#33

Asking how long something will take

どのくらい待ちますか How long does it take to get in?

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Kaito and Mike have arrived safely at the Ninja Museum. They decide to give ninja stars a try.

Skit
Vocabulary

どのくらい

donokurai

how long

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待つ

matsu

wait

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15分

juugo-fun

15 minutes

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~くらい

~kurai

about XXX

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わかる

wakaru

understand

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すごい

sugoi

awesome

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本物

honmono

real thing

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手裏剣

shuriken

ninja star

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あの

ano

that

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mato

target

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投げる

nageru

throw

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えい

ei

go

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落ちる

ochiru

drop

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Key Phrase

To ask how long something takes, use "donokurai," which is an interrogative for length of time, distance, or amount. It's used with "machimasu ka" ("matsu" or "to wait") or "kakarimasu ka" ("kakaru" or "to take").

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Try asking the length of time

1Which of these three choices is the correct way to say this sentence in Japanese?

How long is the walk?

walk

歩く(→歩きます)

aruku (→arukimasu)

2Say the sentence in Japanese, using the following word(s).

How long XXX?

どのくらい~ますか。

Donokurai ~masu ka.

last

もつ(→もちます)

motsu (→mochimasu)

3Say the sentence in Japanese, using the following word(s).

How much longer XXX?

あと、どのくらい~ますか。

Ato, donokurai ~masu ka.

be in Japan

日本にいる(→います)

Nihon ni iru (→imasu)

Step-up

Length of Time

Kanji

sakana (fish)

Culture

Pop Culture with Mike

Hands-on Tourism

Tourists can enjoy hands-on activities in Japan. Popular ones include dressing as a ninja or samurai, trying on a kimono, taking part in a tea ceremony, arranging flowers, or making Japanese sweets.

Wearing kimono

Making Japanese sweets

You can also create plastic food samples such as those found in restaurant windows.

Making food samples

And other facilities allow you to experience simulated earthquakes, heavy rain, fires, and tsunami. You’ll learn about disaster preparedness.
Trip tip

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