がかりだ (gakari-da): Taking; involving
～がかりだ (gakari-da)
Meaning
Taking; involving
Formation and usage
duration／number／group N + がかり
Notation: N = noun; V dictionary = dictionary-form verb; V stem = the stem before ます; plain clause = plain-form clause; negative stem = the form before ない. Follow the attachment shown above.
Explanation
Indicates the time or people involved in a task, as in taking three days or involving the whole family.
Examples
会議の準備は、三日がかりの仕事だった。
Preparing for the meeting was a three-day job.
試験の準備は、三日がかりの仕事だった。
Preparing for the exam was a three-day job.
研修の準備は、三日がかりの仕事だった。
Preparing for the training session was a three-day job.
発表会の準備は、三日がかりの仕事だった。
Preparing for the presentation event was a three-day job.
面接の準備は、三日がかりの仕事だった。
Preparing for the interview was a three-day job.
How related patterns differ
These suffixes are not freely interchangeable: めく and じみる give a characteristic air; 気味 marks a slight tendency. まみれ often covers something in dirt, ずくめ describes an overall type, and づくし an assortment. Learn ずく, 越し, ぐるみ, and がかり in established combinations.