LEARN + JAPANESE / 56 of 114 JLPT N4
That Much, and No More ほど
ほど measures how far something goes. Attached after a clause, it paints a vivid degree through exaggeration, “to the point that.” Attached after a noun with a negative verb, it compares two things, “not as much as.”
It's so painful I could die.
I'm so happy I'm at a loss for words.
In Real Life
These sentences aren’t literal, no one is actually dying or losing the ability to speak, ほど here paints a picture, describing a feeling by naming an extreme, vivid result it would be strong enough to cause.
I don't exercise as much as Tanaka does.
It's not as difficult as Japanese.
In Real Life
This second use always needs a negative verb, just like しか, and always compares two things directly, X ほど [negative], “not as [adjective/verb] as X.” Without the negative, ほど reverts to its extreme-degree meaning instead.
Vocabulary
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| to be surprised | |
| to die | |
| painful, hard to bear | |
| to lose weight | |
| to stand | |
| happy, glad | |
| to sleep | |
| frustrating, regrettable | |
| to swim | |
| coworker | |
| with all one's effort | |
| to have a loud voice | |
| business trip | |
| to compare | |
| degree, extent | |
| exaggerated | |
| limit | |
| to exaggerate | |
| to be moved, deeply impressed | |
| to endure |