ぐらい
ぐらい
particle
about, approximately
1.
about, approximately
Indicates an approximate quantity, amount, or degree.
千円ぐらいです。
It's about 1000 yen.
30分ぐらいかかります。
It takes about 30 minutes.
どのぐらい時間がかかりますか。
About how long does it take?
毎日2時間ぐらい日本語を勉強しています。
I study Japanese for about 2 hours every day.
駅から学校まで歩いて15分ぐらいかかりますが、バスなら5分ぐらいです。
It takes about 15 minutes to walk from the station to school, but by bus it's about 5 minutes.
ぐらい is a particle indicating approximation in quantity, time, or degree.
VARIANT:
くらい - same meaning, interchangeable with ぐらい.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- number + ぐらい: about ~ (30分ぐらい - about 30 minutes)
- どのぐらい: about how much/how long
- これぐらい: about this much
- それぐらい: about that much
SECONDARY MEANING:
'At least' or 'the least':
- これぐらいできる: I can do at least this much
- 挨拶ぐらいしなさい: At least say hello
SIMILAR PARTICLES:
- 約: approximately (more formal)
- 頃: around (for time)