~くらい
When used with numbers or quantities, the Japanese particle "~くらい" (or "~ぐらい") indicates approximation, similar to "about" or "approximately" in English. For example, 「３０分くらい」means "about 30 minutes."
It can also be used to express a degree or extent, such as 「これくらい」("about this much/this extent") or 「私くらい」("about my level/my extent"). In this context, it often implies a comparison or a general estimation of size, quantity, or degree.
「〜くらい」is also used to indicate a lower limit of something. For example, 「ご飯を食べるくらい時間がある」means "I have enough time to eat dinner," meaning at least that amount of time.
You might also hear it in phrases like 「泣きたいくらい嬉しい」("so happy I could cry"), where it emphasizes the intensity of the feeling to a certain degree.
When discussing quantities, Japanese uses counters which follow a number. For example, to say "two books," you would say 「本を二冊」 (hon o ni-satsu). If you want to say "about two books," you would add ~くらい after the counter, like so: 「本を二冊くらい」 (hon o ni-satsu kurai).
This is also true for time. If you want to say "about two hours," you would say 「二時間くらい」 (ni-jikan kurai).
You can also use ~くらい to discuss approximate amounts of things you don't count, like water. For example, 「水はグラス一杯くらい」 (mizu wa gurasu ippai kurai) means "about one glass of water."
You can also use ~くらい when you're giving examples. For example, if you want to say, "People like John and Sarah will come," you can say, 「ジョンさんやサラさんくらいの人が来ます」 (Jon-san ya Sara-san kurai no hito ga kimasu). This means "People like John and Sarah will come."
~くらい en 30 secondes
- Use to mean 'about' or 'approximately'.
- Can indicate approximate quantity, time, or degree.
- Often interchangeable with ~gurai (~ぐらい).
§ What ~くらい Means
- Japanese Word
- ~くらい (particle)
- CEFR Level
- A2
- Definition
- About, approximately. This particle is used to express an approximate quantity, degree, or extent.
The particle ~くらい (kurai) is super useful in Japanese. It's how you say "about" or "approximately" when talking about amounts, times, or even degrees of something. Think of it as a way to be a bit vague without being rude or unhelpful. You'll hear this all the time, whether someone is talking about how long something took or how much something costs.
§ Using ~くらい for Time and Duration
One of the most common ways you'll hear ~くらい is when people are talking about time. This could be how long something will take, how long it has been, or how much time someone needs.
会議はあと30分くらいで終わります。
Translation hint: The meeting will finish in about 30 minutes.
彼は毎日8時間くらい働いています。
Translation hint: He works about 8 hours every day.
§ Using ~くらい for Quantities and Amounts
Beyond time, ~くらい is perfect for talking about approximate quantities of things, whether it's money, people, or items. You'll use this a lot in shops, restaurants, or just in general conversation about numbers.
この本は2000円くらいです。
Translation hint: This book is about 2000 yen.
パーティーには30人くらい来ました。
Translation hint: About 30 people came to the party.
§ Using ~くらい for Degree or Extent
You can also use ~くらい to express a degree or extent of something, like "to the extent that" or "so much that." This usage is a little more advanced but still very common.
疲れて何もできないくらいです。
Translation hint: I'm tired to the extent that I can't do anything.
子供でもわかるくらい簡単な説明です。
Translation hint: It's an explanation simple enough for even a child to understand.
§ Everyday Scenarios for ~くらい
Here are some more situations where you'll definitely hear and use ~くらい:
- At work: Your colleague might ask, 「この資料、いつまでにできますか？」 (Kono shiryō, itsu made ni dekimasu ka? - When can you finish this document?) and you could reply, 「今日の午後3時くらいには。」 (Kyō no gogo san-ji kurai ni wa. - Around 3 PM today.)
- At school: A teacher might say, 「宿題は1週間くらいで提出してください。」 (Shukudai wa isshūkan kurai de teishutsu shite kudasai. - Please submit the homework in about one week.)
