Expressions· 17 その 頃ころ at that time; in those days; then あの 頃ころ in those days; back then; at that time いい 頃ころ high time; about time Show 3 more Show fewer 幼おさな い 頃ころ when one was a very young child; very early in one's life 月つき の 頃ころ good time to view the moon; full moon season See all 17 in Explore →
Related words 時分 is a formal, somewhat literary word for a point in time, while 頃 is the everyday word learners use for approximate time.
くらい marks an approximate amount or quantity (and can loosely mark time too), whereas 頃 is specifically used to mark an approximate point in time.
前後 attaches to a specific time or number to mean 'around/give or take', while 頃 more loosely marks a vague period without implying a precise reference point.
時 marks an exact point or occasion (地震の時 ), while 頃 gives a vague, approximate time (三時頃 'around three o'clock').
頃 indicates an approximate, vague time, while 時 can be a precise or general point in time.
Word family· 21 about this time; around now
usually; habitually; always · for a long time; over a long period
these past months; for the last few months
suitable time; good timing · moderation; propriety; appropriate degree
these days; nowadays; recently
Show 14 more Show fewer about the middle; mid-
best time to see
ready to eat; ripe; in season
body of a garment; bodice
lately; recently; nowadays · terribly; awfully; extremely
approximate age; apparent age; around the same age · age of maturity; marriageable age; young adult age · age when something happened; around the age that ... · for years; for a long time
once; some time ago; at one time
about when; around what time; how soon
around noon; about midday
at that time; in those days; then
handy; convenient to use; just right for use
Nigoro-buna; Carassius auratus grandoculis
time; period; days
ready to eat; at its best for eating; in season
See all 21 in Explore →
Written forms 頃 Usage 55% i Usage for this spelling across all readings, not one reading alone.
ころ Usage 34%
Kana spelling is very common and often preferred in everyday writing.
ごろ Usage 11%
Suffix form used after nouns or verb stems to indicate approximate time or condition.
比 Usage 0% i Usage for this spelling across all readings, not one reading alone.
Etymology The word ころ is of native Japanese origin. The kanji 頃 is a semantic borrowing, while 比 is a rare variant. The voiced form ごろ occurs as a suffix due to rendaku (sequential voicing).
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