くらい/ぐらい

About/approximately

Level 2Sounds Like kurai/gurai

くらい (or ぐらい) is the go-to word for 'about' or 'approximately' in Japanese. It follows numbers, time durations, or even verbs to show the scale or intensity of something.

How It Works

くらい and ぐらい are essentially the same, though ぐらい is more common in spoken Japanese due to rendaku (sequential voicing). Both forms are common and interchangeable when following demonstratives like これ (e.g., これくらい or これぐらい).

1. Approximation (Quantity/Time)
When placed after a number or counter, it means 'about.' Note that unlike English 'about,' it always comes after the number.
Example: いちじかんぐらい (一時間ぐらい - About one hour).

2. Degree or Extent
It can follow verbs or adjectives to show how intense a situation is. It translates to 'to the extent that...' or 'so... that...'
Example: なきたいくらい (泣きたいくらい - To the extent that I want to cry).

3. Minimum Expectation (Triviality)
It can suggest that something is the bare minimum or 'at least' what should be done. This usage often carries a nuance that the item is small, easy, or trivial.
Example: あいさつぐらい (挨拶ぐらい - At least a greeting).

Grammar Note:
• For a specific point in time (like 'around 3 o'clock'), use ごろ instead. Use くらい for durations.
• Important: くらい cannot be used for negative comparisons (e.g., 'A is not as [adjective] as B'). In these cases, you must use ほど instead.

Examples (4)

  1. ここから駅まで１０分くらい歩きます。

    I walk for about 10 minutes from here to the station.

    Word by Word: Here from station until 10 minutes about walk.

    Here, くらい follows a duration of time (10 minutes) to show it is an estimate.

  2. 昨日は死ぬくらい忙しかったです。

    Yesterday I was so busy I could die.

    Word by Word: Yesterday (topic) die extent busy was.

    In this case, くらい shows the extreme degree of how busy the speaker was.

  3. これくらいなら、私にもできます。

    If it's about this much, even I can do it.

    Word by Word: This about if, me even can do.

    くらい attaches to the demonstrative これ (this) to indicate a level or amount.

  4. ひらがなぐらいは読めます。

    I can at least read Hiragana.

    Word by Word: Hiragana at least (topic) can read.

    Here, ぐらい indicates a minimum level or expectation.

Common Mistakes

  • Placing 'about' before the number like in English.

    くらい三時間かかります。
    三時間くらいかかります。

    In Japanese, くらい must follow the quantity or counter it is modifying.

  • Using くらい for a specific point in time.

    三時くらいに会いましょう。
    三時ごろに会いましょう。

    While common in casual speech, strictly speaking, くらい is for durations/amounts. Use ごろ for specific clock times.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

くらい/ぐらいLevel 2About/approximately

Learn This First

To understand 'kurai/gurai' (about/approximately), you first need to be familiar with Japanese counters and time units, as this pattern most commonly modifies quantities and durations. Basic sentence structure is also required to know where to place the approximation marker relative to the noun or counter it modifies.

Words in This Pattern

ぐらい