- In the news: You might hear, 「今年の夏は去年と同じくらい暑くなるでしょう。」 (Kotoshi no natsu wa kyonen to onaji kurai atsuku naru deshō. - This summer will probably be about as hot as last year.)
- Shopping: If you're asking about the size of something, 「このシャツはMサイズくらいですか？」 (Kono shatsu wa M-saizu kurai desu ka? - Is this shirt about a size M?)
As you can see, ~くらい is incredibly versatile. Mastering it will make your Japanese sound much more natural and allow you to communicate approximate information clearly. Keep an ear out for it, and don't hesitate to use it in your own conversations!
Le savais-tu ?
Can be written with the kanji 位 (くらい), which literally means 'rank' or 'position'. This kanji is often omitted when writing ~くらい as a particle.
Exemples par niveau
毎日3時間ぐらい日本語を勉強しています。
I study Japanese for about 3 hours every day.
東京から大阪まで新幹線で2時間半ぐらいかかります。
It takes about two and a half hours from Tokyo to Osaka by Shinkansen.
この本は2000円ぐらいでした。
This book was about 2000 yen.
彼は私と同じくらいの背の高さです。
He is about the same height as me.
あと5分くらいで着くと思います。
I think I'll arrive in about 5 minutes.
このコーヒー、もう少し甘いほうがいいくらいです。
This coffee, it's almost to the point where it would be better a little sweeter.
「〜くらいだ」で「〜の程度だ」という意味
この部屋には10人くらい入れます。
About 10 people can fit in this room.
彼女はモデルくらいスタイルがいい。
She has a figure as good as a model's.
「AくらいB」で「Aと同じくらいB」という意味
今年の夏休みは一週間くらい旅行に行きました。
I went on a trip for about a week this summer vacation.
この本を読むのに2時間くらいかかります。
It takes about 2 hours to read this book.
彼とはもう10年くらいの付き合いになります。
I've known him for about 10 years now.
東京から大阪までは新幹線で2時間半くらいです。
It's about 2 and a half hours from Tokyo to Osaka by Shinkansen.
私の身長は160センチくらいです。
My height is about 160 centimeters.
毎朝、コーヒーを一杯くらい飲みます。
I drink about one cup of coffee every morning.
あと5分くらいで着くと思います。
I think I'll arrive in about 5 more minutes.
このパソコンは10万円くらいでした。
This computer was about 100,000 yen.
今年の夏は、去年と同じくらい暑いですね。
This summer is about as hot as last year, isn't it?
〜くらい/ぐらい is often used with comparisons.
彼は私くらいの背丈です。
He is about my height.
〜くらい/ぐらい can indicate similarity in size or degree.
この本を読むのに３時間くらいかかります。
It takes about 3 hours to read this book.
Used with duration to mean 'about' or 'approximately'.
彼女は毎日１０時間くらい勉強しています。
She studies about 10 hours every day.
Can be used with frequency or quantity.
そこに着くまでに２０分くらいかかると思います。
I think it will take about 20 minutes to get there.
Often used with verbs indicating time or effort.
このバッグは５０００円くらいで買えます。
You can buy this bag for about 5000 yen.
Used with prices to indicate an approximate cost.
彼は３０歳くらいに見えます。
He looks about 30 years old.
Can be used to express an approximate age.
週末には、いつも１０人くらいの友達が集まります。
About 10 friends always gather on weekends.
Used to express an approximate number of people or things.
Collocations courantes
Phrases Courantes
東京までどのくらいかかりますか？
How long does it take to Tokyo?
2時間くらいかかります。
It takes about two hours.
何時くらいに着きますか？
About what time will you arrive?
どのくらい日本語を勉強していますか？
How long have you been studying Japanese?
1年くらい勉強しています。
I've been studying for about a year.
これくらいでいいですか？
Is this much (amount/size) good?
私は毎日くらいコーヒーを飲みます。
I drink coffee almost every day.
この本は2000円くらいです。
This book is about 2000 yen.
来月くらい日本に行く予定です。
I plan to go to Japan around next month.
もう少し小さいくらいのがいいです。
Something a little smaller would be good.
