29457
I heard the following phrase from [an ad for Jetstar
Japan](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4WT3b0Jx7g):

> びっくりする **くらい** 最低よね！

I know the individual meaning of the words.  
びっくりする - to be surprised,  
くらい - around(?)  
最低 - lowest/cheapest

This ad is from a low cost carrier in Japan. Putting all these together, what
is the possible meaning of the statement above?

(a) Surprised that (the fare) is almost the cheapest.  
(b) Almost surprised that (the fare) is the cheapest.

The placement of くらい confused me about which it is modifying.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-25T13:52:54.243
29453
2015-11-25T19:28:02.990
2015-11-25T19:28:02.990
11033
question
meaning copywriting particle-くらい
Postpositional or prepositional くらい
～くらい in this context means **"to the point where ～"**. びっくりするくらい最低 literally
means " _worst_ to the point where one is surprised", or simply, "surprisingly
_worst_ ".

>   * 眠れないくらい嬉しい happy to the point where I can't sleep / too happy to sleep
>   * 目に見えるくらい大きい big enough to be seen
>

* * *

This ad is somewhat tricky because it plays on words using a double meaning of
the word 最低. 最低 both means "worst" and "lowest", but when people just say
「最低!」 or 「最低よね!」, it's usually understood as a slangy expression which means
"Disgusting!", "It sucks!" (If someone is surprised at something very cheap,
they say 「安い!」 rather than 「最低!」)

In the first half of the ad, the two ladies repeatedly say 「最低よね!」 with an
irritated voice, giving the audience the impression that they are clearly
disgusted by something. Then this conversation follows:

> A「でも…最低なのって…嫌いじゃないかも…」 But... being "saitei" may not be unfavorable...  
>  B「最低って?」 Being "saitei" is...?  
>  A「最高！」 "Great"!

And the audience understands the true message of the ad, "Being the lowest (in
price) is good!"
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-25T15:39:34.763
29457
2015-11-25T15:39:34.763
5010
29453
answer