Skip to content
道Nihongo Path

JLPT N5 grammar comparison

ごろ ／ ぐらい・くらい vs Counters (つ・人・本・枚・匹・冊・台・杯・回・階)

By Nihongo PathUpdated

The difference

From the ごろ ／ ぐらい・くらい lesson

Counters (つ・人・本・枚・匹・冊・台・杯・回・階): ぐらい follows a number + counter.

Side by side

ごろ ／ ぐらい・くらい

goro / gurai · JLPT N5

Meaning
ごろ = "around / about" a point in time; ぐらい (くらい) = "about / approximately" an amount or duration.
Formation
Time point + ごろ　／　Quantity・Duration + ぐらい

  1. 毎朝七時ごろ起きます。

    まいあさ しちじごろ おきます。

    I get up at around seven every morning.

  2. 駅まで歩いて十分ぐらいかかります。

    えきまで あるいて じゅっぷんぐらい かかります。

    It takes about ten minutes to walk to the station.

Full lesson on ごろ ／ ぐらい・くらい

Counters (つ・人・本・枚・匹・冊・台・杯・回・階)

counters · JLPT N5

Meaning
Numbers must be followed by a counter matching the type of object.
Formation
Noun + を／が + Number + counter + verb　(the counter phrase usually sits right before the verb)

  1. りんごを三つください。

    りんごを みっつ ください。

    Three apples, please.

  2. 家族は四人です。

    かぞくは よにんです。

    There are four people in my family.

Full lesson on Counters (つ・人・本・枚・匹・冊・台・杯・回・階)

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between ごろ ／ ぐらい・くらい and Counters (つ・人・本・枚・匹・冊・台・杯・回・階)?

ぐらい follows a number + counter.