Souvent confondu avec
Interchangeable with ~くらい. No functional difference, though ~くらい might be slightly more common in formal writing.
Can mean 'about,' but also 'to the extent that' or used in negative comparisons. More versatile than ~くらい.
Can mean 'about' for approximation, but also 'only,' 'just finished,' or 'nothing but.' Context is key.
Expressions idiomatiques
"これくらい"
About this much, this extent.
これくらいでいいですか？ (Is this much okay?)
neutral"あれくらい"
About that much, that extent.
あれくらいの量で十分です。(That amount is enough.)
neutral"どのくらい"
About how much/many? How long?
日本にどのくらい住んでいますか？(How long have you lived in Japan?)
neutral"〜くらいなら"
If it's about ~, I'd rather...
やるくらいなら、ちゃんとやってください。(If you're going to do it, please do it properly.)
neutral"〜くらいだ"
It's about ~ (emphasizing extent)
疲れて歩けないくらいだ。(I'm so tired I can barely walk.)
neutral"〜くらいの"
About ~ (modifying a noun)
子供くらいの高さです。(It's about the height of a child.)
neutral"〜くらいしか"
Only about ~ (emphasizing limitation)
これくらいしか食べられない。(I can only eat about this much.)
neutral"〜くらいならまだしも"
It would be one thing if it were about ~, but...
ちょっと遅れるくらいならまだしも、来ないのは困る。(Being a little late is one thing, but not coming at all is a problem.)
neutral"〜くらいで済む"
It's only about ~ (implying a minor issue)
これくらいで済んでよかった。(It's good that it only came to this much.)
neutral"〜くらいしか〜ない"
There's only about ~
彼くらいしかこの問題を解けない。(Only he can solve this problem.)
neutralFacile à confondre
Many learners wonder if there's a difference between くらい and ぐらい. The good news is, there isn't! They're interchangeable. You'll hear both in daily conversation.
No difference in meaning or usage. くらい is generally preferred in formal writing, but both are common in speech.
彼と話したいくらいです。 (I want to talk to him, for about that much.)
Both ~くらい and ~ほど can mean 'about' or 'approximately.' However, ~ほど can also imply a degree or extent, sometimes with a negative nuance or comparison.
~くらい focuses purely on approximation. ~ほど can also express 'to the extent that' or 'so much that,' and is often used in comparisons (e.g., 'A is not as X as B').
彼女くらい美しい。 (She is about that beautiful.) 彼女ほど美しくない。 (Not as beautiful as she is.)
Both can mean 'about' when talking about amounts or time, but ばかり has additional meanings that ~くらい doesn't.
~くらい strictly means 'about/approximately.' ばかり can also mean 'only,' 'just finished,' or 'nothing but.' When used for approximation, ばかり often implies a rounded number or a slightly less precise estimate.
彼は毎日ゲームばかりしています。 (He does nothing but play games every day.) 3時間くらいかかります。 (It takes about 3 hours.)
およそ also means 'approximately' or 'about,' similar to ~くらい.
およそ is an adverb and is generally considered more formal or literary than ~くらい. ~くらい is a particle and attaches to quantities, times, or nouns.
およそ20人が集まった。 (Approximately 20 people gathered.) 20人くらい集まった。 (About 20 people gathered.)
だいたい means 'about,' 'roughly,' or 'mostly,' which overlaps with ~くらい.
だいたい is an adverb and can be used independently or to describe a general state. ~くらい is a particle that quantifies or approximates specific items or durations.
だいたい終わりました。 (I'm mostly finished.) だいたい30分です。 (It's about 30 minutes.) 30分くらいです。 (It's about 30 minutes.)
Astuces
Basic use of ~くらい
You can use ~くらい to express an approximate quantity or extent. It attaches directly to numbers or nouns.
Counting with ~くらい
When counting objects, you can say 「３つくらい」 (san-tsu kurai) for "about three items" or 「２時間くらい」 (ni-jikan kurai) for "about two hours."
Estimating time with ~くらい
To say "about 10 minutes," you would use 「１０分くらい」 (juppun kurai). This is very common in everyday conversation.
