§ Understanding 〜頃 (goro)
The Japanese word 〜頃 (goro) is a noun that means 'around a specific time or period' or 'approximately'. You attach it to a time-related word to indicate that something happens, or happened, at an approximate time. It's a very common and useful word for everyday conversation when you don't need to be exact.
- Japanese Word
- 〜頃 (goro)
- CEFR Level
- A2
- Meaning
- Around a specific time or period; approximately.
§ Basic Usage Examples
You can use 〜頃 with hours, days, months, seasons, or even broader periods like 'that time' or 'when I was a child'.
３時頃に駅に着きます。
- Hint
- I'll arrive at the station around 3 o'clock.
来週のこの頃、旅行に行きます。
- Hint
- I'm going on a trip around this time next week.
子供の頃、よく公園で遊びました。
- Hint
- When I was a child, I often played in the park.
§ Similar Words and When to Use 〜頃 (goro) vs. Alternatives
There are a few other words and phrases in Japanese that express approximation. Understanding the nuances will help you choose the right one.
- 〜ぐらい / 〜くらい (gurai / kurai): This is perhaps the most common alternative to 〜頃. It also means 'about' or 'approximately', but it's more versatile. While 〜頃 is specifically for time, 〜ぐらい/〜くらい can be used for quantity, distance, cost, and time.
３時間ぐらいかかります。
- Hint
- It takes about 3 hours. (Here, 〜頃 wouldn't fit well because it's about duration, not a point in time.)
これは１０００円ぐらいです。
- Hint
- This is about 1000 yen.
When to use 〜頃: Specifically for approximate points or periods in time. Think 'around 7 PM', 'around summer', 'around my birthday'.
When to use 〜ぐらい/〜くらい: For approximation of time, quantity, distance, or cost. It's a more general 'about/approximately'.
- 〜前後 (zenngo): This also means 'around' or 'approximately', often implying 'a little before or a little after' a specific point. It tends to be used for more precise approximations, often with numbers. You'll frequently see it in formal contexts or news.
会議は１０時前後に終わるでしょう。
- Hint
- The meeting will probably end around 10 o'clock (a little before or after). (Implies a tighter range than 〜頃)
When to use 〜頃: For general, casual approximation of time. 'Around lunchtime' or 'around last year' are good fits.
When to use 〜前後: For a slightly more specific approximation, often suggesting a small margin before or after, particularly in more formal or numerical contexts.
- だいたい (daitai): This is an adverb meaning 'approximately', 'mostly', 'generally'. It can be used before verbs, adjectives, or nouns to modify them. It doesn't attach to specific time words in the same way 〜頃 does, but it can be used to describe the general timing of an event.
だいたい毎日日本語を勉強しています。
- Hint
- I generally study Japanese every day.
When to use 〜頃: To pinpoint an approximate time for an event.
When to use だいたい: To describe something as 'mostly' or 'generally' true, or 'approximately' for non-time-specific numbers. You wouldn't say 'だいたい３時' to mean 'around 3 o'clock' in the same way you would say '３時頃'.
§ Key Takeaway
Use 〜頃 (goro) when you want to express 'around' a specific point or period in time. It's concise and natural for referring to approximate timing. For broader approximations including quantity or duration, 〜ぐらい/〜くらい is your go-to. For more precise 'before and after' approximations, especially in formal contexts, consider 〜前後. And for general 'mostly' or 'approximately' for non-time contexts, だいたい works best.
재미있는 사실
The kanji 頃 (koro) itself can also be read as 'goro' and is often used as a suffix indicating approximate time. For instance, in 'sannen goro' (around three years), 'goro' functions similarly to 'koro'.
자주 쓰는 조합
자주 쓰는 구문
三時頃に会いましょう。
Let's meet around three o'clock.
何時頃に着きますか？
Around what time will you arrive?
あの頃は楽しかったですね。
Those days were fun, weren't they?
この頃、忙しいです。
I'm busy these days.
その頃、私は学生でした。
Around that time, I was a student.
来月頃、日本に行く予定です。
I plan to go to Japan around next month.
夕食は七時頃になります。
Dinner will be around seven o'clock.
彼が来るのはもう少し後頃でしょう。
He'll probably come a bit later than that.
テストはいつ頃終わりますか？
Around when will the test finish?
朝の九時頃に電話をください。
Please call me around nine in the morning.
팁
Basic use of 〜頃
Use 〜頃 to indicate a general time. It means around or approximately a specific time. Think of it as a less precise version of a definite time.
