How to Talk About Time Duration in Japanese with かん

Time is an essential part of communication. Whether you’re talking about how long you studied, how long a trip lasted, or how much time something takes, Japanese has specific expressions to convey duration. In this article, we’ll explore key grammar point: 間 (かん) for time spent.

かん (間)

Expressing Time Spent

Usage Pattern

[Time Duration]+ 間(かん)+ Action
[Time Duration]+ 間(かん) +ぐらい (Approximate duration)

Details

JLPT Level: N4

How to Use It

To express how long an action lasts, Japanese uses the kanji 間 (かん) after a time counter. This turns the time unit into a duration. It works with units like hours, minutes, weeks, months, and years.

This grammar point is used when discussing the total span of time something continues, such as the length of a trip, a study session, or a stay in a location. You can also add words like ぐらい to show that the time is approximate.

Keep in mind that かん is only used for actual durations. If you’re just referring to a time period as a standalone point in time (like “last month”), かん is not used.

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Example 1

私は二時間勉強しました。

わたし は にじかん べんきょう しました。

Watashi wa nijikan benkyō shimashita.

I studied for two hours.

Example 2

友だちと一時間話しました。

ともだち と いちじかん はなしました。

Tomodachi to ichijikan hanashimashita.

I talked with a friend for an hour.

Example 3

四週間日本にいました。

よんしゅうかん にほん に いました。

Yonshuukan Nihon ni imashita.

I was in Japan for four weeks.

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