JLPT N3 Grammar (kurai / gurai)

Meaning

approximately; about; around; to the extent ~

How to use

Verb (casual form)くらい
ぐらい
Noun
な-adjective + な
い-adjective
kurai gurai くらい ぐらい jlpt n3 grammar meaning 文法 例文 japanese flashcards

Learn Japanese grammar: (kurai / gurai). Meaning: approximately; about; around; to the extent ~;

Both of these are interchangeable and there are two main ways that they can be used:

Meaning 1) Describing an approximate amount

Approximate a certain size or amount of something. For example, how much money, how many people, how big, etc… Let’s look at a basic example:

ima wa hyaku nin kurai ga heya ni iru.

There are approximately 100 people in the room now.

Meaning 2) Assess or compare the quality/level of something

This grammar point can be used to compare two objects as being equal, for example saying that item [A] is of the same level as item [B].

Alternatively, it can also be used to say that something of a high or low / level.

Let’s look at some examples:

kanojo ga watashi to onaji kurai se ga takai n da.

My girlfriend is about the same height as me.

High level (praising) NOTE for very high level items, you should use instead.

karee ga daisuki. Mai nichi tabetai kurai da.

I love curry so much (high level) that I could eat it every day.

Low Level (disregard)

konna kantanna koto kurai, dare demo dekiru.

This task is so simple (low level), anybody could do it.


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- Example Sentences

Each example sentence includes a Japanese hint, the romaji reading, and the English translation.

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Example #1

どれくらいにほんにすんでいますか?
dore kurai nihon ni sundeimasu ka?
How long have you been living in Japan?
Example #2

どのぐらいれんしゅうしたんですか?
dono gurai renshuu shitan desu ka?
About how long did you practice?
Example #3

しけんがむずかしくて、なきたいくらいだ。
shiken ga muzukashikute, nakitai kurai da.
The test was so difficult, I felt like I wanted to cry.
Example #4

おきゃくさまはどのぐらいいますか?
okyaku sama wa dono gurai imasu ka?
About how many customers are there?
Example #5

いえからえきまでじてんしゃで20ぷんぐらいかかります。
ie kara eki made jitensha de nijuu pun gurai kakarimasu.
It takes about 20 minutes from my house to the station by bicycle.
Example #6

にほんごどれぐらいはなせますか?
nihongo dore gurai hanasemasu ka?
How much Japanese can you speak?
Example #7

どのくらいかいがいにいましたか?
dono kurai kaigai ni imashita ka?
About how long were you abroad?
Example #8

きょうくらいはかぞくとすごそう。
kyou kurai wa kazoku to sugosou.
Let's at least spend today together as a family.

Vocabulary List

KanjiKanaEnglish
部屋へやroom
彼女かのじょgirlfriend
height
毎日まいにちevery day
簡単なかんたんなeasy
誰でもだれでもanyone
お客様おきゃくさまCustomer(s)
試験しけんExam
難しいむずかしいdifficult
泣きたいなきたいwant to cry
練習れんしゅうpractice
いえhome
えきstation
自転車じてんしゃbicycle
海外かいがいabroad
住むすむto live
家族かぞくfamily
過ごすすごすto spend

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JLPT N3 vocabulary list

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