How do you say "About 15 minutes." in Japanese?

"About 15 minutes." in Japanese is "だいたい十五分です。". This phrase is commonly used in Japan.

What does "だいたい十五分です。" mean in English?

"だいたい十五分です。" means "About 15 minutes." in English. Usage tip: A simple estimate: [だいたい] + time + [です]. Easy pattern, very reusable.

🕒

How to Say ‘About 15 minutes.’ in Japanese

だいたい十五分です。

daitai juu go pun desu

[dye-tie joo goh foon dess]

💬 Usage Tip: A simple estimate: [だいたい] + time + [です]. Easy pattern, very reusable.

🇯🇵 In Japan: If traffic is heavy, the driver may soften the estimate with extra words like [くらい] or mention congestion.

Phrase Breakdown

だいたい

daitai

[dye-tie]

about; roughly

Shows the answer is approximate, not exact.

Example

だいたい十五分です、と運転手さんが答えます。

The driver answers, “It’s about 15 minutes.”

十五分

juu go pun

fifteen minutes

This is the time amount: 十五 = fifteen, 分 = minutes.

Example

十五分待ってください。

Please wait fifteen minutes.

Words in this phrase

十

juu

[joo]

ten

Part of the number fifteen.

Example

だいたい十五分です、と聞いて安心します。

You feel relieved hearing, “It’s about 15 minutes.”

五

[goh]

five

Part of the number fifteen.

Example

だいたい十五分です、と言われます。

You are told, “It’s about 15 minutes.”

分

pun

[foon]

minutes

Counter for minutes in the estimated travel time.

Example

だいたい十五分です、は時間の答えです。

“It’s about 15 minutes” is an answer about time.

です

desu

[dess]

Polite ending used to complete the statement.

Example

だいたい十五分です、と丁寧に説明します。

You politely explain, “It’s about 15 minutes.”

Get the Full Learning Experience

This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.

Pronunciation Feedback

AI-powered speech recognition to perfect your accent

Spaced Repetition

Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice

Immersive Roleplaying

Practice real conversations with AI partners

Custom Scenarios

Request lessons tailored to your specific needs

Get Full Lesson

What Learners Are Saying

“Teaching in Osaka and I wanted to connect with my students beyond the classroom. The everyday conversation scenarios made my Japanese feel natural, not textbook-y.”

Mia S., 25, English Teacher

“Moved to Tokyo and the polite vs. casual speech levels were killing me. This app breaks it all down with real scenarios. My coworkers noticed the difference in weeks.”

Kevin Z., 31, Game Developer

“I tried five different apps before this one. The roleplay conversations are what finally made things click. I actually remember what I learn now.”

Sofia R., 31, Marketing Manager