Grammar JLPT Level N3 - Lesson 13

Structure of くらい ②:

Verb + くらい⁽¹⁾
［い］Adjective + くらい⁽¹⁾
［な］Adjective + な + くらい⁽¹⁾
Noun + くらい⁽¹⁾

⁽¹⁾ ぐらい

Details about くらい ②:

Often, the noun くらい is used as an adverbial particle. This use of くらい (or ぐらい) expresses the limit of something, in a similar way to ほど. This means that it can be translated as 'about (A)', 'so (A) that (B)', or '(A) to the extent of (B)'. Let's take a look at a few examples.

今日(きょう)はもう一生(いっしょう)走(はし)りたくないくらい走(はし)った。
Today, I ran so much that I don't want to run again in my whole life.
わたしも叫(さけ)びたいくらい、怖(こわ)かった。
I was so scared that I wanted to scream too.
5連休(れんきゅう)が必要(ひつよう)なぐらい疲(つか)れています。
I am tired to the extent that it is necessary for me to have 5 days off.
俺(おれ)もキヨミさんくらいピアノが弾(ひ)けるようになりたい。
I want to be able to play the piano to about the level of Kiyomi-san.

Despite translating in the above ways, we can see that this use of くらい is similar to the standard kanji use 位(くらい), which literally means a 'rank', or 'grade' of something. What this means is that (A) will usually be considered to be at the 'grade' of something that was required in order to cause/allow (B).

くらい ②