何分(なんぷん)

なんぷん
noun
how many minutes; what minute (past the hour)
time-generalquantity
1. how many minutes (duration)
Asks the length of a span of time in minutes. Usually appears with かかる, かかりますか, or 〜くらい.
何分(なんぷん)かかりますか。
How many minutes does it take?
駅(えき)まで何分(なんぷん)くらいですか。
About how many minutes is it to the station?
会議(かいぎ)が始(はじ)まるまで、あと何分(なんぷん)残(のこ)っていますか。
How many minutes are left until the meeting starts?
2. what minute (clock reading past the hour)
Asks the minute portion of a clock time, normally in the pattern 何時(なんじ)何分(なんぷん).
今(いま)、何時(なんじ)何分(なんぷん)ですか。
What time is it now, to the minute?
出発(しゅっぱつ)は九時(くじ)何分(なんぷん)でしたか。
What was the departure time — nine what?
時計(とけい)が見(み)えないので、今(いま)何時(なんじ)何分(なんぷん)か教(おし)えてください。
I can't see the clock, so please tell me exactly what time it is.

The interrogative 何(なん) plus the counter 〜分(ふん) (minutes), which becomes ぷん after ん.

Common patterns

  • 何分(なんぷん)かかる: to take how many minutes
  • 何時(なんじ)何分(なんぷん): what time exactly (hour and minute)
  • 何分(なんぷん)間(かん): for how many minutes (duration, explicitly marked)
  • あと何分(なんぷん): how many minutes remain

Pronunciation

The counter alternates between ふん and ぷん depending on the number: 一分(いっぷん), 二分(にふん), 三分(さんぷん), 四分(よんぷん), 五分(ごふん). The interrogative always takes ぷん.

Similar words

  • 何分(なにぶん): same kanji, different reading and meaning — "anyway, given the circumstances"

Related Words

Compare: 何時間(なんじかん) (how many hours)
general
Added 2026.8.2 18:20 · Revised 2026.9.4 21:31
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