Kotomora
JLPT N3Construction
Furigana

おなじくらいAbout as ... as; roughly the same degree

おなじくらい says that one thing reaches roughly the same degree, amount, or level as another. It compares them on a particular scale, such as height, speed, ability, frequency, or intensity.

Benchmark and scale

The noun before is the benchmark. What follows must name, measure, or clearly suggest the particular quality being compared. The pattern does not say that A and B are the same in every respect.

Comparing clear scales

The scale may be physical, such as height, or nonphysical, such as skill.

おとうとわたしおなじくらいたかい。

My younger brother is about as tall as I am.

Analyze

かのじょせんせいおなじくらい上手じょうずにピアノをく。

She plays the piano about as skillfully as her teacher.

Analyze

このつくえはあのつくえおなじくらいたかさだ。

This desk is about the same height as that one.

Analyze

Usually approximate, not mathematical

In an ordinary comparison, “the same degree” is understood in context and need not mean an exact numerical match. If exact equality matters, supply the measurements or another explicit statement.

Making exact equality explicit

このロープはあのロープおなじくらいながく、どちらもせいかくさんメートルある。

This rope is about as long as that one, and both are exactly three meters long.

Analyze

The comparison itself is an ordinary same-degree comparison; the second part supplies the exact measurement.

Same degree, broader sameness, and falling short

おなじくらい isolates a degree or measurable level. By contrast, おなじで expresses broader sameness and links that description to what follows. A pattern with ほど followed by a negative says that something does not reach the benchmark, rather than matching it.

More examples

今日きょう昨日きのうおなじくらいかぜつよい。

The wind is about as strong today as it was yesterday.

Analyze

わたしあにおなじぐらいよくりょうをする。

I cook about as often as my older brother does.

Analyze

このみずうみはあのみずうみおなじくらいふかい。

This lake is about as deep as that one.

Analyze

このくるまでんしゃおなじくらいはやはしれる。

This car can travel about as fast as a train.

Analyze

あたらしいれいぞうふるいものおなじくらいでん使つかう。

The new refrigerator uses about as much electricity as the old one.

Analyze

かいぜんかいおなじくらいながかった。

The afternoon meeting was about as long as the morning meeting.

Analyze