Japanese Conversation · Level 23
90 words
Japanese word
数分
Pronunciation
Romajisūfun
Meaning
- nouna few minutes
Example
会議は数分で終わります。kai gi wa sū fun de o wa ri ma su
The meeting will end in a few minutes.
More examples
駅まで歩いても、数分しかかかりません。eki ma de aru i te mo sū fun shi ka ka ka ri ma se n
Even walking to the station takes only a few minutes.
Core concept
数分 (sūfun) marks several minutes as a small and intentionally nonexact amount of time.
Common phrases
数分でsū fun de
in a few minutes
数分後にsū fun ato ni
a few minutes later
数分以内にsū fun i nai ni
within a few minutes
Similar words
数分間sūfunkan: A period lasting several minutes, with the duration stated explicitly.
Definition in Japanese
何分かの、長くない時間。nan pun ka no naga ku na i ji kan
Word origin
数 (sū, "number") and 分 (fun, "minute") combine in 数分 (sūfun) to express an unspecified small number of minutes.
Usage tips
- Japanese speakers use 数分 (sūfun) for brief delays and time estimates when the precise number of minutes is not important.
Other meanings
- several minutesnoun