When you need to find a station or another place, two questions help you plan: «ここから遠いですか。» (Is it far from here?) and «歩いてどのくらいですか。» (About how long is it on foot?). In this workshop, you will practice both questions and the answers you might hear, such as «近いですよ。» (It's close) and «歩いて十分ぐらいです。» (It's about ten minutes on foot). You will also work through a short exchange between two people and practice both roles. The goal is to help you ask clearly and understand a simple time estimate.
Asking About Distance and Time
Start with a polite question about distance: «ここから遠いですか。» means 'Is it far from here?' Use it when you want to know if a place is far from your current location. If the answer is «近いですよ。» (It's close), you may still want a time estimate. Then ask «歩いてどのくらいですか。» which means 'About how long is it on foot?' This question asks for a rough walking time. A common answer is «歩いて十分ぐらいです。» meaning 'It's about ten minutes on foot.' The word «ぐらい» means 'about' or 'approximately.' Listen for it to know the time is not exact. You can use these questions with station staff, a passerby, or a shop employee. The final «よ» in «近いですよ。» adds friendly emphasis, like 'you know' or 'I'm telling you.'
A Short Exchange: Asking and Answering
Here is a short conversation. Person A asks: «すみません、駅はここから遠いですか。» This means 'Excuse me, is the station far from here?' Person B answers: «いいえ、近いですよ。歩いて十分ぐらいです。» meaning 'No, it's close. It's about ten minutes on foot.' Person A responds: «そうですか。歩いてどのくらいですか。» which means 'I see. About how long is it on foot?' Person B replies: «十分ぐらいです。まっすぐ行ってください。» meaning 'About ten minutes. Please go straight.' Notice that Person A asks about time even after hearing 'close.' This is natural if you want a specific estimate. Also notice «まっすぐ行ってください» — it means 'Please go straight.' It is a direction to move forward, not a turn. You can practice both roles: first as the person asking, then as the person answering.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
ここから遠いですか。
Is it far from here?
koko kara tōi desu ka
歩いてどのくらいですか。
About how long is it on foot?
aruite dono kurai desu ka
歩いて十分ぐらいです。
It's about ten minutes on foot.
aruite juppun gurai desu
近いですよ。
It's close.
chikai desu yo
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
すみません、駅はここから遠いですか。
Excuse me, is the station far from here?いいえ、近いですよ。歩いて十分ぐらいです。
No, it's close. It's about ten minutes on foot.そうですか。歩いてどのくらいですか。
I see. About how long is it on foot?十分ぐらいです。まっすぐ行ってください。
About ten minutes. Please go straight.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided Exchange: Ask and Answer
Imagine you are near a station and want to know if it is far. You will play both roles using the lines from the exchange. First, you are Person A asking a stranger. Then you are Person B answering.
Your task: Step 1: As Person A, say «すみません、駅はここから遠いですか。» out loud. Step 2: As Person B, reply with «いいえ、近いですよ。歩いて十分ぐらいです。» Step 3: As Person A, respond with «そうですか。歩いてどのくらいですか。» Step 4: As Person B, answer «十分ぐらいです。まっすぐ行ってください。» Repeat the whole exchange twice, switching roles each time.
Read and Choose the Correct Reply
You will read a question and choose the best answer from two options. This practices understanding the question and selecting a suitable reply. The questions and answers are from the lines in the exchange.
Your task: Question 1: You read «ここから遠いですか。» Which reply fits? Option A: «いいえ、近いですよ。» Option B: «歩いて十分ぐらいです。» Question 2: You read «歩いてどのくらいですか。» Which reply fits? Option A: «近いですよ。» Option B: «歩いて十分ぐらいです。» Say your chosen reply out loud. Then check your answers below.
Recall and Role-Play Without Looking
Now test your memory. You will recall the lines from the exchange and say them in the correct roles. Imagine the same scene: you are near a station, and you ask a stranger. Then you switch roles.
Your task: First, as Person A, ask if the station is far from here. Then, as Person B, answer that it is close and give a walking time. Next, as Person A, ask how long it takes on foot. Finally, as Person B, give the time and tell the person to go straight. Do this without looking at the lines. After you finish, check against the lines from the exchange.
Common questions
What is the difference between «ここから遠いですか» and «歩いてどのくらいですか»?
«ここから遠いですか» asks whether a place is far from your current location. It is about distance. «歩いてどのくらいですか» asks for a rough time estimate when walking. It is about time. You can ask the distance question first, and if the place is close, you can still ask the time question to get a specific estimate.
How do I know if «まっすぐ行ってください» means go straight or turn right?
«まっすぐ» means 'straight ahead.' So «まっすぐ行ってください» means 'Please go straight.' It does not mean turn right. If someone wanted you to turn right, they would use a different word. In this lesson, the direction is to continue forward, not to turn.
Sources and further reading
- japanese: ask if it is farChecked September 2026
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