Estimating distance with ~くらい
If you want to say "about 2 kilometers," use 「２キロくらい」 (ni-kiro kurai). It's straightforward.
Using ~くらい with nouns
You can attach ~くらい to a noun to mean "about the extent of." For example, 「子どもくらい」 (kodomo kurai) means "about the size/level of a child."
Don't confuse ~くらい with ~ほど
While both mean "about," ~くらい can sometimes imply a minimum or maximum extent, while ~ほど (hodo) often indicates a comparison or degree. For A2 learners, focus on ~くらい for simple approximation.
Asking about quantity with ~くらい
When asking "about how many?" or "about how much?" you can use 「どのくらい？」 (dono kurai?).
Saying "at least" with ~くらい
Sometimes ~くらい can be used to mean "at least" in a casual way. For example, 「５分くらい待って」 (go-fun kurai matte) can mean "Wait at least 5 minutes."
Saying "up to" with ~くらい
Similarly, it can imply "up to." 「この本は１０００円くらいです」 (kono hon wa sen-en kurai desu) means "This book is about 1000 yen (or up to 1000 yen)."
Common phrases with ~くらい
You'll often hear 「それくらい」 (sore kurai - about that much/degree) or 「これくらい」 (kore kurai - about this much/degree) in conversation. These are useful for general approximations.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Think of 'kurai' sounding a bit like 'cry' or 'cray'. Imagine a baby crying 'about' how much milk they want, or drawing with a 'cray'on 'about' the size of their hand. It's an approximation.
Association visuelle
Picture a measuring tape that isn't precise, maybe with a little wiggle room at the end, representing 'about' or 'approximately'. Or imagine a scale with an object that's just 'about' a certain weight, not exactly.
Word Web
Défi
Describe five things you do or use on a daily basis using '~くらい'. For example: 「毎日８時間くらい寝ます。」 (I sleep about 8 hours every day.) Or, describe how long it takes you to get to different places using '~くらい'. Then, try asking a friend or language partner 'どれくらい' (how much/how long/to what extent) questions.
Origine du mot
From Classical Japanese.
Sens originel : Originally referred to a rank, grade, or measure.
JaponicContexte culturel
When talking about time, quantity, or distance, Japanese people often use ~くらい to indicate an approximation. It's a very common and useful particle for daily conversation, allowing for flexibility and not requiring exact numbers. It's polite to use ~くらい when you're not entirely sure, rather than stating a precise figure that might be incorrect.
Pratique dans la vie réelle
Contextes réels
Indicating approximate quantity or amount.
- だいたい５分くらいかかります。(It takes about 5 minutes.)
- ３時間くらい寝ました。(I slept for about 3 hours.)
- １０００円くらいです。(It's around 1000 yen.)
Indicating approximate time or duration.
- ３時くらいに会いましょう。(Let's meet around 3 o'clock.)
- 来週くらいに行きます。(I'll go around next week.)
- １ヶ月くらい日本にいました。(I was in Japan for about a month.)
Indicating approximate degree or extent.
- 子供くらい背が低い。(He's as short as a child.)
- それくらいならできる。(I can do about that much.)
- 日本語が少しわかるくらいです。(I understand Japanese to some extent.)
Expressing a rough estimation or guess.
- 多分、大丈夫くらいだと思います。(I think it's probably okay.)
- わからないくらい難しい。(It's so difficult that I don't understand it.)
- どのくらいかかりますか。(How long does it take?)
Comparing two things roughly.
- このくらい美味しい。(It's about this delicious.)
- あれくらい広い。(It's about that wide.)
- 前と同じくらいです。(It's about the same as before.)
Amorces de conversation
"普段、どのくらい日本語を勉強しますか？ (How much do you usually study Japanese?)"
"東京駅からここまでどのくらいかかりますか？ (How long does it take from Tokyo Station to here?)"
"日本の物価はどのくらい高いですか？ (How expensive is the cost of living in Japan?)"
