Structure
Number/Amount + Counter + (くらい(1)) + は
Noun + くらい(1) + は
(1) ぐらい
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一般
About Number/Amount + は
The は particle has two primary functions. The first is to mark the topic of a sentence, as learned very early in our Japanese language journey. However, the second common usage of は is to highlight contrast (making a comparison). When は is used after a number/counter, it regularly has this comparison meaning. This can be translated as 'or so', or 'at least'.
- 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 (5 in total)
Superpnut
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
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!
dementati
In the second case, with the non-counter noun:
the くらい is not in brackets. Does that mean that if the preceding noun is not a number/counter, it’s required? How does that affect the meaning? The description of the grammar point doesn’t seem to discuss the case of a non-counter/number at all, but I have gotten some review sentences wrong because I omitted the くらい, so unless that was incorrect it does seem to be important.
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