Attaching to time words
〜頃 attaches directly to time-related nouns. For example, 朝頃 (asa goro) means 'around morning' and 夜頃 (yoru goro) means 'around night'.
Attaching to specific times
You can also attach 〜頃 to specific numerical times. For instance, 3時頃 (sanji goro) means 'around 3 o'clock' and 8時頃 (hachiji goro) means 'around 8 o'clock'.
Using with periods
〜頃 can describe approximate periods. 週末頃 (shūmatsu goro) means 'around the weekend' and 来週頃 (raishū goro) means 'around next week'.
Questioning with 〜頃
When asking about an approximate time, you can use いつ頃 (itsu goro) which means 'around when' or 'approximately when'.
Not for exact times
Remember, 〜頃 indicates approximation. Do not use it when you need to specify an exact time. For exact times, just use the time word itself.
Examples with past tense
You can use 〜頃 with past tense verbs. For example, 昔頃 (mukashi goro) means 'a long time ago (approximately)' or 'back then'.
Examples with future tense
Similarly, 〜頃 works well with future tense. 明日頃 (ashita goro) means 'around tomorrow' and 来年頃 (rainen goro) means 'around next year'.
Being polite with time
Using 〜頃 can sometimes soften a request for a meeting time, making it sound less demanding and more flexible.
Colloquial use: 〜頃合い
A more advanced, slightly more colloquial phrase is 〜頃合い (goroai), which means 'the right time' or 'a suitable time'. This suggests a more appropriate window of time, not just any approximation.
어원
Old Japanese
원래 의미: Time, season, opportune moment
Japonic문화적 맥락
The concept of 'around' or 'approximately' is quite prevalent in Japanese culture, reflecting a certain flexibility and less emphasis on strict precision in everyday conversations about time. This can be seen in how people often give approximate times for meetings or events, leaving a small buffer.
셀프 테스트 36 질문
You want to ask your Japanese friend when they usually eat dinner. Write a sentence asking 'Around what time do you usually eat dinner?'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
晩ご飯は何時頃食べますか。
You are telling someone that you usually wake up around 7 o'clock. Write a sentence saying 'I usually wake up around 7 o'clock.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
私は七時頃起きます。
You want to say that the movie will finish around 9 o'clock. Write a sentence saying 'The movie finishes around 9 o'clock.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
映画は九時頃終わります。
When does person B go to school?
Read this passage:
A: 毎日何時頃学校に行きますか。B: 私は八時頃学校に行きます。
When does person B go to school?
Person B says '八時頃学校に行きます' (hachiji goro gakkou ni ikimasu), which means 'I go to school around 8 o'clock.' The word '頃' (goro) indicates 'around' or 'approximately'.
Person B says '八時頃学校に行きます' (hachiji goro gakkou ni ikimasu), which means 'I go to school around 8 o'clock.' The word '頃' (goro) indicates 'around' or 'approximately'.
When did person B come to Japan?
Read this passage:
A: いつ日本に来ましたか。B: 私は去年の夏頃日本に来ました。
When did person B come to Japan?
Person B says '去年の夏頃日本に来ました' (kyonen no natsu goro Nihon ni kimashita), which means 'I came to Japan around last summer.' '頃' (goro) indicates 'around' or 'approximately'.
Person B says '去年の夏頃日本に来ました' (kyonen no natsu goro Nihon ni kimashita), which means 'I came to Japan around last summer.' '頃' (goro) indicates 'around' or 'approximately'.
What time does the party start?
Read this passage:
A: パーティーは何時頃始まりますか。B: 七時頃始まります。
What time does the party start?
Person B says '七時頃始まります' (shichiji goro hajimarimasu), which means 'It starts around 7 o'clock.' The word '頃' (goro) indicates 'around' or 'approximately'.
Person B says '七時頃始まります' (shichiji goro hajimarimasu), which means 'It starts around 7 o'clock.' The word '頃' (goro) indicates 'around' or 'approximately'.
This sentence means 'I wake up around 7 o'clock.' The particle に marks the time.
This sentence means 'He comes around 3 o'clock.' The particle に marks the time.
This sentence means 'I will eat around 6 PM.' The particle に marks the time.
The speaker is planning their summer vacation.
Someone is invited for a drink.
A project's completion timeline is mentioned.
