Asking about the waiting time and deciding whether to stay | Learn Japanese in English

Sentence explanations

1. すみません、待ち時間の目安はどのくらいですか。

   Excuse me, what is the estimated waiting time?

   すみません

   Excuse me; I’m sorry

   待ち時間

   waiting time

   目安

   estimate; guideline

   どのくらい

   how much; how long

   ですか

   is it?; is it the case?

   More detail

   すみません is a polite way to get someone’s attention or apologize. Here it means “Excuse me,” rather than specifically admitting fault. The related polite apology ごめんなさい is more directly “I’m sorry,” while すみません is especially common when addressing a stranger or service worker. 待ち時間 means “waiting time.” It is a compound noun: 待ち comes from 待つ (“to wait”), and 時間 means “time.” The same pattern helps form other useful compounds, but the observed word 待ち時間 itself is the noun for the time spent waiting. Example: 待ち時間が長いです。 — “The waiting time is long.” 目安 means an approximate estimate or guideline. In 待ち時間の目安, の links the topic being estimated (待ち時間) with the estimate: “an estimate of the waiting time.” 目安 signals a rough indication, not necessarily an exact measured value. どのくらい asks about degree, amount, or duration. With 待ち時間, it asks “how long?” The same expression can ask “how much?” with an amount, so the surrounding noun determines the relevant interpretation. Example: どのくらい待ちますか。 — “How long will we wait?” ですか makes the preceding statement into a polite question. です is the polite copular form, and か marks the question; か does not itself mean “how long.” The question word is どのくらい. Together, 待ち時間の目安 means “an estimate of the waiting time,” and どのくらいですか asks what degree or duration it is. With the polite opener, the complete utterance means: “Excuse me, what is the estimated waiting time?”

2. 10分くらいです。もう少しかかるかもしれません。

   About ten minutes, maybe a little longer.

   10分

   ten minutes

   くらい

   about; approximately

   もう少し

   a little more

   かかる

   take (time)

   かもしれません

   may; might

   More detail

   10分 means “ten minutes.” 分 is the counter used for minutes, so a reusable pattern is [number]分 for a duration such as 5分 (“five minutes”) or 20分 (“twenty minutes”). Here it is the estimated duration, not a statement that exactly ten minutes will elapse. くらい follows 10分 and makes the amount approximate: “about ten minutes.” It can also follow other quantities, as in 3日くらい (“about three days”). The estimate is therefore not presented as exact. です is the polite form used to present the first estimate. Together, 10分くらいです means “It is about ten minutes” in the context of an estimated waiting duration. もう少し means “a little more” or, with a time expression understood, “a little longer.” もう contributes the sense of an additional amount, while 少し means “a little.” For example, もう少し待ってください。 means “Please wait a little longer.” かかる is the verb used for an amount of time that is required or taken. Its useful pattern is [duration]かかる: 一時間かかります。 means “It takes one hour.” In this sentence, the duration is understood from the earlier estimate, so もう少しかかる means “take a little longer.” The verb is in its plain form before the following possibility expression. かもしれません is a polite expression meaning “may” or “might.” It follows the plain form of a verb, so かかるかもしれません means “it may take.” It presents the longer duration as a possibility rather than a certainty. For example, 明日は雨が降るかもしれません。 means “It might rain tomorrow.” The first sentence gives an approximate estimate: 10分くらいです (“It is about ten minutes”). The second sentence adds a possible extension: もう少しかかるかもしれません (“It may take a little longer”). Together, the utterance means: “About ten minutes, maybe a little longer.” The polite forms make it suitable for a courteous estimate in an everyday service or waiting-time situation.

3. この後、別の予定があります。

   I have another appointment after this.

