How do you say "It takes about 40 minutes." in Japanese?

"It takes about 40 minutes." in Japanese is "だいたい四十分です。". This phrase is commonly used in Japan.

What does "だいたい四十分です。" mean in English?

"だいたい四十分です。" means "It takes about 40 minutes." in English. Usage tip: This is a very useful full answer: [だいたい] + time + [です]. It sounds clear, polite, and professional.

⏱️4️⃣0️⃣⏱️

How to Say ‘It takes about 40 minutes.’ in Japanese

だいたい四十分です。

daitai yonjuu pun desu

[dye-tie yon-joo poon dehss]

💬 Usage Tip: This is a very useful full answer: [だいたい] + time + [です]. It sounds clear, polite, and professional.

🇯🇵 In Japan: In travel work, giving an estimated time like this is common when helping customers choose trains, buses, or taxis.

Phrase Breakdown

だいたい

daitai

[dye-tie]

approximately / about

Shows that the time is an estimate, not exact.

Example

だいたい四十分です。

It is about forty minutes.

四十分

yonjuu pun

forty minutes

A time duration of 40 minutes.

Example

四十分かかります。

It takes forty minutes.

Words in this phrase

四十

yonjuu

[yon-joo]

forty

The number forty, often used with minutes for travel duration.

Example

だいたい四十分です。

It is about forty minutes.

分

pun

[poon]

minute

A counter for minutes. Here it helps express total travel time.

Example

だいたい四十分です。

It is about forty minutes.

です

desu

[dehss]

is / am / are

A polite copula used to complete a formal statement.

Example

だいたい四十分です。

It is about forty 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