- 5 May 2013
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I have noticed that sentences exist both that do and that don't use 間 when talking about time. E.g.,
20分勉強しました
20分間勉強しました
20分くらい勉強しました
20分間くらい勉強しました
20分かかります
20分間かかります
20分くらいかかります
20分かかります
I believe all of these are valid sentences, or at least valid phrases in larger sentences, but I'm not sure what decides when 間 is and isn't used. Does it have to do with politeness, perhaps? Does the verb that goes with the time make a difference? Does using a modifier like くらい change how likely it is to drop the 間?
Also, is there ever a time 間 is not used to express a duration of time with 時?
It's very often essential because otherwise you would read it as a time of day, but there are durations and verbs where that's not true, e.g.,
72時間続けました
2時間かかります
There can't be a "72 o'clock", and it doesn't make sense to something will take "2 o'clock" to happen.
Still, even though it's unambiguous I think the 間 might still be required just because it's hours?
20分勉強しました
20分間勉強しました
20分くらい勉強しました
20分間くらい勉強しました
20分かかります
20分間かかります
20分くらいかかります
20分かかります
I believe all of these are valid sentences, or at least valid phrases in larger sentences, but I'm not sure what decides when 間 is and isn't used. Does it have to do with politeness, perhaps? Does the verb that goes with the time make a difference? Does using a modifier like くらい change how likely it is to drop the 間?
Also, is there ever a time 間 is not used to express a duration of time with 時?
It's very often essential because otherwise you would read it as a time of day, but there are durations and verbs where that's not true, e.g.,
72時間続けました
2時間かかります
There can't be a "72 o'clock", and it doesn't make sense to something will take "2 o'clock" to happen.
Still, even though it's unambiguous I think the 間 might still be required just because it's hours?