JLPT N5 Vocabulary – Difference between “くらい” and “ころ”

Table of Contents

1. Difference between “くらい” and “ころ”
2. くらい／ぐらい
3. ころ／ごろ
4. くらい VS ころ
5. Summary
6. Quiz
7. Similar Articles
8. Comment

Q: Is it necessary to distinguish between “くらい” and “ころ”?

A: Both of these words are adverbs that indicate degree.
While they are often used with similar meanings, there are actually slight differences in their meanings and usage.

くらい／ぐらい (JLPT N5)

[Usage]
It indicates a rough and approximate amount, size, time, scale, or degree.
You can use either “くらい” or “ぐらい,” but when connecting to nouns, pronouns, or numerals, “ぐらい” is often used.
When connecting to verbs, adjectives, or adjectival nouns, “くらい” is often used.

[Examples]
千せん円えんぐらいでプレゼントを買かおう。　
Let’s buy a present for around 1000 yen.

今日きょうは5キロぐらい走はしりました。
I ran about 5 kilometers today.

今朝けさは7時じぐらいに起おきました。
I woke up at around 7 o’clock this morning.

Remember that “同おなじくらい／ぐらい” is often used to mean “about the same.”
* In this case, “ころ／ごろ” cannot be used as a substitute.

[Example]
彼かれとわたしは背せが同おなじくらいです。
He and I are about the same height.

ころ／ごろ (JLPT N5)

[Usage]
Indicates a rough time frame before and after a certain period of time.
“ころ” and “ごろ” can both be used, but:
“ごろ” is more commonly used directly after nouns and numerals.
“ころ” is more commonly used when connecting with “noun + の.”

[Examples]
7時じごろにここを出でよう。
Let’s leave here around 7 o’clock.

この建物たてものは1800年ねんごろに建たてられました。
This building was constructed around 1800.

今日きょうは6時じごろに仕事しごとが終おわりました。
Today, work finished around 6 o’clock.

Also, this word indicates a specific period of time, so it is often used with words that represent a certain period, such as “学生がくせい (student),” “子供こども (child),” and “若わかい (young).”
* In this case, it cannot be replaced with “くらい” or “ぐらい.”

[Examples]
学生がくせいのころによく行いったカフェが閉店へいてんしたそうです。
It seems that the cafe I used to go to often when I was a student has closed down.

子供こどものころはよく兄あにとけんかしたものです。
I often fought with my older brother when I was a child.

若わかいころはよく海外かいがい旅行りょこうをしました。
I used to travel abroad frequently when I was young.

くらい VS ごろ

“くらい/ぐらい” has the same meaning as “approximately” and indicates a relatively wide range of quantity or degree. On the other hand, “ころ/ごろ” expresses a time or period range and vaguely points to specific times or periods.

Both can be used with quantifiers, but “くらい” can be used with a wide range of quantifiers such as quantity, size, and time. In contrast, “ごろ” is used with specific words for periods or times and is somewhat restrictive.

Let’s look at the table below to see which quantifiers can be combined with each.

Quantifiers	くらい／ぐらい	ころ／ごろ
時じ	◯	◯
分ふん	◯	◯
時代じだい	◯	◯
円えん	◯	Ｘ
助じょ数詞すうし(＋目め)	◯	Ｘ
時間じかん	◯	Ｘ
度ど	◯	Ｘ

Let’s next consider what “くらい/ぐらい” and “ころ/ごろ” indicate.

[Examples]
5分ふんぐらい待まってください。
Please wait for about 5 minutes.
⇒ Indicates the quantity of time. It means “about 5 minutes.”

10時じぐらいに会あいましょう。
Let’s meet around 10 o’clock.
⇒ Means approximately 10 o’clock, with a somewhat broader range before and after.

10時じごろに会あいましょう。
Let’s meet around 10 o’clock.
⇒ Indicates a specific time while vaguely expressing it.
　Compared to “くらい,” the range before and after is slightly narrower.

この建物たてものは1800年ねんぐらいに建たてられました。
This building was built around 1800.
⇒ Refers broadly to the entire 1800s.

この建物たてものは1800年ねんごろに建たてられました。
This building was built around 1800.
⇒ Refers to around 1800 more generally.

Summary

くらい／ぐらい

• It can be used with a wide range of quantitative expressions such as quantity, size, and time, and the degree is indicated with a relatively broad concept.

ころ／ごろ

• It vaguely indicates a slightly narrower range of a specific period of time.

Quiz

Read the following sentence and choose the expression that fits the context from the options provided in the parentheses.

Click on the question to check the answer.

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