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N3

Degree and Extent: 〜くらい / 〜ほど

About 10 minutes · written and reviewed by Haruki Yamamoto

Section 1 of 3

Core meaning

Both 〜くらい and 〜ほど can express degree or extent. In many sentences they are similar, but 〜ほど often sounds slightly more objective or stronger, while 〜くらい is also common for approximate amount or level.

  1. Target signal

    泣きたいくらいうれしかった。

    I was happy enough to cry.

    くらい marks an emotional degree: happy enough to cry.

    Vocabulary notes
    くらい
    about; approximately; to the extent that
    たい〜たい
    want to do
    いう
    to say; to be called

  2. Compare in context

    立っていられないほど疲れていた。

    I was so tired that I could not remain standing.

    ほど shows a degree so strong that standing became impossible.

    Vocabulary notes
    立ってたって
    standing up and
    いた
    was there
    って
    colloquial quoting or topic particle

Section 2 of 3

Approximation and comparison

〜くらい is often used for rough quantity or level: “about” or “around.” 〜ほど also appears in comparison structures like AほどBはない, meaning “nothing is as B as A.”

  1. Target signal

    駅まで十分くらいかかる。

    It takes about ten minutes to get to the station.

    Here くらい means 'about' ten minutes.

    Vocabulary notes
    かかる
    to hang over; to cover
    くらい
    about; approximately; to the extent that
    まで
    until; up to

  2. Preview

    春ほど花がきれいな季節はない。

    There is no season in which flowers are as beautiful as in spring.

    AほどBはない creates a strong comparison standard.

    Vocabulary notes
    きれいな
    clean; pretty (before a noun)
    きれい
    pretty; neat
    ない
    not; there is not

Section 3 of 3

Reading notes

When reading, decide whether the pattern marks literal quantity, emotional exaggeration, or rhetorical comparison. The sentence around it usually makes this clear.

  1. Target signal

    母語話者だと思うほど自然な発音だった。

    The pronunciation was so natural that I thought the speaker was a native.

    The speaker uses ほど to show a very high degree of naturalness.

    Vocabulary notes
    だった
    was; were
    だと
    if it is; if things are like this
    ほど
    about; approximately

  2. Preview

    この問題は初級者でも分かるくらい基本的だ。

    This problem is basic enough that even beginners can understand it.

    くらい sets the level as basic enough for beginners.

    Vocabulary notes
    くらい
    about; approximately; to the extent that
    分かるわかる
    to understand
    この
    this

Reading in context

Read for meaning before checking the answer

Before you read

Read once for the situation. Then notice how 〜くらい changes the meaning before you check the translation.

泣きたいくらいうれしかった。 立っていられないほど疲れていた。 駅まで十分くらいかかる。 春ほど花がきれいな季節はない。 母語話者だと思うほど自然な発音だった。 この問題は初級者でも分かるくらい基本的だ。 もう一度読んでください。前後の文を比べてください。場面と話し手を考えてください。意味の流れを最後まで確認して、使い分けを考えてください。もう一度読んでください。前後の文を比べてください。場面と話し手を考えてください。意味の流れを最後まで確認して、使い分けを考えてください。もう一度読んでください

Show English translation

I was happy enough to cry. I was so tired that I could not remain standing. It takes about ten minutes to get to the station. There is no season in which flowers are as beautiful as in spring. The pronunciation was so natural that I thought the speaker was a native. This problem is basic enough that even beginners can understand it.

Contextual questions

Answer from the passage before you reveal each explanation.

  1. What is the first reading job for this passage?

    • Identify the situation and how 〜くらい changes it.
    • Translate every word before using context.
    • Ignore the ending because only vocabulary matters.
    • Choose an answer before reading the full passage.
    Check the answer

    Identify the situation and how 〜くらい changes it.

    The goal is to use the situation first, then confirm the role of 〜くらい in context.

Guided practice

Apply the lesson in a few different ways

Work through each prompt, then check the explanation before moving on.

Activity 1 of 4Choose the best context

Which sentence expresses approximate quantity?

Activity 2 of 4Fill the blank

Complete the chunk that carries the lesson meaning (〜くらい).

泣きたい＿＿＿うれしかった。

Activity 3 of 4Put it in order

Put these related examples back into the order used in the lesson.

  1. 1立っていられないほど疲れていた。
  2. 2駅まで十分くらいかかる。
  3. 3泣きたいくらいうれしかった。
Activity 4 of 4Infer from the passage

What should guide your interpretation of 〜くらい in the mini-reading?

Mastery check 1/3

Which sentence expresses approximate quantity?