～くらい・～ぐらい (degree)
So much that, or to this degree
You’ll be able to use くらい and ぐらい to illustrate how strong or extreme a state or action is, rather than to give an approximate number.
飛び跳ねたいくらいうれしかったです。
tobihanetai kurai ureshikatta desu.
What do you think this sentence means?
I was so happy that I felt like jumping for joy.
Describe degree through a feeling or action
～くらい and ～ぐらい can show degree: “so... that” or “to the extent that.” They are interchangeable in most situations; ぐらい is slightly more common in speech.
子どもでもわかるくらい、簡単な問題です。
kodomo demo wakaru kurai, kantan na mondai desu.
It is a question so easy that even a child could get it.
動けないぐらい、おなかがいっぱいです。
ugokenai gurai, onaka ga ippai desu.
I am so full that I cannot move.
Use a concrete example of the degree
Put a plain clause or a noun phrase before くらい／ぐらい, then state the strong feeling or condition. Do not confuse this use with approximate quantities such as 三時間ぐらい.
声が出ないくらい緊張しました。
koe ga denai kurai kinchou shimashita.
I was so nervous that I could not speak.
「新しい仕事、どう？」「家に帰ったらすぐ寝ちゃうぐらい疲れるよ。」
“atarashii shigoto, dou?” “ie ni kaettara sugu nechau gurai tsukareru yo.”
“How’s the new job?” “It wears me out so much that I fall asleep as soon as I get home.”
このカレー、汗が出るくらい辛いね。
kono karee, ase ga deru kurai karai ne.
This curry is so spicy it makes you sweat.
部屋が引っ越しの箱で、床が見えないくらいいっぱいだよ。
heya ga hikkoshi no hako de, yuka ga mienai kurai ippai da yo.
The room is so full of moving boxes that you can’t see the floor.
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