How to Say ‘20 minutes’ in Japanese
20分
20 pun
[nee-joo poon]
💬 Usage Tip: [分] means “minutes,” but its reading changes. [20分] is read [にじゅっぷん] (nee-joo-ppoon). The little sound change makes it fun—and important—to practice.
🇯🇵 In Japan: Commute time often comes up in caregiver interviews. Saying your workplace is [20分] away can help explain whether your schedule is realistic for early shifts.
Phrase Breakdown
20
20
[nee-joo]
twenty
The number 20. With 分, it expresses twenty minutes.
駅から職場まで20分かかります。
It takes 20 minutes from the station to the workplace.
分
pun
[poon]
minutes
Used after a number to count minutes of time.
駅から職場まで20分かかります。
It takes 20 minutes from the station to the workplace.
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