   この後

   after this

   別の

   another; different

   予定

   appointment; plan

   あります

   there is; have

   More detail

   この後 means “after this” here. この is a demonstrative meaning “this,” and 後 means “after/later” in this time expression. The phrase points to a time after the current situation or activity. A reusable pattern is [event or situation]の後 “after [event or situation]”: 昼食の後 means “after lunch.” 別の means “another” or “different” before a noun. 別 expresses distinction from something already understood, while の links it to the following noun. In 別の予定, it identifies a plan or appointment distinct from the one currently being discussed. This is different from もう一つの, which more directly emphasizes one additional item. 予定 is a noun for a planned event, schedule, plan, or appointment. Its precise English translation depends on context; here, the fixed translation supports “appointment.” For example, 明日の予定があります。 means “I have plans for tomorrow.” あります is the polite nonpast form of ある, used for the existence or presence of an inanimate thing or event. In a pattern such as [person]は[thing]があります, it expresses that the person has or has something scheduled: 午後に予定があります。 means “I have plans in the afternoon.” The polite form あります is appropriate in a courteous conversation; the plain form is ある. Together, この後 sets the time, 別の予定 identifies a different appointment, and あります states that it exists as part of the speaker’s schedule. The complete utterance means: “I have another appointment after this.”

4. それでは遅すぎるなら、昼食の後に戻ってきてもいいです。

   If that is too late, you can come back after lunch.

   それでは

   in that case

   遅すぎる

   too late

   なら

   if that is so

   昼食

   lunch

   の後に

   after ...

   戻ってきてもいいです

   may come back

   More detail

   それでは means “in that case” here. それ refers to the situation already being discussed, and では makes this a connective expression meaning “then” or “if that is so.” 遅すぎる means “be too late.” Its adjective base is 遅い, “late; slow.” Removing the final い and adding すぎる gives the meaning “too …” or “excessively …”: 遅い → 遅すぎる. Here, the whole form describes the situation as excessively late. なら marks a condition based on what precedes it: 遅すぎるなら means “if it is too late.” A reusable pattern is Xなら, “if X is the case.” 昼食 is the noun “lunch.” In 昼食の後に, の links 昼食 to 後, and に marks that time as when the action occurs. Example: 授業の後に帰ります。 — “I will go home after class.” 戻ってきてもいいです means “may come back” or “it is okay to come back.” It is built from 戻ってくる, “come back,” in the form 戻ってきて, followed by もいいです, which expresses permission or acceptability. The reusable pattern is verb-て + もいいです, as in ここに座ってもいいです。 — “You may sit here.” This expression gives permission; it does not by itself say that the action will definitely happen. Together, それでは遅すぎるなら sets the condition “if that is too late,” 昼食の後に sets the time “after lunch,” and 戻ってきてもいいです gives permission to come back. The whole utterance means: “If that is too late, you can come back after lunch.”

5. 後で戻ってきても、順番はそのままですか。

   Would I keep my place if I came back later?

   後で

   later

   戻ってきても

   even if I come back

   順番

   place in line

   そのまま

   unchanged

   ですか

   is it?

   More detail

   後で means “later” and is a useful time expression. It commonly comes before the action it modifies. Example: 後で電話します。 — “I’ll call later.” 戻ってきても is built from 戻ってくる (“to come back”) and the conditional/concessive pattern 〜ても. The form 戻ってきて is the て-form of 戻ってくる; adding も gives the sense “even if/when [someone] comes back.” Here, the fixed translation identifies the understood subject as the speaker: “if I came back.” Example: 明日戻ってきても、間に合います。 — “Even if I come back tomorrow, I will be in time.” 順番 means a person’s order or turn, and in this context the fixed translation and surrounding context support “my place in line.” It is a noun, so 順番は marks it as the topic. Example: 順番を待っています。 — “I’m waiting for my turn.” そのまま means that something remains in its current state: “as it is” or “unchanged.” With 順番, it asks whether the order or place will remain unchanged, rather than introducing a new order. Example: この予定はそのままです。 — “This schedule remains unchanged.” ですか is the polite question ending here. です presents the preceding description as a polite statement, and か turns it into a question. The phrase そのままですか therefore asks whether it will remain unchanged; it does not itself specify a numerical quantity. Together, 後で戻ってきても sets the condition “if I come back later,” while 順番はそのままですか asks whether the speaker’s turn/place will stay the same. The whole utterance is therefore: “Would I keep my place if I came back later?”

6. 昼食の後に、新しい整理券を取る必要があります。

   You would need to take a new ticket after lunch.

