数分(すうふん)

すうふん
noun
several minutes; a few minutes
1. several minutes; a few minutes
An indefinite but small number of minutes, typically implying somewhere between two and about ten minutes.
数分(すうふん)待(ま)ってください。
Please wait a few minutes.
駅(えき)から数分(すうふん)で着(つ)く。
It's just a few minutes from the station.
電子(でんし)レンジで数分(すうふん)温(あたた)めれば食(た)べられる。
You can eat it after heating it in the microwave for a few minutes.

A very common time expression using the prefix 数(すう) (several) with the counter 分(ふん) (minutes). Frequently used for short waiting times, travel distances, and cooking instructions.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 数分(すうふん)後(ご): a few minutes later
  • 数分(すうふん)以内(いない): within a few minutes
  • 数分(すうふん)おきに: every few minutes
  • 数分(すうふん)間(かん): for several minutes
  • 徒歩(とほ)数分(すうふん): a few minutes on foot

RELATED TIME EXPRESSIONS:

  • 数秒(すうびょう): several seconds
  • 数時間(すうじかん): several hours
  • 数日(すうじつ): several days

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 何分(なんぷん)か: some minutes — slightly more vague
  • 二、三分(にさんぷん): two or three minutes — narrower range
  • しばらく: a while — much vaguer
general
Added 2026.4.3 3:17
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