How to Say ‘About how long will it take?’ in Japanese
時間はどのくらいかかりますか。
jikan wa dono kurai kakari masu ka
[jikan wah doh-noh koo-rah-ee kah-kah-ree mahs ka]
💬 Usage Tip: かかります (kakarimasu) "takes" is the verb for time or money something requires, so the same frame works for cost: いくらかかりますか "How much will it cost?"
Phrase Breakdown
時間は
jikan wa
as for the time
時間 (jikan) means 'time'. は is pronounced 'wa' here and marks the topic.
時間はありますか。
Do you have time?
Words in this phrase
時間
jikan
[jikan]
time; period of time
時間 means time or a span of time.
試合の時間が近い。
Match time is near.
は
wa
[wah]
topic marker
は marks the topic of the sentence.
空席はありますか。
Are there any seats available?
どのくらい
dono kurai
about how much / how long
Asks for an amount or length. Say it smoothly: do-no-ku-ra-i.
どのくらい待ちますか。
About how long will I wait?
Words in this phrase
どの
dono
[doh-noh]
how; what amount
Used in expressions asking about degree, amount, or duration.
どのくらいかかりますか。
How long does it take?
くらい
kurai
[koo-rah-ee]
about; approximately; extent
Together with どの, it forms 'how long/how much'.
ホテルまでどのくらいかかりますか。
How long does it take to the hotel?
かかりますか。
kakari masu ka
does it take?
From かかる (to take time or money), in polite question form. The final 'ka' rises a little.
駅まで十分かかりますか。
Does it take ten minutes to the station?
Words in this phrase
かかり
kakari
[kah-kah-ree]
take; require
Verb stem meaning to take time or cost money.
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
[mahs]
polite verb ending
A standard polite ending added to verbs, often used in customer service and formal speech.
予約を確認し ます。
I will confirm the reservation.
か
ka
[ka]
question particle
Used to create a yes/no question in informal speech.
行くか？
Shall we go?
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