   昼食

   lunch

   後に

   after

   新しい

   new

   整理券

   numbered ticket

   取る

   take; obtain

   必要があります

   need to

   More detail

   昼食 means “lunch.” It is a noun and can combine with time expressions: 昼食の後 means “after lunch.” 後に means “after” in this sentence. 後 is the noun “after/later part,” and に marks the time point or period relative to which something happens. The pattern Nの後に + event is reusable: 授業の後に帰ります。 means “I’ll go home after class.” 新しい means “new.” This is an い-adjective; its dictionary form is already 新しい, so it does not need a separate ending change here. Before a noun, it directly modifies that noun: 新しい整理券 means “a new numbered ticket.” Its opposite is 古い (“old”), as in 古い整理券 (“an old numbered ticket”). 整理券 means a numbered ticket used to establish or manage someone’s place in a queue or service order. It is a noun. The context supports the intended meaning “ticket” rather than a generic ticket for entry: the earlier question mentions keeping one’s place, and the following sentence says the speaker will wait because they are already there. 取る means “take” or “obtain” here. It is the dictionary form of the verb; in this sentence it appears before 必要があります in the pattern V-る必要があります, meaning “need to do V.” For example, 予約を取る必要があります。 means “You need to make a reservation.” 必要があります expresses that something is necessary. 必要 is the noun “necessity,” が marks what exists or is present, and あります is the polite nonpast form of ある for inanimate existence. Together with a verb in the plain nonpast form, V-る必要があります means “need to do V.” Here, 取る必要があります means “need to take/obtain [it].” The fixed translation’s “would need to” presents this as a requirement in the situation; the Japanese wording itself uses the polite necessity pattern rather than a separate conditional form. Putting the parts together, 昼食の後に sets the time as “after lunch,” 新しい整理券を marks “a new numbered ticket” as the object, and 取る必要があります says that obtaining it is necessary. The whole utterance means: “You would need to take a new ticket after lunch.”

7. では、もうここにいるので、今は待ちます。

   Then I'll wait for now since I'm already here.

   では

   then; well then

   もう

   already

   ここ

   here

   にいる

   be at/in a place

   ので

   since; because

   今は

   for now

   待ちます

   will wait

   More detail

   では introduces the utterance as a transition: “then” or “well then.” It is a useful way to move from what has just been said to the speaker’s next decision. もう means “already” here. It places the situation before the relevant reference point: the speaker is already at the place. With a negative expression, もう can instead mean “no longer,” so the following form matters. ここ means “here,” referring to the location relevant in the conversation. Japanese location words include ここ “here,” そこ “there near you,” and あそこ “over there.” にいる expresses being present at a place. いる is the plain form meaning “be/exist” for animate beings, while に marks the location. A reusable pattern is [place]にいる = “be at [place].” For example, 私は家にいる。 means “I am at home.” ので connects a reason to a result and means “since” or “because.” Here, もうここにいるので gives the reason for the decision that follows: the speaker is already here. Compared with a more direct causal connector such as から, ので often presents the reason in a relatively explanatory or gentle way. 今は means “for now” or “as for now.” 今 means “now,” and は marks it as the topic, with a possible contrast against another time. The phrase does not by itself specify how long the waiting will last. 待ちます is the polite nonpast form of 待つ, “to wait.” In this context, the nonpast polite form presents the speaker’s immediate decision or intention: “I’ll wait.” The corresponding plain form is 待つ; the polite past form is 待ちました, “waited.” Together, では sets up the next step, もうここにいるので gives the reason “since I’m already here,” and 今は待ちます states the current choice “I’ll wait for now.” The complete utterance means: “Then I’ll wait for now since I’m already here.”

8. 画面をよく見ていてください。

   Please keep an eye on the screen.

   画面

   screen

   よく

   carefully; closely

   見ていてください

   please keep watching

   More detail

   画面 means “screen” here. It is a noun and can be used with を when it is the thing directly watched or viewed: 画面を見る means “look at/watch the screen.” よく modifies the watching action. In this sentence it means “carefully” or “closely,” so the request is to pay close attention. The same form can have other context-dependent meanings, such as “often” or “well,” but those are not the intended meaning here. 見ていてください is a polite request built from 見る (“to watch/look at”): 見て is its て-form, 見ている presents the action as continuing, and 見ていてください asks someone to continue doing it. The pattern Vていてください is reusable for “please keep V-ing.” For example, ここで待っていてください。 means “Please keep waiting here.” Together, 画面を identifies what is watched, よく says to watch it closely, and 見ていてください asks the listener to continue watching. The whole utterance therefore means: “Please keep an eye on the screen.”