Japanese grammar
What does ～くらい～はない mean? Japanese grammar N3
～くらい～はない means nothing/no one is as ~ as… (superlative comparison).
| Level (estimated, JLPT framework) | N3 |
|---|---|
| Structure | N + くらい + ～は + ない／いない Vる + くらい + ～は + ない |
| Romaji | kurai hanai |
| Meaning | nothing/no one is as ~ as… (superlative comparison) |
Forming it
| Person | 母 → 母くらい優しい人はいない |
|---|---|
| Thing / matter | 故郷 → 故郷くらいいい所はない |
How to use it
Takes A as the benchmark and asserts nothing surpasses it — a way of expressing "the most" through negation.
- 「AくらいBはない」 = there is no B like A. For people, end with 「いない」; for things/matters, 「ない」.
- 「ぐらい」 is an alternate spelling, same meaning. The more formal version is 「AほどBはない」.
- This is an indirect way of saying "the most": 「彼くらい親切な人はいない」 means he is the kindest.
Examples
母くらい優しい人はいない。
There is no one as kind as my mother.
試験前くらい忙しい時はない。
There is no time as busy as right before exams.
Keep in mind
- The final clause must be negative, 「はない／はいない」.
- When the subject is a person, use 「いない」.
Common mistakes
-
Wrong母くらい優しい人はある。
No one is as gentle as my mother.
Correct母くらい優しい人はいない。
This pattern must end in the NEGATIVE, and since the subject is a person, 「いない」 is used.
-
Wrong週に一度くらいはジムに行かないと。
At least once a week, I have to go to the gym.
Correct週に一度くらいはジムに行かないといけない。
That is 「くらいは」 (at least...), completely different from the superlative pattern 「くらい～はない」.
Exam tips
- 「AくらいBはない」 = nothing is like A (superlative); for people use 「いない」.