Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 4: 16/21

くらい ②To the extent that, So…that, About the only thing that...

くらい and ぐらい may be used 100% interchangeably, but ぐらい is far more common in speech

Structure

Verb + くらい(1)
［い］Adjective + くらい(1)
［な］Adjective + な + くらい(1)
Noun + くらい(1)

(1) ぐらい

Details

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    Standard

  • Rare Kanji

    位

About くらい ②

Often, the noun くらい is used as an adverbial particle. This use of くらい (or ぐらい) expresses the limit of something, in a similar way to ほど. This means that it can be translated as 'about (A)', 'so (A) that (B)', or '(A) to the extent of (B)'. Let's take a look at a few examples.

Despite translating in the above ways, we can see that this use of くらい is similar to the standard kanji use 位(くらい), which literally means a 'rank', or 'grade' of something. What this means is that (A) will usually be considered to be at the 'grade' of something that was required in order to cause/allow (B).

Related

Examples

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    寝(ね)ることしか出来(でき)ないくらい、疲(つか)れている。

    I am so tired that I can't do anything but sleep.

    あの仕事(しごと)は、泣(な)きたいくらいつらかったよ。

    That job was rough to the extent that I wanted to cry.

    プロ選手(せんしゅ)ぐらい上手(じょうず)になりたい。

    I want to be skilled to the extent that pro athletes are.

    残(のこ)っているのはやきとりくらいですが。

    Yakitori is just about the only thing left...

    みんなを泣(な)かすくらいスパイシーなチリのサラダを作(つく)った。

    I made a chili salad so spicy that it made everyone cry.

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くらい ② – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (3 in total)

  • DarkConfidant

    DarkConfidant

    This seems similar to ほど.

    Are there any major differences one should be aware of?

  • Ambo100

    Ambo100

  • casual

    casual

    Is adding の after くらい・ぐらい incorrect?

    Intuition hints it should be fine sometimes, and I’ve found some examples where it is added, but I don’t think Bunpro addresses that in examples.

    私たちは10年以上もの付き合いがあるので、家族くらいの仲だ。
    私は寒がりで、冷房をつけると冷蔵庫くらいの寒さに感じる。
    昨日は暑くて、サウナくらいの蒸し暑さだった。

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