Learn Japanese - Using ごろ and ぐらい for approximation

The words ごろ and ぐらい both mean approximately. The word ごろ is used when speaking about points in time.

English	Japanese
At about what time is dinner?	晩ばんご飯はんは何なん時じごろですか。 bangohan ha nanzi goro desu ka.
(She) came home at about four a.m.	午ご前ぜん四よ時じごろにうちへ来きました。 gozen yozi goro ni uti he kimasita.

When speaking about anything else than a point in time, for example a duration, we use the word ぐらい to mean approximately.

English	Japanese
It took about a week.	一いっ周しゅう間かんぐらいかかりました。 issyuukan gurai kakarimasita.
It was about sixty dollars.	六ろく十じゅうドルぐらいでした。 rokuzyuu doru gurai desita.
(I) asked him about ten times.	彼かれに十じゅっ回かいぐらい聞ききました。 kare ni zyukkai gurai kikimasita.

Erik

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Lesson 134: Using ごろ and ぐらい for approximation