How long you're here
Conversation phrases, Stage 1chunk 5 of 68Getting to know you
Say how long you've been in Japan and how long you'll stay.
- nihon ni kite dono gurai?how long have you been in Japan?
- ...nen gurai ni naruit's been about ... years
- kita bakkariI've only just got here; I just arrived
- itsu made iru no?how long are you here for?; until when are you staying?
- mada kimetenaiI haven't decided yet
Mix-ups dono gurai looks back (how long so far); itsu made looks ahead (until when).
nihon ni kite dono gurai?
polite nihon ni kite dono gurai desu ka?
how long have you been in Japan?
One of the first questions you'll get; answer with a length of time plus ni naru (ninen ni naru).
Also said dono kurai; same thing.
nihon ni kite dono gurai? nihongo umai ne.
How long have you been in Japan? Your Japanese is good.
日本に来てどのぐらい？日本語うまいね。
nihon ni kite dono gurai desu ka? nihongo ga ojouzu desu ne.
How long have you been in Japan? Your Japanese is very good.
日本に来てどのぐらいですか？日本語がお上手ですね。
Written 日本に来てどのぐらい？ · にほんにきてどのぐらい？ · 日本に来てどのぐらいですか？Who said to youHeard 6× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
...nen gurai ni naru
polite ...nen gurai ni narimasu
it's been about ... years
Answer to how long you've lived somewhere or done something; the number goes before -nen (sannen gurai ni naru).
Swap in other units: sankagetsu (three months), hantoshi (half a year).
toukyou ni kite, mou gonen gurai ni naru kana.
It's been about five years since I came to Tokyo, I think.
東京に来て、もう5年ぐらいになるかな。
toukyou ni kite, mou gonen gurai ni narimasu.
It's been about five years since I came to Tokyo.
東京に来て、もう5年ぐらいになります。
Written 〜年ぐらいになる · 〜ねんぐらいになる · 〜年ぐらいになりますWho you say itHeard 25× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
kita bakkari
polite kita bakari desu
I've only just got here; I just arrived
Answer to how long you've been in Japan, or for just arriving anywhere; bakkari is the casual form of bakari.
Works after any past verb: tabeta bakkari (I just ate).
nihon ni wa sengetsu kita bakkari na n da.
I only got to Japan last month.
日本には先月来たばっかりなんだ。
nihon ni wa sengetsu kita bakari na n desu.
I only arrived in Japan last month.
日本には先月来たばかりなんです。
Written 来たばっかり · きたばっかり · 来たばかりですWho you say itHeard 107× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
itsu made iru no?
polite itsu made irassharu n desu ka?
how long are you here for?; until when are you staying?
Asked of visitors and newcomers; answer with a time plus made (rainen made), or mada kimetenai.
Irassharu is the respectful form of iru.
nihon ni wa itsu made iru no? rainen made?
How long are you in Japan for? Till next year?
日本にはいつまでいるの？来年まで？
nihon ni wa itsu made irassharu n desu ka?
How long will you be in Japan?
日本にはいつまでいらっしゃるんですか？
Written いつまでいるの？ · いつまでいらっしゃるんですか？Who said to youHeard 7× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
mada kimetenai
polite mada kimete imasen
I haven't decided yet
A safe answer to questions about plans: how long you're staying, what's next, what to order.
Mada + -te nai is 'not yet'; the past kimenakatta means 'I didn't decide'.
itsu kaeru ka wa mada kimetenai.
I haven't decided when I'm going back yet.
いつ帰るかはまだ決めてない。
itsu kaeru ka wa mada kimete imasen.
I haven't decided when I'm going back yet.
いつ帰るかはまだ決めていません。
Written まだ決めてない · まだきめてない · まだ決めていませんWho you say itHeard 30× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles