Chinese phrase
〜需要多长时间？ 〜 xū yào duō cháng shí jiān
Meaning
How long does ___ take?
When to use it
Asks how long an action or process will take. It is a neutral, common way to ask about expected time for practical planning.
Example dialogue
办签证 需要多长时间？ bàn qiān zhèng xū yào duō cháng shí jiān
How long does applying for a visa take?
一般要两周左右，如果材料齐全可能更快。 yì bān yào liǎng zhōu zuǒ yòu rú guǒ cái liào qí quán kě néng gèng kuài
It usually takes about two weeks. If all the documents are ready, it may be faster.