期間
kikan[kʲi̥kã̠ɴ]
The Japanese word for duration is 期間 (kikan).
期間 is used to refer to a specific span or interval of time. You can create the common phrase 期間中 by adding 中 (chū) to the end, which means 'during the period' or 'throughout the duration'. In a formal context, if you want to ask how many hours something takes, you can use the phrase nanjikan kakarimasu ka.
Meaning: amount of time (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of the characters 紀, meaning period or era and 間, meaning interval or space.
How do you pronounce it?
kikan
Did you know?
- While 期間 refers to a span of time, Japanese uses the word 間 (ma) to describe the critical 'pause' or 'timing' in comedy and traditional theater. Mastering this 'duration' of silence is considered a high art form.
- In Japanese, time is often viewed as a physical volume. The word 間 originally depicted a gate, suggesting that duration is like the space one passes through from one side to the other.
- When talking about the duration of a stay or a visit, Japanese speakers often use 滞在期間 (taizai kikan). Interestingly, 滞在 implies a 'stagnation' or 'staying put' rather than just being present.
Examples in context
- オリンピック選手は、大会期間中は選手村で生活します。Olympic athletes live in the Olympic village for the duration of the games.This sentence shows how to use 期間 when referring to the duration of an event like the games.Tatoeba #10306120 by small_snow, translation #5345352 by Hybrid
- 利用期間Period of use / duration of use
- この修理の期間はどのくらいですか？Kono shuuri no kikan wa dono kurai desu ka?How long is the duration for this repair?
- 夏休みの期間をカレンダーに書きました。Natsuyasumi no kikan o karendaa ni kakimashita.I wrote the summer vacation duration in the calendar.
Example conversation
Two colleagues are discussing a project schedule in an office.
- 陽太 Yotaプロジェクトの実施期間は決まりましたか？Purojekuto no jisshi kikan wa kimarimashita ka?Has the implementation duration for the project been decided?
- 美咲 Misakiはい、三ヶ月間です。Hai, sankagetsu-kan desu.Yes, it is for three months.
- 陽太 Yota美咲さん、その期間は少し長いですね。Misaki-san, sono kikan wa sukoshi nagai desu ne.Misaki, that duration is a little long, isn't it?
- 美咲 Misakiそうですね。もっと短縮できるかもしれません。Sou desu ne. Motto tanshuku dekiru kamoshiremasen.True. We might be able to shorten it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “duration” translations and entries 期間, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
