around · time

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: No on reading is listed, and the kun reading is ころ. It has 11 strokes. It appears in words for a time or approximate point and around now.
• Basic usage: 頃 is read ころ and 今頃 is read いまごろ.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 頃 / 今頃
  • 頃 means time or around and is read ころ. It indicates a time such as childhood or an approximate point such as around six o’clock.
  • 子どもの頃、よくこの川で遊んだ。 means “I often played in this river when I was young.”
  • 今頃 means around now or around this time and is read いまごろ. It refers to around now or to this time in a previous year.
  • 今頃、弟は飛行機の中で眠っているだろう。 means “By now, my younger brother is probably asleep on the plane.”