて5分くらいですよ。
arui te 5 pun kurai desu yo
[aru-i te go fun kurai des yo]
💬 Usage Tip: The ending [ですよ] adds a friendly tone and gives information helpfully, like "you know" or "just so you know." This is a very natural way to answer someone asking where the nearest station is.
🇯🇵 In Japan: When giving directions in Japan, people often sound gently reassuring. The [ですよ] here can make the answer feel warm and helpful, not blunt.
Phrase Breakdown
歩いて
arui te
Words in this phrase
歩い
arui
[aru-i]
walk
From 歩く, meaning 'to walk.' In 歩いて, it shows the route is by foot.
駅は歩いて5分くらいですよ。
The station is about five minutes on foot, you know.
て
te
[te]
and; by doing
The て-form ending that completes 歩いて. It gives the sense of 'by walking' or 'on foot'.
ここから歩いて5分くらいですよ。
It is about five minutes on foot from here, you know.
5分
5 pun
Words in this phrase
5
5
[go]
five
The number 5. Here it is part of the phrase meaning about five minutes.
あそこは歩いて5分くらいですよ。
That place is about five minutes on foot, you know.
分
pun
[fun]
minutes
Counter for minutes. In 5分 it is read ふん, making ごふん.
駅まで歩いて5分くらいですよ。
It is about five minutes on foot to the station, you know.
くらい
kurai
[kurai]
about; around
Makes the amount approximate. 5分くらい means 'about five minutes'.
この店は歩いて5分くらいですよ。
This shop is about five minutes on foot, you know.
ですよ
desu yo
Words in this phrase
です
desu
[des]
is; it is
The polite form of だ. It makes the statement polite and standard for giving directions.
駅は歩いて5分くらいですよ。
The station is about five minutes on foot, you know.
よ
yo
[yo]
you know; emphasis
Sentence-ending particle that adds friendliness, emphasis, or gives information to the listener.
あそこは歩いて5分くらいですよ。
It is about five minutes on foot over there, you know.
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