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JLPT N4Time Expressions

頃 / ごろ— Around / About (approximate time)

An approximate time indicator meaning 'around' or 'about' a certain time point (not a duration). Also means 'around the time of / the period of.'

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Pro lessonUNIT 27 · TIME EXPRESSIONS

Structure · 形

[Time / period expression] + ごろ (頃)

Examples · 例文

  • 3時ごろ来てください。

    Sanji goro kite kudasai.

    Please come around 3 o'clock.

    3時 + ごろ = approximately 3 o'clock (a point)

  • 子供の頃、毎日公園で遊んだ。

    Kodomo no koro, mainichi kouen de asonda.

    When I was a child, I played in the park every day.

    子供の頃 = around childhood / that period of life

  • 来月ごろ、引っ越す予定です。

    Raigetsu goro, hikkosu yotei desu.

    I plan to move around next month.

    来月ごろ = approximately next month

Usage notes · 注意

  • ごろ vs ぐらい/くらい: ごろ = approximate time POINT (3時ごろ = around 3 o'clock).
  • ぐらい = approximate AMOUNT/DURATION (3時間ぐらい = about 3 hours).
  • Do not use ごろ for durations.
  • 子供の頃 (childhood period) uses the kanji form 頃.
  • 〜ごろには = 'by around [time].'

Commonly confused with

The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones 頃 is tested against.

vsぐらい / くらい

ごろ attaches to a single time point (3時ごろ); ぐらい attaches to quantities and durations (3時間ぐらい, 1000円ぐらい).

vs頃 (ころ, period)

As ごろ it means 'around [a clock time]'; as ころ (子供の頃) it means 'the period/era when...'.

More time expressions

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