ほど hodo

Example Sentences

1.

この問題は思ったほど難しくないです。

このもんだいはおもったほどむずかしくないです。

Kono mondai wa omotta hodo muzukashikunai desu.

This problem is not as difficult as I thought.

2.

彼女ほど料理が上手な人はいません。

かのじょほどりょうりがじょうずなひとはいません。

Kanojo hodo ryouri ga jouzu na hito wa imasen.

There’s no one as good at cooking as she is.

3.

痛くて歩けないほどです。

いたくてあるけないほどです。

Itakute arukenai hodo desu。

It's so painful that I can't walk

How to Use

「ほど」は、何かの程度や度合いを強調したいときに使います。特に「こんなに」「それほど」「あれほど」という気持ちを込めるときによく使われます。

「ほど」(hodo) is used to emphasize the degree or extent of something. It's often used when you want to express feelings like "this much," "that much," or "so much."

Main Uses

1. Expressing Superlatives / 最大級の表現

• 「この世で彼ほど優しい人はいない」(このよでかれほどやさしいひとはいない)

• "There is no one as kind as him in this world"

• Carries strong emotional weight, implying "nothing compares to this"

• Sometimes used as hyperbole to emphasize feelings

2. Comparing with a Prior State or Reference / 基準との比較

• 「昨日ほど寒くないです」(きのうほどさむくないです)

• "It's not as cold as yesterday"

• Uses a specific point of reference to describe the current state

• Indicates a comparison with a clear standard point

• Often used when the reference point represents a stronger or more intense state

3. Emphasizing Degree / 程度の強調

• 「泣くほど嬉しかった」(なくほどうれしかった)

• "I was so happy I could cry"

• Expresses intensity of a situation or emotion

• The actual action (crying) may not occur; it's about expressing intensity

Connection

• 動詞普通形 ＋ ほど (Verb plain form + hodo)

  Ex.泣く ほど (naku hodo) - to the extent of crying

• い形容詞 ＋ ほど (i-adjective + hodo)

  Ex.美しい ほど (utsukushii hodo)

• な形容詞 ＋ な ＋ ほど (na-adjective + hodo)

  Ex.静かな ほど (shizuka na hodo)

  *Use「な」only in the present affirmative form.

• 名詞 ＋ ほど (Noun + hodo)

  Ex.東京 ほど (tokyo hodo) - as much as Tokyo

  The negative and past tense forms can also be used