Page 228 - Makino,Tsutusi.DictionaryOfIntermediateJGrammar

154 kurai

3. Kurai with a negative predicate expresses a superlative, as in KS(c) cind
Exs.(d) - (f). KS(C), for example, can be restated as (1).
(1) LLlffl-2 hti%.l< %25-;ik&,
(Mr. Yamada is the most forgetful.)
4. Kurai expresses the idea of 'at least,' as in KS(D) and Ex.(g). X kurai in
this use implies that the degree of a state is such that one cannot expect
much more than X from that state.
5. S no wa X kurai no mono da expresses the idea that the speaker cannot
think of anyone or anything else but X that meets the description in S.
In other words, X meets the description in S to the highest degree
among those the speaker can think of. (See KS(E) and Ex.(h).)
6. V1 kurai nara V2 hb ga mashi da expresses the idea that one would rather
V2 than V1. (This structure literally means that if the speaker's situation
is such that he might V1, it would be better for him to Vz.) (See KS(F)
and Ex.(i).)

Kurai as used in KS(A) - (C) can be replaced by hod0 without changing
meaning.

Kurai as used in KS(D) - (F) cannot be replaced by hodo.