Japanese for English speakers Street · Lesson 5

How long is that?

Express remaining time with あと + time — あと一時間 (one more hour). Plus 嫌 (iya, hateful) and bus-vs-train comparisons in Japanese.

Conversation

  1. Cassian Cassian

    まだですか？

    mada desu ka?

    Aren't we there yet?

    Tip: <mada> = not yet

  2. Yennifer Yennifer

    あと一時間ですよ

    ato juppun desu yo

    1 more hour.

    Tip: <ato + [time expression]> = you still have... of time <ichi jikan> = one hour

  3. Cassian Cassian

    そんなにかかりますか？嫌ですね

    sonna ni kakarimasu ka? Iya desu ne

    Does it take that long? Ugh!

    Tip: <sonnani> = that much <kakarimasu> = it takes, it requires <iya> = hateful / dislikable ("na" adjective). Commonly used to complain.

  4. Yennifer Yennifer

    バスは電車より遅いですよ。

    basu wa densha yori osoi desu yo.

    The bus is slower than the train

    Tip: <basu> = bus <densha> = train <osoi> = slow ("i" adjective)

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

What does あと mean before a time?

'More' or 'still to go': あと十分 = 'ten more minutes', あと一時間 = 'one more hour'.

What does 嫌 (iya) mean?

A な-adjective meaning 'hateful' or 'unpleasant' — used to express irritation: 嫌ですね = 'ugh, this is unpleasant'.

What is かかります?

'To take (time)' or 'to cost' — そんなにかかりますか = 'does it take that long?'.

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.

Next lesson in Street A car ride →