Structure
Number/Amount + Counter + (くらい(1)) + は
Noun + くらい(1) + は
(1) ぐらい
Details
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Standard
使用域
一般
About Number/Amount + は
- ディズニーランドには年に5回は行っている。I go to Disneyland at least 5 times a year.
- 私は毎日、テレビを5時間は見ている。Every day, I watch TV for 5 hours or so.
- 2キロくらいはあると思う。I think it is at least 2 kilograms.
- 倉敷には1回ぐらいは行った方がいいよ。You should go to Kurashiki at least once.
Synonyms
Examples
この食べ物は少なくとも床に3秒は落ちていたから食べられない。
This food was on the floor for at least 3 seconds, so I can't eat it.
付き合っているんだから手ぐらいはつないだでしょうね?
Since you are going out, you were at least holding hands, right?
彼氏は1日8回は電話をかける。
My boyfriend calls at least 8 times a day.
心配な母親:「肉ぐらいは少し食べてよ。」
Worried mother: 'Please eat some meat at least!'
スティーブン・ホーキングに一回は会いたかったのに…
(But) I wanted to meet Stephen Hawking at least once…
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は = at least?
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Number/Amount + は – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (4 in total)
Pushindawood
About 2 years ago
@AdalwinAmillion Hey! は still essentially plays the role of “as for” here. When used with a number/amount, くらい・ぐらい, or 少なくとも or せめて, then the whole phrase becomes “at least.” Let’s take a look at the first example sentence. この食べ物は少なくとも床に3秒は落ちていたから食べられない。If we were to just say 床に3秒は落ちていた then you might translate the sentence as “As for 3 seconds, (the food) was on the floor.” It is only when we add 少なくとも does the nuance of “at least” arise. I hope this helps. Cheers!
Superpnut
About 1 year ago
So for this grammar point I’m a bit confused.
If a counter is present do you or do you not use くらい
I’m not really sure what putting it in ( ) is supposed to show. Does it mean it’s optional?
All the example sentences look like they don’t use くらい when there is a counter. But then it says : “Before は, the counter is regularly followed by くらい (or ぐらい). T”
Could someone please let me know because it looks like it’s optional to me but I’m really not certain either wayFuga
About 1 year ago
Hey @Superpnut !
くらい can be used, or it can be omitted. Adding くらい/ぐらい adds stronger emphasis to the ‘or so’ meaning.
2キロはあると思う。‘I think this is at least 2 kilograms.’ (this must weigh at least 2 kilograms)
2キロくらいはあると思う。‘I think this is at least 2 kilograms or so.’ (this must weigh 2 kilograms or so)In the first sentence, the speaker is a little more certain that the thing is close to 2 kilograms, but in the sentence the speaker is less confident and thinks that the thing is at least close to 2 kilograms. As you can see, the meaning of the sentence does not change too much, but there is a slight change in the nuance.
I hope that this helps!
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