Speakable Japanese

How to Ask "How Much" & "How Long" in Japanese: Quantity & Duration (Dono kurai)

Hello! This is the last question in our Phase 2 adventure. This time, we will master the convenient word 「どのくらい」 (Dono kurai).
With its help, you can ask about various 'quantitative' characteristics, such as the time or distance to a destination, the duration of study, the price of something, and much more. Let's learn to ask for specific numbers to make your Japanese even more precise!

🎯 Lesson Goal

Learn to ask questions about various 'quantities' such as time, duration, distance, and price using the chunk 「どのくらい〜ますか？」 (Dono kurai ~ masu ka?)!

Step 1 Discover

Let's look at how this is used in a real conversation. Yuki is asking Ken about his commute and wait times.

👧
Yuki

ここから駅まで、どのくらいかかりますか？

(Koko kara eki made, dono kurai kakarimasu ka?)

👦
Ken

10分くらいです。

(Juppun kurai desu.)

👧
Yuki

バスをどのくらい待ちますか？

(Basu o dono kurai machimasu ka?)

👦
Ken

5分くらいです。

(Go-fun kurai desu.)

💡

Did you notice?

Ken answers using "〜くらいです" (kurai desu). This means "about" or "approximately". It's very common when answering "Dono kurai" questions!

Step 2 The Pattern

Here is the most powerful and useful chunk for asking about quantities.

Basic Chunk

どのくらい ますか？

(Dono kurai masu ka?)

🔑 Key Point: The meaning changes with context

'どのくらい' (Dono kurai) is an extremely versatile question word. Depending on the verb you use, it can mean "How long" (time), "How much" (amount), "How far" (distance), or "How often" (frequency).

🌟 Pro Tip: くらい (kurai) vs. ぐらい (gurai)

Both mean "about" or "approximately". You can use them interchangeably in spoken Japanese, though "gurai" sometimes sounds slightly more conversational.

Step 3 Pattern Practice

Keep the chunk exactly the same, but swap the verbs to ask about different things. Read these out loud!

  • Asking about a period 日本に どのくらい いますか？

    2年くらいです。

    (Ni-nen kurai desu.)

  • Asking about study time どのくらい 日本語を勉強しますか？

    1時間くらい勉強します。

    (Ichi-jikan kurai benkyou shimasu.)

  • Asking about daily habits 毎日、どのくらい 寝ますか？

    7時間くらい寝ます。

    (Shichi-jikan kurai nemasu.)

Step 4 Make It Yours!

Now it's your turn! Pick words from the Cheat Sheet below to ask and answer questions about your life.

👉 どのくらい YOUR VERB ますか？

Vocabulary Cheat Sheet

Actions (動詞)

  • かかりますか kakarimasu ka (will it take?)
  • いますか imasu ka (will you be there?)
  • 寝ますか nemasu ka (do you sleep?)
  • 働きますか hatarakimasu ka (do you work?)
  • 勉強しますか benkyou shimasu ka (do you study?)

Example Answers (答え)

  • 5分 go-fun (5 minutes)
  • 1時間 ichi-jikan (1 hour)
  • 1年 ichi-nen (1 year)
  • 毎日 mainichi (every day)
  • ときどき tokidoki (sometimes)

Bonus Go Beyond the Basics

In real life, you'll also need to say "It won't take long" or speak casually with friends. Here’s a quick guide to leveling up your conversation about verbs!

🙅‍♀️ 1. Verb Negatives (I do NOT...)

Basic / Formal (Doesn't take)

時間は かかりません。

(Jikan wa kakarimasen.)

Casual (Friends)

時間は かからない。

(Jikan wa kakaranai.)

🤝 2. Friendly & Casual Questions

Dropping "masu ka"

どのくらい かかる？

(Dono kurai kakaru? - "How long will it take?")

Casual Answering

5分くらい かな。

(Go-fun kurai kana. - "Maybe about 5 mins.")

Summary Lesson Review

Asking about Quantities: Use どのくらい (dono kurai) to ask about time, distance, duration, or price.

Answering "About...": Use くらい (kurai) or ぐらい (gurai) after a quantity to mean "approximately" or "about".

Negative Verb Form: Use かかりません (kakarimasen) to state that an action won't take much time or money.

Practice Drill

1 / X Polite

Related Lessons & Next Steps