Asking 'How long does it take?' in Mandarin Chinese: Duration with 多长时间 and 要
Learn to ask and answer 'How long does it take?' in Mandarin using 多长时间, 要, and duration phrases like 半个小时 and 三天, with a practical dialogue about getting to the airport.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
When you need to know how long something takes in Chinese, the key question is 要多长时间？(yào duō cháng shíjiān?) — literally 'need how long time?' This lesson teaches that question and the answers it expects. You will learn the question word 多长时间 (how long), the verb 要 (to take/need) for duration, and how to give lengths of time such as 半个小时 (half an hour), 两个小时 (two hours), and 三天 (three days). Chinese expresses duration with a time phrase placed after the verb, so word order matters. By the end you can ask about travel times, waits, and tasks, and understand the answers you hear.
By the end, you can…
- ask 'How long does it take?' in Mandarin using 要多长时间？
- answer with duration phrases such as 半个小时, 两个小时, and 三天.
- understand and use 要 to talk about how long something takes.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
要多长时间？
How long does it take?
yào duō cháng shíjiān?
The standard question for duration. 要 means 'need/take' and 多长时间 means 'how long'. Use it for trips, waits, and tasks.
要多长时间才能到？
How long does it take to get there?
yào duō cháng shíjiān cái néng dào?
Adds 才能到 ('only then can arrive') to ask specifically about arrival time. Common for travel.
要半个小时。
It takes half an hour.
yào bàn gè xiǎoshí.
A direct answer. 半个小时 means 'half an hour'. The duration phrase comes after 要.
要两个小时。
It takes two hours.
yào liǎng gè xiǎoshí.
Use 两 (liǎng), not 二 (èr), before a measure word like 个. 两个小时 means 'two hours'.
要三天。
It takes three days.
yào sān tiān.
For days, no measure word is needed: number + 天. 三天 means 'three days'.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is 要 + duration, meaning 'it takes (a certain amount of time)'. Ask with 要多长时间？(yào duō cháng shíjiān?) and answer with 要 plus a length of time: 要半个小时。(It takes half an hour.) 要两个小时。(It takes two hours.) 要三天。(It takes three days.) Notice that the duration phrase follows the verb 要. For hours, use 个 before 小时: 一个小时, 两个小时, 三个小时. For days, use 天 directly: 一天, 两天, 三天. Use 两 instead of 二 before 个.
When to use it
Use 要多长时间？when you want to know the length of an activity, journey, or wait. It works for travel: 从这儿到机场要多长时间？(How long does it take from here to the airport?) It also works for tasks: 做这个要多长时间？(How long does it take to do this?) To be more specific about reaching a place, say 要多长时间才能到？(How long does it take to get there?) If you already know the answer, state it with 要: 要四十分钟。(It takes forty minutes.) For negative or short answers, you can say 不要多长时间 (It doesn't take long).
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
从这儿到机场要多长时间？
How long does it take from here to the airport?cóng zhèr dào jīchǎng yào duō cháng shíjiān?坐地铁要一个小时。
By subway it takes one hour.zuò dìtiě yào yí gè xiǎoshí.坐出租车呢？
What about by taxi?zuò chūzūchē ne?坐出租车要半个小时。
By taxi it takes half an hour.zuò chūzūchē yào bàn gè xiǎoshí.A little context goes a long way
In mainland China, 出租车 (chūzūchē) is the usual word for a taxi; in Taiwan, people often say 計程車 (jìchéngchē). 地铁 (dìtiě) is the standard mainland term for subway, while Taiwan uses 捷運 (jiéyùn). When asking about time, 多长时间 is neutral and widely understood; 多久 (duō jiǔ) is also common and slightly more casual. Both are appropriate in everyday conversation.
One thing to watch for
Saying 二个小时 for 'two hours'.
Try this instead: Use 两 before a measure word: 两个小时 (liǎng gè xiǎoshí). 二 (èr) is used for counting and in numbers like 二十二, but 两 is required before 个 and other measure words in duration phrases.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask 'How long does it take?' in Mandarin?
Show a sample answer
要多长时间？
This uses 要 (need/take) plus 多长时间 (how long). 多久？is also acceptable in casual speech.
2Translate: 'It takes two hours.'
Show a sample answer
要两个小时。
Use 要 plus 两个小时. Remember 两, not 二, before 个.
3Translate: 'It takes three days.'
Show a sample answer
要三天。
For days, use number + 天 with no measure word. 要三天 is correct.
Ask 要多长时间？and answer with 要 + duration: 要半个小时, 要两个小时, 要三天. Use 两 before 个, and 天 directly for days.
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