"週末はどのくらい寝ますか？ (How much do you sleep on weekends?)"
"日本の夏はどのくらい暑いですか？ (How hot are Japanese summers?)"
Sujets d'écriture
昨日、どのくらい勉強しましたか？ (How much did you study yesterday?)
将来、どのくらい日本語が話せるようになりたいですか？ (To what extent do you want to be able to speak Japanese in the future?)
いつも朝ごはんはどのくらい食べますか？ (How much do you usually eat for breakfast?)
あなたの国から日本まで、飛行機でどのくらいかかりますか？ (How long does it take by plane from your country to Japan?)
今、どのくらいお腹が空いていますか？ (How hungry are you right now?)
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsThere's no difference! Both are common, but ~くらい is a little more common in writing, and ~ぐらい in speech. You can use them interchangeably.
Mostly, yes. You can use it with quantities, times, distances, etc. For example, 3時間くらい (sanjikan kurai - about 3 hours), 10キロくらい (jukkiro kurai - about 10 kilometers).
It's neutral. You can use it in both polite and casual situations without sounding too formal or too informal.
You would say 5人くらい (gonin kurai). The counter for people is 人 (nin), so it's the number + counter + くらい.
For abstract things, ~くらい doesn't fit as well. You'd use other expressions like 〜について (ni tsuite - concerning/about) for general topics. For example, 幸福について (kōfuku ni tsuite - about happiness).
Not directly. ~くらい modifies nouns or noun phrases. You wouldn't say 'about eat' with ~くらい. You might say something like 食べるくらい (taberu kurai - about the extent of eating) but that's a different nuance.
~くらい is for approximate quantities of anything (time duration, distance, etc.), while ~ごろ is specifically for approximate points in time. For example, 3時ごろ (sanji goro - around 3 o'clock) versus 3時間くらい (sanjikan kurai - about 3 hours).
Mostly, yes. It indicates an approximation. However, it can sometimes imply a degree or extent, like このくらい (kono kurai - about this much/this extent).
It generally follows the noun or quantity it's modifying. For example, 10分くらいかかります (juppun kurai kakarimasu - It takes about 10 minutes).
It sounds a bit odd if you're trying to be very precise. If you know the exact amount, you wouldn't use ~くらい. It's for when you don't have an exact figure.
Teste-toi 90 questions
This sentence means 'I go to sleep around 8 o'clock every day.' The particle 'くらい' indicates approximation.
This sentence means 'This apple is about 100 yen.' 'くらい' is used here to give an approximate price.
This sentence means 'He goes to the library about 3 times a week.' 'くらい' shows an approximate frequency.
Choose the best translation: 「3時間くらいかかります。」
「くらい」 (kurai) means 'about' or 'approximately'.
Which sentence uses 「くらい」 correctly to express approximation?
「くらい」 typically follows the noun or quantity it modifies.
Complete the sentence: 「私は毎日8時間___寝ます。」
「くらい」 is used here to indicate sleeping 'about' 8 hours.
「このTシャツは2000円くらいです。」 means this T-shirt costs exactly 2000 yen.
「くらい」 indicates 'about' or 'approximately', not an exact amount.
You can use 「くらい」 to say 'about 5 people'.
「5人くらい」 (gonin kurai) means 'about 5 people'.
「くらい」 can be used after time expressions like 「1時間」 (ichi jikan) to mean 'about one hour'.
「1時間くらい」 (ichi jikan kurai) means 'about one hour'.
Write a sentence in Japanese saying 'I waited for about 30 minutes.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
30分くらい待ちました。
Translate the following into Japanese: 'It's about 5 kilometers from here.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
ここから5キロくらいです。
Write a Japanese sentence to say 'I study Japanese for about 1 hour every day.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
毎日1時間くらい日本語を勉強します。
How long does it take from Tokyo to Osaka by bullet train?
Read this passage:
A: 東京から大阪までどれくらいかかりますか？ B: 新幹線で2時間半くらいかかります。
How long does it take from Tokyo to Osaka by bullet train?
