How to Ask How Long Delivery Takes in Japanese
Learn to ask how long delivery takes in Japanese using どのくらい and かかります, compare takkyūbin and yūbin options, and understand standard replies about arrival time.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
When you order something in Japan or send a package, the key question is how long it will take to arrive. In Japanese, this is built around the pattern どのくらいかかりますか (donokurai kakarimasu ka), literally 'about how much does it take?' The verb かかる (kakaru) means 'to take' in the sense of time or money, and it is the natural verb for delivery duration. This lesson gives you the core question, the vocabulary for delivery services, and the sentence patterns you need to understand the answer. You will also learn how to ask about express options and same-day service, so you can choose the right shipping method with confidence.
By the end, you can…
- ask how long delivery will take using どのくらいかかりますか.
- name common Japanese delivery services such as 宅急便 and ゆうパック.
- ask whether an express or same-day option is available.
- understand a simple reply giving a number of days or an arrival date.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
配達はどのくらいかかりますか。
How long does delivery take?
haitatsu wa donokurai kakarimasu ka
The standard, polite way to ask about delivery time. 配達 (haitatsu) means 'delivery' and works for both mail and parcels. Note that 配達 refers to the act of delivering; for the service or method, 配送 (haisō) is also common.
届くまでどのくらいかかりますか。
How long will it take to arrive?
todoku made donokurai kakarimasu ka
Focuses on arrival. 届く (todoku) means 'to arrive, to reach.' The pattern 〜までどのくらいかかりますか asks for the time up to that point.
明日届きますか。
Will it arrive tomorrow?
ashita todokimasu ka
A yes/no question about a specific day. Use this when you already have a date in mind and want confirmation.
速達はありますか。
Is there an express option?
sokutatsu wa arimasu ka
速達 (sokutatsu) is express mail, mainly used for letters and documents through Japan Post. For parcels, ask about お急ぎ便 instead.
お急ぎ便でお願いします。
Express delivery, please.
oisogi-bin de onegaishimasu
お急ぎ便 (oisogi-bin) is a common express shipping option for online orders. Use 〜でお願いします to state your choice politely.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is [thing] は どのくらい かかりますか. どのくらい means 'about how much / how long' and かかりますか asks about the time required. For example, 配達はどのくらいかかりますか (How long does delivery take?) or 大阪までどのくらいかかりますか (How long does it take to Osaka?). To ask about arrival specifically, use 届くまでどのくらいかかりますか. You can also replace どのくらい with 何日 (nannichi, how many days) when you expect a number of days: 何日かかりますか.
When to use it
Use these questions when ordering online, at a convenience store counter, or at a post office. If you are sending a package, say これを送りたいのですが、どのくらいかかりますか (I'd like to send this; how long will it take?). When you want speed, ask 速達はありますか for letters or お急ぎ便はありますか for parcels. In shops, staff may reply with 明日着きます (It will arrive tomorrow) or 二日かかります (It takes two days). Listen for 着く (tsuku, to arrive) and かかる (to take).
Understanding the reply
Replies often use 〜日 (nichi) for days and 〜日後 (nichi-go) for 'in ~ days.' For example, 二日かかります means 'It takes two days,' and 明後日届きます means 'It will arrive the day after tomorrow.' If you hear 翌日 (yokujitsu), that means 'the next day.' If the answer is unclear, ask 何日かかりますか (How many days does it take?) or いつ届きますか (When will it arrive?).
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
すみません、これを大阪に送りたいのですが、配達はどのくらいかかりますか。
Excuse me, I'd like to send this to Osaka; how long does delivery take?sumimasen, kore o Ōsaka ni okuritai no desu ga, haitatsu wa donokurai kakarimasu ka普通郵便ですと、二日かかります。速達でしたら、明日届きます。
By regular mail it takes two days. If it's express, it will arrive tomorrow.futsū yūbin desu to, futsuka kakarimasu. sokutatsu deshitara, ashita todokimasuでは、速達でお願いします。追加料金はいくらですか。
Then express, please. How much is the extra charge?dewa, sokutatsu de onegaishimasu. tsuika ryōkin wa ikura desu ka速達料金は三百円です。明日の午前中に届きますよ。
The express fee is 300 yen. It will arrive tomorrow morning.sokutatsu ryōkin wa sanbyaku en desu. ashita no gozenchū ni todokimasu yoA little context goes a long way
Japanese delivery services are known for punctuality, and staff often give a specific time window such as 午前中 (gozenchū, during the morning) or 夕方 (yūgata, evening). When you ask about delivery time, a precise answer is normal and expected. Note that 速達 (sokutatsu) is mainly for letters and documents, while parcels from online shops usually use お急ぎ便 or 宅配便. Using お願いします at the end of a request keeps your tone polite and natural in service situations.
One thing to watch for
Using いくら (ikura) to ask how long something takes, as in 配達はいくらかかりますか.
Try this instead: いくら asks about cost, not time. For duration, use どのくらい or 何日. Say 配達はどのくらいかかりますか (How long does delivery take?) or 何日かかりますか (How many days does it take?). Use いくら only for money: 送料はいくらですか (How much is the shipping fee?).
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1Ask how long delivery takes, using the standard polite pattern.
Show a sample answer
配達はどのくらいかかりますか。
This uses 配達 (delivery) + は + どのくらい (how long) + かかりますか. 何日かかりますか is also correct if you specifically want a number of days.
2Ask whether an express option is available for a letter.
Show a sample answer
速達はありますか。
速達 (sokutatsu) is the standard word for express mail. For a parcel from a shop, お急ぎ便はありますか is the more natural choice.
3A clerk says 二日かかります. What does this mean, and how would you confirm the arrival day?
Show a sample answer
It means 'It takes two days.' To confirm, ask いつ届きますか (When will it arrive?).
二日 (futsuka) means 'two days,' and かかります means 'it takes.' Asking いつ届きますか is a natural follow-up to get a specific arrival day.
Use どのくらいかかりますか for time and いくらですか for money; ask 速達 or お急ぎ便 when you need faster delivery.
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