around; about; when (頃) – Japanese Grammar 頃 (koro / goro)

Q: What JLPT level is 頃?

JLPT N4 — Upper-Beginner · Forming complex sentences

Q: How do you use 頃 in a sentence?

Attach 頃 to the appropriate verb or noun form. Around; about; when

Q: Is 頃 formal or casual Japanese?

頃 can be used in both casual conversation and polite speech depending on context.

頃

N4 GRAMMAR ⏱ 0s study 📖 0 today

koro / goro

around; about; when

の中で no naka de ことになる koto ni naru 必要がある hitsuyou ga aru いらっしゃる irassharu てみる te miru お～ください o~kudasai ぜひ zehi ことがある koto ga aru 後で ato de たらどう tara dou な na なければいけない nakereba ikenai かどうか ka dou ka ても temo てあげる te ageru そうだ sou da [1] 予定だ yotei da みたいだ mitai da より yori ようにする you ni suru の中で no naka de ことになる koto ni naru 必要がある hitsuyou ga aru いらっしゃる irassharu てみる te miru お～ください o~kudasai ぜひ zehi ことがある koto ga aru 後で ato de たらどう tara dou な na なければいけない nakereba ikenai かどうか ka dou ka ても temo てあげる te ageru そうだ sou da [1] 予定だ yotei da みたいだ mitai da より yori ようにする you ni suru

🃏 Flashcard

頃

koro / goro

Tap to reveal usage

around; about; when

Tap to test your recall · +10 XP

📊 Pattern Stats

JLPT Level N4

Upper-Beginner · Forming complex sentences

Reading koro / goro

Post ID 50714

Patterns today 0

0 / 10 daily goal

📝 Usage Notes

around; about; when

📖 How to use it

Indicates an approximate time or point in time, equivalent to 'around' or 'when'.

Attaches to Attaches to the noun form of time expressions (e.g., 三時, 昼, 春) or to the plain past/dictionary form of verbs (e.g., 帰る頃, 帰った頃). When attached to a specific time, the reading is 'goro' (e.g., 三時ごろ); otherwise it is 'koro'.

This particle-like noun expresses an approximate time or period. It can be used with clock times, dates, seasons, and also with actions to mean 'when I did something' or 'around the time I do something'. It is very common in everyday conversation and writing.

When referring to a specific clock time, it is usually read as 'goro' and often written in hiragana. When referring to a broader period or a verb phrase, it is read as 'koro'. For example, '三時ごろ' means 'around 3 o'clock', while '子供の頃' means 'when I was a child'. With verbs, you can say '帰る頃' (around the time I go home) or '帰った頃' (around the time I went home).

It is important to note that '頃' is not used for exact times; it always implies approximation. Also, it is not used for durations (like 'for two hours'), only for points or periods of time.

毎朝七時ごろ起きます。

Maiasa shichiji goro okimasu.

I wake up around seven every morning.

子供の頃、よく公園で遊びました。

Kodomo no koro, yoku kouen de asobimashita.

When I was a child, I often played in the park.

帰る頃に雨が降り出した。

Kaeru koro ni ame ga furidashita.

It started raining around the time I was going home.

Not ごろ vs. ぐらいごろ is only for points in time (e.g., 三時ごろ), while ぐらい is for approximate amounts or durations (e.g., 三時間ぐらい 'about three hours'). Use ごろ for clock times, ぐらい for lengths.

Register Neutral; used in both spoken and written Japanese, but in very formal writing, more precise expressions may be preferred.

🎯 Quick Quiz

What does this grammar pattern mean or do?

頃

📚 How to Master This Pattern

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Say It Aloud

Press Hear it and repeat 頃 three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.

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Flip Before Reading

Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.

✍️

Write Two Sentences

Compose two original sentences using 頃. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.

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Spaced Review

Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.

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❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the grammar pattern 頃 mean? ▼

Around; about; when

What JLPT level is 頃? ▼

Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N4 — Upper-Beginner · Forming complex sentences. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.

How do you use 頃 in a sentence? ▼

Attach 頃 (koro / goro) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.

Is 頃 formal or casual Japanese? ▼

頃 is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.

How can I remember 頃 long-term? ▼

Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.