B says '新幹線で2時間半くらいかかります' which means 'It takes about 2 and a half hours by bullet train.'
B says '新幹線で2時間半くらいかかります' which means 'It takes about 2 and a half hours by bullet train.'
How long does it take to walk from my house to the station?
Read this passage:
私の家から駅まで歩いて10分くらいです。バスだと5分くらいです。
How long does it take to walk from my house to the station?
The passage says '私の家から駅まで歩いて10分くらいです' which means 'It takes about 10 minutes to walk from my house to the station.'
The passage says '私の家から駅まで歩いて10分くらいです' which means 'It takes about 10 minutes to walk from my house to the station.'
What is the approximate number of pages in this book?
Read this passage:
この本は全部で200ページくらいあります。読むのにどのくらい時間がかかりますか？
What is the approximate number of pages in this book?
The passage states 'この本は全部で200ページくらいあります' which means 'This book has about 200 pages in total.'
The passage states 'この本は全部で200ページくらいあります' which means 'This book has about 200 pages in total.'
The word 'くらい' (kurai) means 'about' or 'approximately' and usually follows the quantity it modifies. So, '8時間くらい' means 'about 8 hours'.
'くらい' (kurai) follows the amount it estimates. Here, '500円くらい' means 'about 500 yen'.
'くらい' (kurai) is used to express approximation for time, distance, or quantity. '3時間くらい' means 'about 3 hours'.
このケーキは500円___です。
「くらい」は「およそ」という意味で、数や量、程度の概算を表します。
毎日2時間___日本語を勉強しています。
この文脈では、「2時間くらい」で「およそ2時間」という意味になります。
駅まで歩いて10分___かかります。
「10分くらい」は「およそ10分」と時間の概算を示します。
この部屋は8畳___の広さです。
「8畳くらい」は広さの概算を表します。
宿題はあと30分___で終わるでしょう。
「30分くらい」は時間の概算を示します。
彼の日本語はネイティブ___上手です。
「ネイティブくらい」は程度の概算を表し、「ネイティブと同じくらい」という意味になります。
Choose the best fit: 日本語を勉強して___なりますか？ (How long have you been studying Japanese?)
「どのくらい」is used to ask about an approximate quantity, time, or extent.
Which sentence uses ~くらい correctly to mean 'about' or 'approximately'?
「8時間くらい」means 'about 8 hours'. The other options don't convey approximation in the same way.
Select the most natural way to say 'It takes about 30 minutes by train.'
「くらい」is used to indicate an approximation of time. 「も」implies 'as much as', 「は」emphasizes, and 「だけ」means 'only'.
「この料理は簡単だから、10分くらいで作れる。」(This dish is easy, so you can make it in about 10 minutes.) This sentence implies the exact time is 10 minutes.
「くらい」indicates an approximation, not an exact amount of time.
You can use 「くらい」to express 'at least' or 'minimum amount'.
While primarily meaning 'about', 「くらい」can also imply a minimum, as in 「これくらいはできる」(I can do at least this much).
「彼くらい日本語が話せるようになりたい。」(I want to be able to speak Japanese as well as him.) Here, 「くらい」is used to compare abilities.
「くらい」can be used to express comparison, meaning 'about as much as' or 'to the extent of'.
Listen for how long the speaker sleeps.
Listen for how much time it took to read the book.
Listen for the approximate release day of the new product.
Read this aloud:
東京から大阪まで新幹線でどのくらいかかりますか？
Focus: どのくらい
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
このケーキは、いくらくらいしますか？
Focus: いくらくらい
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
毎晩、何時くらいに寝ますか？
Focus: 何時くらい
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
This sentence describes the approximate travel time from Tokyo to Osaka by Shinkansen.
This sentence estimates the price of the cake to be around 1000 yen.
This sentence indicates that he sleeps for approximately 8 hours every day.