Read this aloud:
夕食は七時頃に準備できます。
Focus: しちじごろ
당신의 답변:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
次の会議は来週の水曜日頃に設定しましょう。
Focus: すいようびごろ
당신의 답변:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
子供が寝る頃には、私も疲れてしまいます。
Focus: ねるころ
당신의 답변:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
今度の会議は来週の月曜日の___から始まる予定です。
「ごろ」は、おおよその時間を表す助詞です。この文では、来週月曜日の「おおよそ」の時間に会議が始まることを示しています。
彼はいつも仕事が終わる___にジムに行きます。
「ごろ」は、特定の出来事のおおよその時期を示すことができます。ここでは、仕事が終わる「おおよそ」の時間にジムに行くことを意味しています。
このプロジェクトは来年の夏___に完成する見込みです。
「ごろ」は、おおよその時期や期間を表す際によく使われます。ここでは、来年の夏「おおよそ」の時期にプロジェクトが完成することを示しています。
夕食は7時___に食べることが多いです。
「ごろ」は、おおよその時間を指す場合に用いられます。7時「おおよそ」の時間に夕食をとる、という意味になります。
その問題は、来月___には解決するでしょう。
「ごろ」は、未来のおおよその時期を表すのに適しています。来月「おおよそ」の時期に問題が解決することを示唆しています。
彼はいつも午前中___にメールをチェックします。
「ごろ」は、特定の時間帯のおおよその時を示すことができます。午前中「おおよそ」の時間にメールをチェックする、という意味です。
以下の文で「〜頃」が最も適切に使われているのはどれですか？
「〜頃」は時間や期間の目安を表すため、「午後8時頃」のように具体的な時間の前につけるのが自然です。
次のうち、「プロジェクトが完成する頃には、私たちは新しい技術を習得しているだろう」という文が最も意味するところはどれですか？
「〜頃には」は、ある出来事の時点を基準として、その前後を含むおおよその時期を指します。
「子供の頃、よくこの公園で遊んだものです」という文で、「子供の頃」が示唆するニュアンスとして最も適切なものはどれですか？
「子供の頃」は、具体的な期間を特定せず、子供だったという漠然とした時期全体を指す表現です。
「来年の今頃は、きっと海外で生活しているだろう」という文は、話者の将来に対する確かな計画を表現している。
「〜頃」という表現は不確実性を含み、話者の予測や願望を示すものであり、確かな計画を断定するものではありません。
「夜中頃に突然の大雨が降り始めた」という文は、雨が降り始めた正確な時間を伝えている。
「夜中頃」は夜中の『おおよそ』の時間帯を指し、正確な時間を特定するものではありません。
「この仕事が終わる頃には、もう夕方になっているだろう」という文は、仕事の完了と夕方の到来がほぼ同時であることを示唆している。
「〜頃には」は、ある出来事の時期と別の出来事の時期が重なる、または近接することを指すことができます。
Listen for when the new project is expected to start.
Listen for where they might be around this time next year.
Listen for what they are hoping for around dinner time.
Read this aloud:
明日のこの頃には、試験が終わっているでしょう。
Focus: この頃 (kono koro)
당신의 답변:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
子供たちが小さい頃は、毎日公園に行っていました。
Focus: 小さい頃 (chiisai koro)
당신의 답변:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
彼が到着する頃には、もう準備ができています。
Focus: 到着する頃 (tōchaku suru koro)
당신의 답변:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
/ 36 correct
Perfect score!
Basic use of 〜頃
Use 〜頃 to indicate a general time. It means around or approximately a specific time. Think of it as a less precise version of a definite time.
Attaching to time words
〜頃 attaches directly to time-related nouns. For example, 朝頃 (asa goro) means 'around morning' and 夜頃 (yoru goro) means 'around night'.
Attaching to specific times
You can also attach 〜頃 to specific numerical times. For instance, 3時頃 (sanji goro) means 'around 3 o'clock' and 8時頃 (hachiji goro) means 'around 8 o'clock'.
Using with periods
〜頃 can describe approximate periods. 週末頃 (shūmatsu goro) means 'around the weekend' and 来週頃 (raishū goro) means 'around next week'.
예시
午後３時頃に駅に着く予定だ。
관련 콘텐츠
history 관련 단어
王朝
A2A succession of rulers from the same family.
人物
A2A person, especially one of importance or character.
貴重な
A2Valuable, precious, or priceless.
歴史的
A2Historical, pertaining to history, or historic.
中世の
B1Relating to the Middle Ages (roughly 5th to 15th century).
重要な
A2Of great significance or value.
歴史家
B1A historian, a person who studies and writes about the past.
一方で
A2On the other hand, meanwhile, or while.
〜世紀
A2A suffix indicating a specific century.
将軍
B1A shogun, a military dictator of Japan during feudal times.
