くらい (kurai) Meaning Japanese Grammar - About
Anna Baffa Volpe
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Anna Baffa Volpe
6 min reading time
The term くらい (kurai) means about, approximately, around or to the extent.
There is another form ぐらい (gurai) commonly used in spoken language.
In this post we learn more about the meaning of くらい, how it is formed, and when くらい is used through real example sentences.
How くらい is formed
くらい can be transcribed into kanji: 位 whose meaning is rank, or grade of something.
後5分くらいで着きます。
I'll be there in about five minutes.
Counters or numeric suffixes are parts of the language used to count things in various categories. In the previous sentence we have found the counter for the minutes 分 and for the hours we use 時.
- number + counter: 5時12分
ピザが大好き。毎日食べたいくらいだ。
I love pizza. I would eat it every day.
こんな簡単な仕事くらい、誰でもできる。
This job is so easy that anybody could do it.
Literally: Anyone can do such a simple job.
5連休が必要なぐらい疲れています。
I am tired to the extent that it is necessary for me to have 5 days off.
How and when くらい is used
くらい is used to describe an approximate quantity or amount, a certain size or an estimation. くらい expresses time duration, distance, length and quantity
あなたの学校の生徒数はどのぐらいですか。
How many students are there in your school?
くらい expressing low degree
コーヒーぐらい、奢らせてよ。
Let me at least buy you a cup of coffee.
このゲームは暇つぶしぐらいにはなる。
This game is at least a way to pass the time.
くらい expressing high degree
自分の部屋ぐらい落ち着く場所はない。
There's no better place to relax than your own room.
どのぐらい to ask time duration
If we need to ask how long it takes to go from one place to another, we use the question word どのぐらい.
ジョン
大阪から鎌倉までどのぐらいかかりますか。
How long does it take to get from Osaka to Kamakura?
山田
電車で5時間ぐらいです。
It takes about 5 hours by train.
It is also used to express quantity of something or an amount.
だいたいどのくらいの値段でいけますか。
Approximately how much can you afford?
You could ask a friend who came to visit your city:
どのくらいの期間、滞在する予定ですか。
How long do you plan to stay?
どのぐらい + particle の when followed by a noun. どのぐらい is also used with the meaning of to what extent?
彼女はどのぐらい信用できる人ですか。
To what extent can she be trusted?
同じぐらい
同じ means same, equivalent and combined with ぐらい becomes roughly the same, about the same.
それらはだいたい同じくらいの大きさだ。
They are about the same size.
Examples of くらい
1,000円ぐらいで買えるよ。
You can buy it for about 1.000 yen.
円 is the the counter for the currency of Japan: Yen
お水は何本ぐらい用意すればいいですか？
How many bottles of water should I prepare?
本 counter for thin and long things
声も出ないぐらい驚いた。
I was so surprised that I couldn't even speak.
びっくりするくらいハマれる！
You'll be surprised how addictive it can be!
In the sentence we find the verb はまる referring to something that pleases and excites, captures the attention and engages to the point of becoming addicted. In this case we are talking about the release of a new version of the Play Station.
聞こえないぐらい小さい音だ。
The sound is so low that you can't hear it.
Similar grammar points in Japanese 📚