程Comparing and measuring

How far it goes

ほど measures degree: not as much as this, or so much that something else happens.

With a noun

ほど needs a negative here

After a noun, the rest of the sentence must be negative.

今日(きょう)は昨日(きのう)ほど寒(さむ)くないです。Kyou wa kinou hodo samukunai desu.

Today isn't as cold as yesterday.

東京(とうきょう)は香港(ほんこん)ほど暑(あつ)くありません。Toukyou wa honkon hodo atsukuarimasen.

Tokyo isn't as hot as Hong Kong.

With a sentence

With a sentence or これ, それ, the verb can be affirmative or negative.

泣(な)きたいほど悲(かな)しかったです。Nakitai hodo kanashikatta desu.

I was so sad I wanted to cry.

歩(ある)けないほど疲(つか)れました。Arukenai hodo tsukaremashita.

I was so tired I couldn't walk.

食(た)べるほど太(ふと)ります。Taberu hodo futorimasu.

The more you eat, the more weight you gain.

With numbers

りんごを三(みっ)つほどください。Ringo o mittsu hodo kudasai.

About three apples, please.

Japanese often softens a request for an exact amount this way.

十分(じゅっぷん)ほど待(ま)ってください。Juppun hodo matte kudasai.

Please wait about ten minutes.

Three words for “about”

Softening an exact number is common because being too direct can seem impolite.

Check yourself

妹(いもうと)は私(わたし)ほど背(せ)が高(たか)くないです。Imouto wa watashi hodo se ga takakunai desu.

Your turn

バスは電車(でんしゃ)＿＿速(はや)くないです。Basu wa densha hayakunai desu.

Find the mistake

。

Say it yourself

You've moved to a new town. A friend asks how it compares to your hometown. It's not as cold, and some days are so hot you can't sleep.

Your answer

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