Japanese for English speakers Zoo · Lesson 4

More or less

Express approximation with ぐらい / くらい (gurai/kurai) — 五メートルぐらい (about 5 metres). Plus 蛇 (hebi, snake) and 長い (nagai, long).

Conversation

  1. Muri Muri

    わ～長い蛇ですね

    wā... nagai hebi desu ne

    wow, it's a long snake

    Tip: <wā> = interjection for surprise. Wow <nagai> = long, lengthy <hebi> = snake

  2. Yaya Yaya

    五メトルぐらいですよね

    go metoru gurai desu yone

    It's 5 metres more or less

    Tip: <gurai> = more or less

  3. Muri Muri

    うん。去年は...

    un. kyonen wa...

    Yes. Last year...

  4. Yaya Yaya

    こんなに長くなかったですね

    konna ni nagakunakatta desu ne

    It wasn't this long

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

What's the difference between ぐらい and くらい?

Same meaning ('about / approximately'). ぐらい is slightly more colloquial, くらい slightly more formal — but the difference is minor.

How do you say 'this long'?

こんなに長い (konnani nagai) — こんなに = 'this much / to this extent'.

What is 去年 (kyonen)?

'Last year'. Related: 今年 (this year), 来年 (next year).

Test yourself

Pick the English translation for each line from this lesson. Wrong answers are pulled from other Japanese lessons.

4 quick questions on what you just heard.

Next lesson in Zoo Past negative -na ending adjectives →