Skip to content
道Nihongo Path

JLPT N3 grammar comparison

〜くらい / 〜ぐらい vs 〜ほど

By Nihongo PathUpdated

The difference

From the 〜くらい / 〜ぐらい lesson

〜ほど: Also degree, but ほど is not used for "at least / as small as". 死ぬほど and 死ぬくらい are both fine.

From the 〜ほど lesson

〜くらい / 〜ぐらい: Interchangeable for high degree; only くらい has the minimal "at least" meaning.

Side by side

〜くらい / 〜ぐらい

kurai gurai · JLPT N3

Meaning
(1) "to the extent that ~", "so ~ that ~"; (2) "at least ~", "something as trivial as ~"; (3) an approximate amount.
Formation
Plain form + くらい / ぐらいい-adj + くらい; な-adj + な + くらいN / quantity + くらい

  1. 駅まで歩いて十分くらいかかる。

    えきまであるいてじゅっぷんくらいかかる。

    It takes about ten minutes to walk to the station.

  2. 自分の部屋くらい、自分で掃除しなさい。

    じぶんのへやくらい、じぶんでそうじしなさい。

    At the very least, clean your own room yourself.

Full lesson on 〜くらい / 〜ぐらい

〜ほど

hodo · JLPT N3

Meaning
(1) "to the extent of ~", "so ~ that ~"; (2) approximate quantity (more formal than くらい); (3) 〜ほど〜はない = "nothing is as ~ as ~".
Formation
V-dict / V-ない + ほどい-adj + ほど; な-adj + な + ほどN / quantity + ほどN + ほど + N + はない (superlative)

  1. 一週間ほど休みを取りたい。

    いっしゅうかんほどやすみをとりたい。

    I'd like to take about a week off.

  2. 今日は死ぬほど疲れた。

    きょうはしぬほどつかれた。

    I'm dead tired today.

Full lesson on 〜ほど

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between 〜くらい / 〜ぐらい and 〜ほど?

Also degree, but ほど is not used for "at least / as small as". 死ぬほど and 死ぬくらい are both fine.

When do you use 〜ほど instead of 〜くらい / 〜ぐらい?

Interchangeable for high degree; only くらい has the minimal "at least" meaning.