How to tell them apart
ごろ marks an approximate point in time, while くらい marks an approximate amount, quantity, duration, or degree and can also mark an approximate time point. Use ごろ with clock times, dates, or months like 三時ごろ or 六月ごろ, and use くらい with prices, counts, or lengths of time like 百五十万円くらい or 四ヶ月くらい. Both are natural for a clock time like 三時くらい, but only くらい works for quantities, so using ごろ for a price or duration is unnatural.
- ごろ Use ごろ to express around a specific point in time like a clock time or month.
- くらい Use くらい to express roughly for quantities, prices, durations, or degrees, including around a time point.
| Grammar point | Meaning | JLPT level |
|---|---|---|
| ごろ goro | Approximately, at about a given time | N5 |
| くらい kurai | Roughly, around, an estimated amount or degree | N5 |
ごろ goro
Approximately, at about a given time
ごろ adds the meaning of about or around to a time expression when the exact time is not fixed. It attaches directly to a time noun, as in 六時ごろ or 7時半ごろ, and it may be followed by the particle に. It is neutral in politeness and common in everyday conversation, so keep it to a single time point rather than placing it after a range with から.
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六時ごろ来るって言ってたよ。
She told me she would be here about six.
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７時３０分ごろに電話をください。
Please call me at about 7:30.
くらい kurai
Roughly, around, an estimated amount or degree
くらい and its variant ぐらい mean about or around and mark an amount, time, distance, or degree as an estimate rather than an exact figure. They attach after a numeral plus counter or other quantity phrase, as in 5分くらい or 2マイルぐらい, and after question words like どのくらい or どれくらい to ask how long, how much, or how far in an approximate sense. The two forms have the same meaning, with ぐらい more common in conversation.
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オーブンには、どのくらい入れておけばいいの？
How long should we leave it in the oven?
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そこまでバスでどのくらいかかりますか。
How long does it take to go there by bus?
ごろ and くらい are both JLPT N5 grammar points that Japanese learners often mix up. This page compares them side by side on meanings, usage and example sentences, so you can tell them apart.