What's the best way to express in in the following sentence:
I will go in five minutes time.
Here's my attempt
五分かいあとで行きます。
Here's another attempt which I have even less confidence in:
いまから五分行きます
Assuming the above are correct then I would translate them as "I will go after 5 minutes", and "I will go 5 minutes from now". So, questions:
- Are the above correct?
- If not then please explain what I've done wrong.
- Are there better ways to say it?
Please excuse the inconsistent kanji. I've only used the kanji I already know.
Thanks
Answer
The easiest and most commonly-used structure for expressing:
"come/go/return, etc. + in + (time period) " would be to use particle 「で」 and say:
「(time period) + で + [来]{き}ます/[行]{い}きます/[戻]{もど}ります, etc.」
This would by far be the most versatile way of expressing "in (a time period)"
Other expressions:
「(time period) + [後]{ご}に + (verb phrase)」
This expression is less versatile than the one using 「で」 because it cannot be used to make a general statement such as "Instant ramen cooks in 3 minutes."
「インスタントラーメンは3分でできる。」 can be said anytime as a general statement because it is "true".
「インスタントラーメンは3分後にできる。」, however, can only be said when you are actually starting to cook instant ramen.
I have seen quite a few Japanese-learners make mistakes in using these two expressions correctly.
You can also choose to place 「あと」 in front of the time period and say:
「あと5分で行きます。」
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