Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
“Not to the extent of X,” “Not as much as X,” “Not reaching the degree of X.”
🎯 Primary Function
To express a negative comparison, indicating that the degree or quality of the subject does not reach the level established by the comparison point.
📋 Grammar Structure
[Verb (Plain Form)] + ほど + [Negative Predicate]
[い-Adjective (Plain)] + ほど + [い-Adjective (Negative)]
[な-Adjective (stem)] + ほど + [Negative Predicate]
N + は/も + Noun / V(Plain) / Adj(Plain) + ほど + Negative Predicate (e.g., ない/ではない/くありません)
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Used in formal settings for measured comparisons and analytical statements.
Informal Situations
Very common in daily casual conversation.
Written Language
Appears in essays, descriptive articles, and opinions.
Spoken Language
Frequently used when describing experiences or comparing facts.
💡 Common Applications
Comparing two specific items, people, or situations.
Used to state that the subject (this summer) does not reach the degree/level of the standard (last summer).
Example: 今年の夏は去年ほど暑くない。 (Kotoshi no natsu wa kyonen hodo atsuku nai.)
Expressing a superlative meaning (implicitly stating superiority).
When the subject is general (e.g., no one, nothing else), the pattern means the comparison point (Kanojo) is the best or most extreme example.
Example: 彼女ほど親切な人はいない。 (Kanojo hodo shinsetsu na hito wa inai.)
Setting a limit or degree based on a descriptive clause (Verb/Adjective + ほど).
Used to say the reality (difficulty) was lower than the degree anticipated or imagined.
Example: 想像していたほど難しくなかった。 (Souzou shite ita hodo muzukashiku nakatta.)
Frequency
High
Difficulty
N3
Tag:
Example Sentences
Example #1
この問題は、思ったほど簡単じゃない。
Furigana: このもんだいは、おもったほどかんたんじゃない。
Romaji: Kono mondai wa, omotta hodo kantan janai.
English: This problem is not as easy as I thought it would be.
Example #2
富士山ほど美しい山は他にないだろう。
Furigana: ふじさんほどうつくしいやまはほかにないだろう。
Romaji: Fujisan hodo utsukushii yama wa hoka ni nai darou.
English: There is probably no other mountain as beautiful as Mt. Fuji.
Example #3
彼女の歌声はプロの歌手ほど上手ではない。
Furigana: かのじょのうたごえはプロのかしゅほどじょうずではない。
Romaji: Kanojo no utagoe wa puro no kashu hodo jouzu dewa nai.
English: Her singing voice is not as good as a professional singer’s.
Example #4
毎日練習しているが、まだ満足できるほど上達していない。
Furigana: まいにちれんしゅうしているが、まだまんぞくできるほどじょうたつしていない。
Romaji: Mainichi renshuu shite iru ga, mada manzoku dekiru hodo joutatsu shite inai.
English: Although I practice every day, I haven’t improved enough to be satisfied.
Example #5
昨日の会議は、予想していたほど長くはかからなかった。
Furigana: きのうのかいぎは、よそうしていたほどながくはかからなかった。
Romaji: Kinou no kaigi wa, yosou shite ita hodo nagaku wa kakaranakatta.
English: Yesterday’s meeting did not take as long as we had expected.
Example #6
私はコーヒーが好きだが、毎日飲まなければならないほどではない。
Furigana: わたしはコーヒーがすきだが、まいにちまなければならないほどではない。
Romaji: Watashi wa koohii ga suki da ga, mainichi nomanakereba naranai hodo dewa nai.
English: I like coffee, but not to the extent that I must drink it every day.
Example #7
彼ほど努力家な学生を知らない。
Furigana: かれほどどりょくかながくせいをしらない。
Romaji: Kare hodo doryokuka na gakusei o shiranai.
English: I don’t know any student who works as hard as him. (He is the hardest working student I know.)
