How to Say ‘How long will it take?’ in Japanese
どのくらいかかりますか。
dono kurai kakari masu ka
[doh-noh koo-rah-ee kah-kah-ree mahs kah]
💬 Usage Tip: [どのくらい] means "how much/how long," and [かかりますか] means "will it take/cost." In this taxi context, it usually means time unless you are talking about money.
🇯🇵 In Japan: Drivers may answer in minutes, like [20分ぐらいです] ("about 20 minutes"). [ぐらい] means "about," a very common softener in Japanese.
Phrase Breakdown
どの
dono
[doh-noh]
how; what amount
Used with くらい to ask how much or how long.
どのくらいかかりますか。
How long will it take?
くらい
kurai
[koo-rah-ee]
about; approximately
When combined with question words, it asks about degree, amount, or time.
どのくらいかかりますか。
How long will it take?
かかり
kakari
[kah-kah-ree]
take; cost
From the verb かかる, meaning to take time or cost money.
どのくらいかかりますか。
How long will it take?
ます
masu
[mahs]
polite verb ending
Adds politeness to the verb in a question.
どのくらいかかりますか。
How long will it take?
か
ka
[kah]
question marker
Turns the sentence into a polite question.
どのくらいかかりますか。
How long will it take?
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 LessonWhat 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