Structure
Verb + ほど
[い]Adjective + ほど
[な]Adjective + な + ほど
Noun + ほど
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Standard
使用域
一般
About ほど
ほど, coming from the kanji 程 'an extent', is used for describing rough estimates about the 'amount' of something. However, unlike expressions such as くらい (which focuses more on the speaker's uncertainty about the exact number), ほど puts emphasis on the upper (or lower) limit of something as having been 'reached'. Due to this, it is usually translated as 'so much that (A)', or 'to the extent that (A)'.
ほど can be added on to the end of the attributive form of any word. The attributive form being the form that is able to be partnered directly with nouns.
ほど can be added on to the end of the attributive form of any word. The attributive form being the form that is able to be partnered directly with nouns.
- 死ぬほど練習したけれど、試合に出られなかった。I practiced myself to death, but I was not able to enter the tournament.
- その気持ちは痛いほど分かるけど、だからってそういう事言ってもいいと言う訳では無いよ。I understand how you feel to the point that it hurts, but that doesn't mean that you can say stuff like that.
- それは嫌なほど聞かされたから、分かってる。I have been told that so much that I don't want to hear it anymore, I get it.
- あと10分ほどで着きます。I will be there in about 10 minutes.
Caution
Although くらい may be used to describe something that is 'around' a certain extent (regardless of whether it is above or below that extent), 程 refers specifically to the 'limit' of something, and therefore cannot be used to describe something that exceeds the stated limit. Due to this, it is regularly used to express some sort of exaggerated limit of (A), when the real extent is far below that.- 今日は二度と走りたくないほど走った。Today, I ran so much that I never want to run again.
Synonyms
くらい ①
About, Approximately
Not studied yet
まで
Even, To even, To the extent of
Not studied yet
ば〜ほど
The more…the more
Not studied yet
ほど~ない
Is not as…as, Isn't... like..., Not to the extent of...
Not studied yet
くらい ②
To the extent that, So…that, About the only thing that...
Not studied yet
は~くらいです
About the only, To the extent that
Not studied yet
Examples
ピンが落ちた音が聞こえるほど、静かだった。
It was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
二度と食べたくないほど、ピザを食べた。
I ate pizza to the extent that I don't ever want to eat it again.
二度と + negative verb means 'never again'.
わがままと言うほど甘やかしている。
I am spoiling her/him to the extent that people would say she/he's selfish.
今回は一週間ほど旅行するつもりだ。
This time, I plan to go on a trip for about one week.
あの二人は他人なのに、驚くほどよく似ている。
Those two are complete strangers, but they look surprisingly similar. (so much so)
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Online
How to use 程
MaggieSensei
The difference between くらい and ほど in hyperbole
JStackExchange
Offline
Tobira
Page 236
[DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar
Page 135
Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar Guide
Page 254
[AIAIJ] An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese
Page 188
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ほど – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (6 in total)
benuidede
Thank you! that makes more sense now.
TypicalGatsby
Concerning:
今回こんかいは一週間いっしゅうかん ほど 旅行りょこうするつもりだ。I’m having a hard time finding info from the sources provided about why I should be using ほど instead of くらい/ぐらい. To me, it seems like ほど is more used to express more figurative and hyperbolic statements. This just seems like a realistic statement of “going on a trip for about one week” that would be better filled by くらい/ぐらい.
Ambo100
I found this video helpful for the various uses of ほど, covering all the other grammar points too.
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