What does ～ほど mean? Japanese grammar N3

Forming it

How to use it

States the degree of a state by comparing it to an example; the form 「Nほど…ない」 expresses that nothing/no one matches N.

• 「～ほど」 states the DEGREE of a state by using an extreme situation as a benchmark: "so tired I can't even stand".
• The form 「Nほど～ない」 expresses a negative comparison: "no one/nothing matches N".
• Close to 「～くらい／ぐらい」 when indicating degree, but 「ほど」 is more formal and is often used for negative comparisons.

Examples

• 立(た)てないほど疲(つか)れました。

  I was so tired that I couldn’t stand.

• 彼(かれ)ほど親切(しんせつ)な人(ひと)はいません。

  There is no one as kind as him.

• 今日(きょう)は昨日(きのう)ほど寒(さむ)くないです。

  Today is not as cold as yesterday.

Keep in mind

• 「Nほど～ない」 is very common for expressing “the most”: 富士山ほど高い山はない.
• It can also indicate an approximate quantity (三日ほど), but the main N3 focus is degree.

Common mistakes

• Wrong富士山(ふじさん)ほど高(たか)い山(やま)があります。

  There is no mountain as tall as Mt. Fuji.

  Correct富士山(ふじさん)ほど高(たか)い山(やま)はありません。

  The "nothing matches" comparison structure is 「Nほど～ない」; the negative form must be used.

• Wrong死(し)ぬほどだ疲(つか)れた。

  I'm dead tired.

  Correct死(し)ぬほど疲(つか)れた。

  「ほど」 connects directly to the degree state (死ぬほど疲れた); do not insert 「だ」.

• Wrong今日(きょう)は昨日(きのう)ほど寒(さむ)いです。

  Today is not as cold as yesterday.

  Correct今日(きょう)は昨日(きのう)ほど寒(さむ)くないです。

  「AはBほど」 is used for a NEGATIVE comparison — the ～ない ending is mandatory. To state affirmatively that "today is colder than yesterday," use 「今日は昨日より寒いです」.

• Wrong今日(きょう)は昨日(きのう)くらい寒(さむ)くないです。

  Today is not as cold as yesterday.

  Correct今日(きょう)は昨日(きのう)ほど寒(さむ)くないです。

  The negative comparison "not as ~ as" only uses ほど, not くらい.

Exam tips

• 「ほど」 = degree (to the extent that…); 「Nほど～ない」 = nothing matches N (negative comparison).

Related patterns

• ～くらい
• ～ば～ほど
• ～ないほど