JLPT N3 Grammar – Two uses of “ぶり”

Table of Contents

1. The usage and meaning of “ぶり”
2. Counter＋ぶり
3. Verb／Noun＋ぶり・っぷり
4. Summary
5. Similar Articles
6. Comment

Q: Are there different usages and meanings for “ぶり“?

A: There are two ways to use “ぶり”.
It can be used with counters for periods like days or weeks, and it can also be used with verbs or nouns.
The meaning is entirely different depending on which one is used. Let’s take a look.

Counter＋ぶり

It expresses the speaker’s feeling that a long period has passed until they do something again.

[Meaning]
After that period has passed

[Rules]
Counter for periods ＋ぶり
Counter for periods ＋ぶり＋ Noun

[Point]
The speaker feels that the period was a long time

[Commonly used counters]
週間しゅうかん(weeks)・日ひ(days)・か月げつ(months)・年ねん(years)

[Examples]　
1週間しゅうかんぶりに家いえを出でました。
I left the house for the first time in a week.
⇒ It has been a week since the last time I went out. For the speaker, this feels like a long period.

明日あしたは5年ねんぶりに親友しんゆうに会あいます。
Tomorrow, I will meet my best friend for the first time in five years.
⇒ It has been five years since I last met my best friend. For the speaker, five years feels like a long time.

先生せんせいに会あうのは6年ねんぶりですね。
It’s been six years since I last met the teacher.
⇒ It has been six years since I last met the teacher. For the speaker, six years feels like a long time.

明日あしたは2週間しゅうかんぶりの休やすみだ。たくさん寝ねよう！
Tomorrow is my first day off in two weeks. I’m going to sleep a lot!
⇒ The last day off was two weeks ago, and for the speaker, it has felt like a long time until tomorrow’s day off.

After “ぶり,” you cannot use words that express continuity or negative forms.

[Examples]　
× 5年ねんぶり彼女かのじょがいません。
〇 5年ねん（間かん）彼女かのじょがいません。
I haven’t had a girlfriend for five years.
⇒ Since it’s a negative sentence, you cannot use “ぶり”.

× 7日かぶり旅行りょこうをしています。
〇 7日間かかん旅行りょこうをしています。
I have been traveling for seven days.
⇒ Since the action continues over a period of seven days, you cannot use “ぶり”.

Additionally, “久ひさしぶり” and “いつぶり” are commonly used expressions.

[Examples]
A：久ひさしぶりだね。
B：本当ほんとうに。いつぶりかな。
A：たぶん3年ねんぶりぐらいかな。
A: Long time no see.
B: Indeed. How long has it been?
A: Probably around three years.

The “久ひさし” in “久ひさしぶり” is derived from the word ‘永久えいきゅう‘ (eternity). It expresses that a long time has passed for the speaker.
“いつぶり” uses “いつ” (when) and is used to ask about the length of that period.”

Verb／Noun＋ぶり・っぷり

It expresses the manner or state of a person or something. Generally, “っぷり” indicates a more intense action than “ぶり,” but when used with “暮くらし” (living) or “生活せいかつ” (life), it can also express that the manner seems enjoyable.

[Meaning]
…the manner of doing something

[Rules]
[V] Verb Stem form ＋ぶり
[N] Noun ＋ぶり

[Point]
“っぷり” conveys a more intense or exaggerated action than “ぶり”

[Examples]
彼かれのあの驚おどろきぶりから見みると、何なにも知しらないようです。
Judging by his reaction, he seems to know nothing.

この猫ねこの食たべっぷり、すごいね。きっと何なにも食たべていなかったんだね。
Look at how this cat is eating! It must not have eaten anything.

君きみの頑張がんばりぶりはすばらしいね。
Your hard work is impressive.

渋谷しぶやの込こみっぷりには困こまります。
The crowding in Shibuya is troublesome.

木村きむらさんの田舎いなかでの暮くらしっぷりにあこがれています。
I admire how Mr. Kimura lives in the countryside.

It can be used with various verbs and expressions to indicate different states, but here we will introduce commonly used ones.

食たべぶり　―　食たべっぷり　(Eating manner)　　
働はたらきぶり　―　働はたらきっぷり　(Working manner)
生活せいかつぶり　―　生活せいかつっぷり　(Living manner)
飲のみぶり　―　飲のみっぷり　(Drinking manner)　　　
言いいぶり　―　言いいっぷり　(Speaking manner)
暮くらしぶり　―　暮くらしっぷり　(Living manner)
焦あせりぶり　―　焦あせりっぷり　(The way of being anxious)　　　
込こみぶり　―　込こみっぷり　(The state of being crowded)　　　
頑張がんばりぶり　―　頑張がんばりっぷり　(The way of making an effort)　　　
怒おこりぶり　―　怒おこりっぷり　(The way of being angry)　　　　
驚おどろきぶり　―　驚おどろきっぷり　(The way of being surprised)　　　
仕事しごとぶり　―　仕事しごとっぷり　(Working manner)

Summary

• ”Counter＋ぶり” expresses that a long time has passed for the speaker.
• ”Verb／Noun＋ぶり・っぷり” expresses the manner or state of a person or something.

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Comment for any questions!