このレポートをまとめるのに、あと二時間___かかります。
「ぐらい」は時間や量のおおよそを示すときに使います。
毎晩、寝る___前に必ず歯を磨きます。
「くらい」は動作の目安を示すときに使います。「寝るくらい前」でおおよその時間を表します。
この部屋は、あと三人___は入れると思います。
「ぐらい」は数量のおおよそを示すときに使います。
東京から大阪まで新幹線で二時間半___です。
「ぐらい」は距離や時間のおおよそを示すときに使います。
新しいパソコンは、この前買ったスマホと___同じくらいの値段でした。
「くらい/ぐらい」は比較の程度を示すときに使います。この文では「同じくらいの値段」で、だいたいの価格を比較しています。
今日の会議は三十分___で終わりました。
「ぐらい」は時間のおおよそを示すときに使います。
I talked to my friend for about 3 hours yesterday.
It takes about a week to read this book.
His height is about 180 centimeters.
Read this aloud:
日本にどれくらい滞在する予定ですか？
Focus: どれくらい (dore kurai)
Tu as dit :
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Read this aloud:
このプロジェクトはあとどれくらいで終わりそうですか？
Focus: あとどれくらい (ato dore kurai)
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
毎日、どれくらいの時間、日本語を勉強していますか？
Focus: どれくらいの時間 (dore kurai no jikan)
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
The particle 'くらい' follows the quantity it modifies. The standard sentence structure is Subject + Topic Marker + Time/Frequency + Quantity + くらい + Object + Object Marker + Verb.
'くらい' is used here to indicate approximate duration. The sentence structure is 'From location A to location B, by means of C, it takes approximately D time.'
'くらい' is used here to express an approximate price. 'でしょう' indicates a supposition.
What time did he get home yesterday?
How much does she think the book costs?
When did what he was talking about happen?
Read this aloud:
毎日、彼はだいたい8時間くらい寝ます。
Focus: hachi jikan kurai nemasu
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
東京から大阪までは、新幹線で2時間半くらいかかります。
Focus: ni jikan han kurai kakarimasu
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
パーティーには20人くらいの人が来ていました。
Focus: ni-juu nin kurai no hito ga
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
You are planning a business trip to Japan. Write an email to your Japanese colleague, Hiroshi, informing him about your approximate arrival time and asking about the best way to get to the hotel from the airport. Use '~くらい' to indicate approximation.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
件名：来日について ひろしさん、 お疲れ様です。 来週の日本出張についてご連絡差し上げます。飛行機の到着時間は午後3時くらいになるかと思います。空港からホテルまでの最適な行き方について、何かおすすめがあれば教えていただけますでしょうか。 お忙しいところ恐れ入りますが、よろしくお願いいたします。 [あなたの名前]
You are describing a recent event to a friend. Write a short paragraph about how many people attended and how long it lasted, using '~くらい' to express approximation.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
先日、友人と一緒に地域のイベントに参加しました。参加者は300人くらいで、結構賑やかでした。イベント自体は午後1時から5時くらいまでで、色々なブースがあってとても楽しかったです。
You are giving instructions for a simple recipe. Write a sentence telling someone to cook something for an approximate amount of time, using '~くらい'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
この野菜は柔らかくなるまで、弱火で15分くらい煮込んでください。
この文章によると、日本で働く外国人の平均年収はどのくらいですか？
Read this passage:
最近の調査によると、日本で働く外国人の平均年収は300万円くらいだそうです。しかし、職種や経験によってこの数字は大きく変動します。特にIT業界では、経験豊富なエンジニアであれば年収500万円くらい稼ぐことも珍しくありません。
この文章によると、日本で働く外国人の平均年収はどのくらいですか？
文章の冒頭に「日本で働く外国人の平均年収は300万円くらいだそうです」と明記されています。
文章の冒頭に「日本で働く外国人の平均年収は300万円くらいだそうです」と明記されています。
新しいプロジェクトの立ち上げには、およそどのくらいの期間が必要だと書かれていますか？
Read this passage:
新しいプロジェクトの立ち上げには、少なくとも3ヶ月くらいかかると見込んでいます。最初の1ヶ月で計画を練り、次の1ヶ月で必要なリソースを確保し、最後の1ヶ月でテストと調整を行う予定です。
新しいプロジェクトの立ち上げには、およそどのくらいの期間が必要だと書かれていますか？
文章の冒頭に「少なくとも3ヶ月くらいかかると見込んでいます」と記載されています。
文章の冒頭に「少なくとも3ヶ月くらいかかると見込んでいます」と記載されています。
東京から大阪まで新幹線で移動する場合、所要時間はおよそどのくらいですか？
Read this passage:
東京から大阪まで新幹線で行くと、だいたい2時間半くらいで到着します。料金は自由席で1万3千円くらいですが、指定席だと少し高くなります。事前に予約すれば、もっとお得な切符が手に入ることもあります。
東京から大阪まで新幹線で移動する場合、所要時間はおよそどのくらいですか？
文章中に「だいたい2時間半くらいで到着します」と書かれています。
文章中に「だいたい2時間半くらいで到着します」と書かれています。
このプロジェクトを完成させるのに、あとどの___時間が必要ですか？ (How much more time do you need to complete this project?)
