Why do JLPT N4 learners confuse このごろ with すっかり?

Both words occupy adjacent semantic territory, which is exactly why the JLPT uses them as distractors for each other on multiple-choice items. The fastest way to stop confusing them is to study them as a pair, write a one-sentence contrast in your own words, and drill the pair specifically rather than each word in isolation.

Is このごろ or すっかり more common on JLPT N4?

Both appear in the JLPT N4 curriculum and either may show up on a given exam. Don't try to predict which one the test will choose — learn to distinguish them and you'll be safe regardless. Both belong to the Adverbs & Expressions theme of N4 vocabulary.

How do I practice this confusion pair?

Free option: visit /try and pick a confusion drill. Paid option: none — JLPT Mastery is free during launch. Whichever route you take, the engine specifically re-tests pairs you've gotten wrong rather than rotating through general vocabulary review.

JLPT N4 · Elementary · Meaning confusion

このごろ vs すっかり

Q: What's the difference between このごろ and すっかり?

このごろ (このごろ) means "these days, nowadays" and すっかり (すっかり) means "all, completely". These frequently co-occur in descriptions of change. Konogoro (このごろ) sets the time frame ('these days'), while sukkari (すっかり) describes the degree of completeness of a change within that time frame.

Why JLPT N4 learners mix up このごろ (このごろ, “these days, nowadays”) and すっかり (すっかり, “all, completely”).

このごろ

these days, nowadays

adverb

すっかり

all, completely

adverb

Theme: Adverbs & ExpressionsJLPT N4

Why these get confused

These frequently co-occur in descriptions of change. Konogoro (このごろ) sets the time frame ('these days'), while sukkari (すっかり) describes the degree of completeness of a change within that time frame.

How to tell them apart

Anchor on the meaning, not the form. このごろ (these days, nowadays) and すっかり (all, completely) live in adjacent semantic territory. Memorize the boundary, not just each word.
Read the example sentences below. Seeing each word in its natural context builds a faster lookup than studying the dictionary form alone.

In a sentence

このごろ (these days, nowadays)

弟の乱暴はこのごろ目に余る。
弱いものいじめはよせ、このごろつきめが！

すっかり (all, completely)

すっかり忘れたよ。
すっかり忘れたよ。

How JLPT tests this pair

On JLPT N4, this pair shows up as a vocabulary meaning question. You see one word and pick its English equivalent from four options — one of which will be the other word in this pair, chosen as a distractor precisely because of the overlap.

Sample item

「このごろ」の意味は？