Example #8
都会での生活は便利だが、田舎ほど静かではない。
Furigana: とかいでのせいかつはべんりだが、いなかほどしずかではない。
Romaji: Tokai de no seikatsu wa benri da ga, inaka hodo shizuka dewa nai.
English: Life in the city is convenient, but it’s not as quiet as the countryside.
Example #9
冬の北海道は、想像するほど寒くなかった。
Furigana: ふゆのほっかいどうは、そうぞうするほどさむくなかった。
Romaji: Fuyu no Hokkaido wa, souzou suru hodo samuku nakatta.
English: Winter in Hokkaido was not as cold as I had imagined.
Example #10
彼はお金持ちだが、高級なスポーツカーを買えるほどではない。
Furigana: かれはかねもちだが、こうきゅうなスポーツカーをかえるほどではない。
Romaji: Kare wa okanemochi da ga, koukyuu na supootsukaa o kaeru hodo dewa nai.
English: He is rich, but he is not rich enough to buy an expensive sports car.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Implied Superlative Meaning
When used with a generalized negative subject (e.g., 誰も, 他に), the pattern implies a superlative meaning: “He is the person whose Japanese is the best.”
Example: 彼ほど日本語が上手な人はいない。(Kare hodo Nihongo ga jouzu na hito wa inai.)
Connecting to Results (Extent)
While the primary N3 pattern is negative, ほど alone can be used positively to express a degree so extreme that it leads to a result (V-たい/V-ない + ほど). This concept relates closely to ほど～ない, which states that a degree has *not* been reached.
Example: こんなに暑い日は、外に出たくないほどだ。(Konna ni atsui hi wa, soto ni detaku nai hodo da.)
The Standard of Comparison (X)
The comparison point (噂/rumor) can be a noun, a descriptive clause, or a state, but it always acts as the high benchmark the subject fails to reach.
Example: あの店は、噂ほど混んでいませんでした。(Ano mise wa, uwasa hodo konde imasen deshita.)
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ Using ほど with a non-negative predicate (e.g., 彼ほど速い). This is incorrect for N3 negative comparison, although ほど can be used positively as “to the extent that.”
✅ Use Noun/V-plain/Adj-plain + ほど + Negative Predicate. Avoid substituting より if the intent is to show a degree deficiency.
While より (yori) is a general comparative, ほど establishes the comparison standard as a high benchmark that the subject fails to meet. Confusing the two can weaken the intended superlative or degree contrast.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Neutral to Standard Polite (depends on the final predicate, e.g., です/ます vs. だ/ない).
Social Situations: Appropriate in almost any social context where comparisons are necessary.
Regional Variations: Standard Japanese; universally understood.
🔍 Subtle Differences
ほど～ない vs. より～ない
ほど～ない asserts that X does not attain the high level of Y. より～ない simply means X is not superior to Y, potentially allowing X and Y to be equal.
When to use: Use ほど～ない when you want to strongly emphasize the notable degree or quality of the comparison standard (Y) that the subject (X) falls short of.
📝 Conjugation Notes
The comparison standard preceding ほど must be in the plain form (dictionary, simple noun, simple adjective). The predicate following ほど must be in a negative form (ない, ではない, くない, ません, etc.).
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
Pronounce ほど (hodo) with even stress, ensuring the distinction between ほど and the particle の is clear. The negation (ない) should be clearly articulated.
🧠 Memory Tips
Relate ほど (hodo) to “border” or “limit.” The pattern means “It does not reach the limit/border set by X.” Focus on the ‘H’ in *Hodo* and the ‘N’ in *Nai* for **H**igh **N**egative Comparison.
Other Grammar
I’m a software engineer based in Japan, with experience in developing web and mobile applications. I’m passionate about technology, especially in DevOps, AI, and app development using platforms like AWS, Flutter, and Node.js. My goal is to build a website that shares knowledge about the Japanese language and IT, helping everyone learn and grow more easily in the digital era.