Mastering 頃 (koro) and ごろ (goro): Expressing Approximate Time in Japanese

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Mastering 頃 (koro) and ごろ (goro): Expressing Approximate Time in Japanese
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

An expression used to indicate an approximate time, point, or period; translates to “about,” “around,” “when,” or “the time of.”

🎯 Primary Function

To make a time expression non-specific or approximate.

📋 Grammar Structure

Verb Plain Form (present/past) + ころ
i-Adjective (Plain Form) + ころ
Na-Adjective + な + ころ
Verb Negative Plain Form + ころ

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Used commonly, especially in polite statements regarding scheduling or planning (e.g., 会議は１０時ごろです).

😊 Informal Situations

Used casually in daily conversations to discuss timings.

✍️ Written Language

Common in emails, letters, and reports when exact times are not necessary or known.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Extremely frequent; essential for scheduling and making plans.

💡 Common Applications

Expressing Approximate Specific Time (ごろ)
Used after a numeral combined with a time unit (e.g., 時, 日, ヶ月) to indicate an approximate point in time. Always use ごろ in this context.
Example: 午前９時ごろ、会議が始まります。 (The meeting will start around 9 AM.)
Referring to a Period or Stage of Life (ころ)
Used after nouns that refer to a period or stage (e.g., 子供, 昔, 休み) or connected to a descriptive clause to mean “the time when…” Always use ころ in this context.
Example: 学生のころは、毎日勉強していました。(When I was a student, I studied every day.)
Approximation of Duration or Quantity (ごろ)
Though less common than くらい/ぐらい, ごろ can also approximate a duration or quantity associated with a time frame.
Example: 完成まであと一週間ごろかかります。(It will take about one more week until completion.)
📊
Frequency
Very High
🎚️
Difficulty
N4 – N3
Tag:

Related Kanji

JLPT N4 Kanji List

Related Vocabulary

JLPT N4 Vocabulary List
Example Sentences
Example #1
６時ごろに駅に着く予定です。
Furigana: ろくじごろに えきに つく よていです。
Romaji: Rokuji goro ni eki ni tsuku yotei desu.
English: I plan to arrive at the station around 6 o’clock.
Example #2
子供のころ、よくこの公園で遊んだ。
Furigana: こどものころ、よくこの こうえんで あそんだ。
Romaji: Kodomo no koro, yoku kono kōen de asonda.
English: When I was a child, I used to play a lot in this park.
Example #3
日本へ来たのは、去年の夏ごろだった。
Furigana: にほんへ きたのは、きょねんの なつごろだった。
Romaji: Nihon e kita no wa, kyonen no natsu goro datta.
English: I came to Japan around last summer.
Example #4
忙しい時でも、昼休みごろは少し休める。
Furigana: いそがしい ときでも、ひるやすみごろは すこし やすめる。
Romaji: Isogashii toki demo, hiru yasumi goro wa sukoshi yasumeru.
English: Even when I’m busy, I can rest a little around lunchtime.
Example #5
試験が終わるころ、雨が降り始めました。
Furigana: しけんが おわるころ、あめが ふりはじめました。
Romaji: Shiken ga owaru koro, ame ga furi hajimemashita.
English: It started raining just as the exam was finishing.
Example #6
この辺りは、夜の１０時ごろになると静かになる。
Furigana: この あたりは、よるの じゅうじごろに なると しずかに なる。
Romaji: Kono atari wa, yoru no jūji goro ni naru to shizuka ni naru.
English: This area becomes quiet around 10 o’clock at night.
Example #7
彼女に初めて会ったのは、ちょうど雪が降っていたころだ。
Furigana: かのじょに はじめて あったのは、ちょうど ゆきが ふっていたころだ。
Romaji: Kanojo ni hajimete atta no wa, chōdo yuki ga futte ita koro da.
English: The first time I met her was around the time it was snowing.
Example #8
３０歳ごろまでには結婚したいと考えている。
Furigana: さんじゅっさいごろまでには けっこんしたいと かんがえている。
Romaji: San jū-sai goro made ni wa kekkon shitai to kangaete iru.
English: I plan to get married by the time I’m around 30.
Example #9
最近は、朝早く起きるのがつらいころだ。
Furigana: さいきんは、あさ はやく おきるのが つらいころだ。
Romaji: Saikin wa, asa hayaku okiru no ga tsurai koro da.
English: Recently, it’s been a tough time to wake up early in the morning.
Example #10
また来週のこの時間ごろに連絡します。
Furigana: また らいしゅうの この じかんごろに れんらくします。
Romaji: Mata raishū no kono jikan goro ni renraku shimasu.
English: I will contact you again around this time next week.
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

ごろ for Specific Time Points
Use ごろ after a specific numerical time point to express approximation (“around 8 o’clock”).
Example: ８時ごろ (Hachiji goro)
ころ for General Periods/Stages
Use ころ for general periods of time (vacation, the time you were in Japan, childhood). It often functions as a time-defining noun.
Example: 休みのころ (Yasumi no koro), 日本にいたころ (Nihon ni ita koro)
Nouns and の
When referring to a period or stage that is a noun (like 子供, 昔), the particle の is often required or strongly recommended before ころ, especially if the noun is not a time marker itself.
Example: Nのころ (N no koro)

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ 子供のごろ
✅ 子供のころ
ころ is used for periods/stages (childhood, holiday). ごろ is reserved for specific points in time.
❌ ３時ころ
✅ ３時ごろ
ごろ is used after specific time points (3 o’clock) to show approximation. ころ would mean “the time of 3 o’clock,” which is grammatically less common for approximation.
❌ 寝るのころ
✅ 寝るころ
The verb connects directly to ころ in the plain form (present or past) without a particle like の.

🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Neutral. It expresses uncertainty about time and does not inherently affect politeness. The surrounding sentence structure (e.g., using ます/です) dictates the politeness level.
Social Situations: Crucial for business and social scheduling, allowing for flexibility and avoiding commitment to a precise moment.
Regional Variations: Standard across all regions. The usage distinction between ころ and ごろ is consistent.

🔍 Subtle Differences

頃 (ころ/ごろ) vs. くらい/ぐらい (kurai/gurai)
頃 is primarily limited to approximating time (point, period, or duration). くらい/ぐらい is much broader, used to approximate quantity, degree, distance, and time.
When to use: Use 頃 when specifically discussing time approximation. Use くらい/ぐらい when approximating non-time measurements, or when you want a more casual, general approximation of time.
〜時 (toki) vs. 〜頃 (koro)
〜時 means “when” or “at the time of,” implying an exact event or period. 〜頃 focuses specifically on the *approximation* of that time or period.
When to use: Use 時 when stating that one event happened simultaneously with another or defining an exact period. Use 頃 to soften the time and indicate imprecision.

📝 Conjugation Notes

The pattern attaches directly to nouns (time points or periods) or the plain form of verbs and adjectives. The main challenge is choosing the correct reading: ごろ for specific, approximated points; ころ for general periods or when following a verb/adjective clause.

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

Both readings are pronounced with a level, slightly rising pitch. Ensure the distinction between the unvoiced /k/ in ころ and the voiced /g/ in ごろ is clear, as this is the primary grammatical marker.

🧠 Memory Tips

Mnemonic: Goro is for Goal Times (specific times like 9:00). Koro is for Knowledge of a Period (childhood, the time when you were studying). Remember the ‘Rendaku’ rule: when attaching to numbers (which are often specific points), the sound often changes to ごろ.

Other Grammar

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