「どのくらい」は「どれほど」と同じく、時間や量などを尋ねる際に使われます。
彼がどれ___疲れているか、顔を見れば分かります。 (You can tell how tired he is just by looking at his face.)
「どれくらい」は程度を表す表現です。
この映画は、見る人によって感じ方が大きく異なる___でしょう。 (This movie will probably be felt very differently depending on the viewer.)
「〜くらいだろう」は、推測や漠然とした程度を表す表現です。
その問題は、誰もが頭を抱える___難しいものです。 (That problem is so difficult that everyone struggles with it.)
「〜くらい難しい」は、その程度を強調する表現です。
彼女は、まるで何事もなかった___に振る舞っています。 (She is acting as if nothing happened.)
「〜かのように」とほぼ同じ意味で、比喩や様子を表す際に使われます。
この仕事は、専門家でなければ理解できない___複雑です。 (This job is so complex that only specialists can understand it.)
「〜くらい複雑」は、その程度を強調する表現です。
What did he do yesterday and for how long?
How long will it take to read this book?
How long does it take to walk to the station?
Read this aloud:
日本にどれくらい滞在する予定ですか？
Focus: どれくらい (dore kurai)
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
東京から大阪まで新幹線で2時間半くらいです。
Focus: 2時間半くらい (nijikan han kurai)
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
毎日、30分くらい運動するようにしています。
Focus: 30分くらい (sanjuppun kurai)
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
/ 90 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
~くらい is a versatile particle for expressing 'about' or 'approximately' in various contexts.
- Use to mean 'about' or 'approximately'.
- Can indicate approximate quantity, time, or degree.
- Often interchangeable with ~gurai (~ぐらい).
Basic use of ~くらい
You can use ~くらい to express an approximate quantity or extent. It attaches directly to numbers or nouns.
Counting with ~くらい
When counting objects, you can say 「３つくらい」 (san-tsu kurai) for "about three items" or 「２時間くらい」 (ni-jikan kurai) for "about two hours."
Estimating time with ~くらい
To say "about 10 minutes," you would use 「１０分くらい」 (juppun kurai). This is very common in everyday conversation.
Estimating distance with ~くらい
If you want to say "about 2 kilometers," use 「２キロくらい」 (ni-kiro kurai). It's straightforward.
Contenu associé
Grammaire lie
Plus de mots sur general
いくつか
B1An unspecified small number of things; some, a few.
ちょっと
A2A little; a moment; a bit. Small amount or short time.
すこし
A2A little; a few.
さっき
A2A little while ago; a short time past.
能力
A1Nouryoku refers to the mental or physical power, skill, or capacity required to perform a specific task or function. It can describe both innate talent and skills acquired through learning and practice.
異常
A1A word used to describe something that deviates from the normal state, standard, or expected pattern. It often implies a problem, malfunction, or an extraordinary occurrence that requires attention or investigation.
～について
A2About, concerning; indicates topic.
〜について
B1About, concerning; on the subject of.
～ぐらい
A2about, approximately
ぐらい
A2About; approximately; to the extent of.
