〜くらい / 〜ぐらい "about / to the extent that"
kurai / gurai
By Nihongo PathUpdated
This form is also taught at JLPT N3, where it carries a different sense or register.
Meaning
(1) Approximate quantity ("about"); (2) degree ("so … that", "as much as"); (3) minimising ("at least / something as small as").
くらい (or ぐらい, same meaning) has three jobs. (1) With a number it means "about": 十分くらい = about ten minutes. (2) After a verb or adjective it shows a degree, "so much that": 泣きたいくらい疲れた = I'm so tired I could cry. (3) After a noun it can minimise, "at least / something as small as": 自分の部屋くらい自分で掃除しなさい = at least clean your own room. どのくらい asks "how much / how long".
Estimates of time, money and quantity in everyday speech (三時間くらい), vivid descriptions of degree, and mild scolding or modesty with the "at least" sense. For a point in time use ごろ (三時ごろ), for a length or amount use くらい.
Formation
V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
Number / quantity + くらい: 十分くらい, 五人くらいV-plain + くらい: 泣きたいくらい, 歩けないくらいい-adjective + くらい: 痛いくらいな-adjective + なくらい: 不思議なくらいNoun + くらい (minimising): 挨拶くらいこの / その / どの + くらい: どのくらい = how much / long
Visual diagram
- Step 1駅まで十分くらいかかるabout: approximate amount (number + くらい)
- Step 2泣きたいくらい疲れたdegree: so tired that I could cry (clause + くらい)
- Step 3挨拶くらいしなさいat least: the smallest thing you could do (noun + くらい)
Natural examples
駅まで十分くらいかかります。
えきまで じゅっぷんくらい かかります。
It takes about ten minutes to the station.
About ten minutes: approximate quantity.
泣きたいくらい疲れた。
なきたいくらい つかれた。
I'm so tired I could cry.
Degree: tiredness at the level of wanting to cry.
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 least clean your own room yourself.
Minimising: your own room is the least you can do.
この教室には学生が三十人ぐらいいます。
このきょうしつには がくせいが さんじゅうにんぐらい います。
There are about thirty students in this classroom.
ぐらい after a number: about.
A：駅までどのくらいかかりますか。 B：歩いて十五分くらいです。
A：えきまで どのくらい かかりますか。 B：あるいて じゅうごふんくらいです。
A: How long does it take to the station? B: About fifteen minutes on foot.
どのくらい asks the amount; the answer uses 〜くらいです.
Similar grammar and the difference
〜ごろ
ごろ = around (a point in time): 三時ごろ. くらい = about (an amount or length): 三時間くらい.
ほど is used in the fixed negative comparison; くらい is not. For positive degree they are similar (泣きたいくらい / 泣きたいほど). Compare side by side
すぎる says "too much". くらい describes the level with an example (歩けないくらい痛い). Compare side by side
Common mistakes
- ✗
- 三時くらいに会いましょう。(as a time point)
- ✓
- 三時ごろに会いましょう。
- Why
- ごろ is the natural choice for clock times; くらい is heard, but the exam prefers ごろ for a point in time.
- ✗
- 三時間ごろかかります。
- ✓
- 三時間くらいかかります。
- Why
- A length of time takes くらい, never ごろ.
- ✗
- 不思議くらい静かだ。
- ✓
- 不思議なくらい静かだ。
- Why
- な-adjectives need な before くらい.
くらい and ぐらい are interchangeable; after この / その / どの, くらい is more common. The "at least" use sounds critical or modest: 名前くらい覚えてよ (at least remember my name). 〜くらい〜はない works like ほど for a superlative: これくらいおいしいケーキはない.
JLPT N4 tips
On the exam
- Number + blank + かかる / いる / ある → くらい. Clock time + blank → ごろ. This ごろ / くらい contrast is a standard item.
- A blank after a whole clause describing extreme degree (泣きたい, 動けない) also takes くらい; distractors like だけ or しか will not fit.
Frequently asked questions
What does 〜くらい / 〜ぐらい "about / to the extent that" mean?
(1) Approximate quantity ("about"); (2) degree ("so … that", "as much as"); (3) minimising ("at least / something as small as"). くらい (or ぐらい, same meaning) has three jobs. (1) With a number it means "about": 十分くらい = about ten minutes. (2) After a verb or adjective it shows a degree, "so much that": 泣きたいくらい疲れた = I'm so tired I could cry. (3) After a noun it can minimise, "at least / something as small as": 自分の部屋くらい自分で掃除しなさい = at least clean your own room. どのくらい asks "how much / how long".
How do you form 〜くらい / 〜ぐらい "about / to the extent that"?
Number / quantity + くらい: 十分くらい, 五人くらい / V-plain + くらい: 泣きたいくらい, 歩けないくらい / い-adjective + くらい: 痛いくらい / な-adjective + なくらい: 不思議なくらい / Noun + くらい (minimising): 挨拶くらい / この / その / どの + くらい: どのくらい = how much / long. V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
When is 〜くらい / 〜ぐらい "about / to the extent that" used?
Estimates of time, money and quantity in everyday speech (三時間くらい), vivid descriptions of degree, and mild scolding or modesty with the "at least" sense. For a point in time use ごろ (三時ごろ), for a length or amount use くらい.
What is the difference between 〜くらい / 〜ぐらい "about / to the extent that" and 〜ごろ?
ごろ = around (a point in time): 三時ごろ. くらい = about (an amount or length): 三時間くらい.
What is the difference between 〜くらい / 〜ぐらい "about / to the extent that" and 〜ほど〜ない?
ほど is used in the fixed negative comparison; くらい is not. For positive degree they are similar (泣きたいくらい / 泣きたいほど).
What is a common mistake with 〜くらい / 〜ぐらい "about / to the extent that"?
Wrong: 三時くらいに会いましょう。(as a time point) Right: 三時ごろに会いましょう。 ごろ is the natural choice for clock times; くらい is heard, but the exam prefers ごろ for a point in time.
Quick check
家から学校まで歩いて二十分（ ）かかります。