Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 4: 16/21

くらい ②

To 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

  • 使用域

    一般

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.
  • 今日(きょう)はもう一生(いっしょう)走(はし)りたくないくらい走(はし)った。
    Today, I ran so much that I don't want to run again in my whole life.
  • わたしも叫(さけ)びたいくらい、怖(こわ)かった。
    I was so scared that I wanted to scream too.
  • 5連休(れんきゅう)が必要(ひつよう)なぐらい疲(つか)れています。
    I am tired to the extent that it is necessary for me to have 5 days off.
  • 俺(おれ)もキヨミさんくらいピアノが弾(ひ)けるようになりたい。
    I want to be able to play the piano to about the level of Kiyomi-san.
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).

Examples

  • 寝(ね)るしかしたくないくらい、疲(つか)れている。

    I am so tired that I don't want to do anything but sleep.

    • 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.

      • 少(すこ)し日本語(にほんご)を話(はな)せるぐらい勉強(べんきょう)したことがある。

        I have studied to the extent that I can speak a little Japanese.

        • 兄(あに)は久(ひさ)し振(ぶ)りにアメリカから帰(かえ)った。兄(あに)だとわからないくらい変(か)わってしまった。

          My brother returned home for the first time in a long time from America. He changed, to the extent that I didn't recognize that it was him.

          • 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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