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: In JLPT N3 grammar, “ぶり” has two main uses.
One is an expression used when doing something again after a long time, such as “1週間しゅうかんぶり” or “5年ねんぶり.”
The other is an expression used to describe a person’s or thing’s manner or state, such as “食たべっぷり” or “仕事しごとぶり.”
Both are commonly used grammar patterns, but their meanings are completely different.
In this article, we will clearly explain the difference between the two uses together with example sentences.

Counter＋ぶり

[Meaning]
After that period of time has passed

[Rule]
Counters for a period of time + ぶり
Counters for a period of time + ぶり + の + noun

[Point]
It expresses the feeling that a long time has passed before doing something again.
The important point is that the speaker feels that the period of time is long.

[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.
⇒ One week has passed since the last time I went out. For the speaker, this feels like a long period of time.

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.
⇒ Five years have passed since the last time I saw my best friend. For the speaker, it was a long period of 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.
⇒ Six years have passed since the last time I met the teacher. For the speaker, a long time has gone by.

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, the time until the next day off felt long.

When “ぶり” cannot be used

“Counter + ぶり” is used when doing something again after a long time.
For that reason, it generally cannot be used in sentences that express continuation or in negative sentences.

[Examples]　
× 5年ねんぶりに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.
⇒ This is a continuing negative sentence meaning “I have not had a girlfriend for five years,” so “ぶり” cannot be used.

× 7日かぶりに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.
⇒ This expresses an action that has continued for seven days, so “ぶり” cannot be used.

“久ひさしぶり” and “いつぶり”
As expressions using “ぶり”, “久ひさしぶり” and “いつぶり” are also often used.

[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.

“久ひさしぶり” is a word that expresses the feeling that quite a long time has passed for the speaker.

“いつぶり” is a way of asking how long it has been since something last happened.

Verb／Noun＋ぶり・っぷり

[Meaning]
The way someone is doing something
The way something looks or seems

[Rules]
[V] Verb stem form + ぶり/っぷり
[N] Noun + ぶり/っぷり

[Point]
“Verb / Noun + ぶり / っぷり” expresses a person’s or thing’s manner, state, or way of acting.

[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.

The difference between “ぶり” and “っぷり”

”っぷり” is a stronger and more vivid way of saying something than “ぶり.” It is often used when describing something visually noticeable or an action with a lot of force or energy.

For example:
・食たべぶり → 食たべっぷり

• 飲のみぶり → 飲のみっぷり

Using these forms gives a stronger sense of how noticeable or energetic the way of eating or drinking is.
However, depending on the word, “ぶり” may sound more natural. Also, expressions like “暮くらしっぷり” and “生活せいかつっぷり” can be used to vividly describe someone’s way of life rather than strength or intensity.

Commonly used expressions
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

• Counters for a period of time + ぶり expresses doing something again after a long time has passed for the speaker.
• Verb / Noun + ぶり・っぷり expresses a person’s or thing’s manner, state, or way of acting.
• っぷり often expresses a stronger and more vivid impression than ぶり.

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