Japanese for English speakers Sports · Lesson 6

Ask about duration

Express duration with 〜間 (kan) after time — 二週間 (two weeks), 一週間 (one week). Plus ぐらい (gurai, approximately) for 'about'.

Conversation

  1. Rocky Rocky

    冬休みはどのくらいですか？

    fuyu yasumi wa dono guraai desu ka?

    How long is the winter break?

    Tip: <...wa dono gurai desu ka> = How long is ... (in terms of time)

  2. Kyle Kyle

    二週間ぐらいです

    ni shū kan gurai desu

    It's more or less two weeks

    Tip: <isshūkan> = for one week

  3. Rocky Rocky

    でも山で一週間だけ過ごしたいです

    demo yama de isshū kan dake sugoshitai desu

    But I'd like to spend only one week in the mountains

    Tip: <sugoshimasu> = to spend, time

  4. Kyle Kyle

    いい考えですね

    ī desu ne

    Good idea

    Tip: <kangae> = idea

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

What's the difference between 〜時 and 〜時間?

〜時 is a specific clock time (3 o'clock = 3時). 〜時間 is duration (3 hours = 3時間).

How do you say 'approximately' in Japanese?

ぐらい / くらい (gurai/kurai) — placed after the quantity: 二週間ぐらい = 'about two weeks'.

What does 過ごす (sugosu) mean?

'To spend (time)' — 山で過ごします = 'spend time in the mountains'.

Test yourself

Pick the English translation for each line from this lesson. Wrong answers are pulled from other Japanese lessons.

4 quick questions on what you just heard.

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