How to Say ‘About five minutes.’ in Japanese
五分ほどですね。
go pun hodo desu ne
[goh poon hoh-DOH dess neh]
💬 Usage Tip: ほど after a number means "about": 千円ほど "about 1,000 yen". 五分 is said (go-fun).
Phrase Breakdown
五
go
[goh]
five
The number five; combines with ten to make fifteen.
十五分で着きます。
We arrive in fifteen minutes.
分
pun
[poon]
minute(s)
Counter for minutes when talking about duration or clock minutes.
40分かかります。
It takes 40 minutes.
ほど
hodo
[hoh-DOH]
about; approximately
After a number, shows an approximate amount.
十分ほど待ちます。
I'll wait about ten minutes.
です
desu
[dess]
is; am; are
A basic polite copula used to say 'is/am/are.'
田中です。
I am Tanaka.
ね
ne
[neh]
isn't it?; right?
A sentence-ending particle used to seek agreement or add warmth.
すばらしい経験ですね。
That's wonderful experience, isn't it?
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