ごろ ／ ぐらい・くらい
goro / gurai
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Meaning
ごろ = "around / about" a point in time; ぐらい (くらい) = "about / approximately" an amount or duration.
ごろ and ぐらい both mean "about", but for different things. ごろ is for a point in time: 七時ごろ "around seven o'clock". ぐらい (also くらい) is for an amount or a length of time: 十分ぐらい "about ten minutes", 三十人ぐらい "about thirty people". The test question to ask: is it a clock time or date (ごろ) or a quantity (ぐらい)?
Estimating when you get up, how long a trip takes, how many people came, how much something costs.
Formation
V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
Time point + ごろ ／ Quantity・Duration + ぐらい
Visual diagram
| Aspect | ごろ | ぐらい |
|---|---|---|
| Attaches to | a point in time | an amount or duration |
| Example | 三時ごろ (around 3 o'clock) | 三時間ぐらい (about 3 hours) |
| Question | 何時ごろ | どのぐらい |
Natural examples
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.
Clock time + ごろ.
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.
Duration + ぐらい.
学生が三十人ぐらい来ました。
がくせいが さんじゅうにんぐらい きました。
About thirty students came.
Number of people + ぐらい.
このかばんは五千円ぐらいでした。
この かばんは ごせんえんぐらいでした。
This bag was about 5,000 yen.
Price = amount → ぐらい.
来月の十日ごろに国へ帰ります。
らいげつの とおかごろに くにへ かえります。
I'm going back to my country around the 10th of next month.
A date is a point in time → ごろ.
Similar grammar and the difference
ごろ can be followed by に or not: 七時ごろ(に)起きます. Compare side by side
ぐらい follows a number + counter. Compare side by side
Common mistakes
- ✗
- 三時間ごろ
- ✓
- 三時間ぐらい
- Why
- A duration is an amount → ぐらい.
- ✗
- 七時ぐらい (as the tested answer)
- ✓
- 七時ごろ
- Why
- Clock times take ごろ on the exam, even though ぐらい is heard in speech.
- ✗
- 五千円ごろ
- ✓
- 五千円ぐらい
- Why
- Money is an amount → ぐらい.
Classic exam contrast: 三時ごろ (around 3 o'clock — point in time) vs 三時間ぐらい (about 3 hours — duration). ×七時ぐらいに is heard in speech but ごろ is the tested form for clock times. どのぐらい／どのくらい = "how long / how much".
JLPT N5 tips
On the exam
- 時 (o'clock) → ごろ; 時間 (hours) → ぐらい. This single contrast appears almost every year.
- People, yen, minutes, kilometres, pages: all amounts → ぐらい.
Frequently asked questions
What does ごろ ／ ぐらい・くらい mean?
ごろ = "around / about" a point in time; ぐらい (くらい) = "about / approximately" an amount or duration. ごろ and ぐらい both mean "about", but for different things. ごろ is for a point in time: 七時ごろ "around seven o'clock". ぐらい (also くらい) is for an amount or a length of time: 十分ぐらい "about ten minutes", 三十人ぐらい "about thirty people". The test question to ask: is it a clock time or date (ごろ) or a quantity (ぐらい)?
How do you form ごろ ／ ぐらい・くらい?
Time point + ごろ ／ Quantity・Duration + ぐらい. V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
When is ごろ ／ ぐらい・くらい used?
Estimating when you get up, how long a trip takes, how many people came, how much something costs.
What is the difference between ごろ ／ ぐらい・くらい and に (specific time)?
ごろ can be followed by に or not: 七時ごろ(に)起きます.
What is the difference between ごろ ／ ぐらい・くらい and Counters?
ぐらい follows a number + counter.
What is a common mistake with ごろ ／ ぐらい・くらい?
Wrong: 三時間ごろ Right: 三時間ぐらい A duration is an amount → ぐらい.
Quick check
What goes in ( )? 毎朝 七時（ ）起きます。