ほど

ほど can have different meanings, such as 'so much that', 'to the point that', 'to such a point that', or 'up to the point that'. It always has something to do with the limit, quantity, or the extension of something.

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ほど is used in different expressions that we will see in this lesson:

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〜ば〜ほど
ほど〜ない
にもほどがある

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We will each of these expressions.

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ほど follows any verb, adjectives, or nouns, and it does not have any variation. 

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Verb + ほど

Adjective い + ほど

Adjective な (with な) + ほど

Noun + ほど

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In its basic meaning, ほど indicates that a maximum or a minimum limit or extend has been reached. This is why we often translate it as 'to such a point' or 'to the point'. ほど cannot be used if the limit has been exceeded.

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それほど弱いのか？

Sore hodo yowai no ka?

Are you that weak?

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それほど means 'that much', thus conveying the meaning 'are you weak to that point?'

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Unlike くらい, ほど can be used in negative sentences.

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怒るほどのことではない。

Okoru hodo no koto de wa nai.

This is not something that makes me angry.

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This sentence can literally be translated as 'this is not something to such an extend that it is necessary to get angry.'

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心配するほどのけがではない。

Shinpai suru hodo no kega de wa nai.

This is not a wound worth worrying about.

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This sentence means 'this is not a wound to the extend of worry'.

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ほど to indicate an extreme limit

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In some cases, ほど can indicate an extreme limit. In this case, ほど will be translated as 'there is no one like', 'there is nothing that'.

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ガストンほどハンサームな男はいません！

Gasuton hodo hansaamuna otoko wa imasen!

There is no one more handsome than Gaston!

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In this case, it means that there is nothing that reaches the point where Gaston can be compared to other men. He is the most handsome one.

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スイスほど美くしい国はありません。

Suisu hodo utsukushii kuni wa arimasen.

There is no other country more beautiful than Switzerland.

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There is an expression ほどほど which is used when the quantity is moderate.

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ほど to indicate quantity

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When ほど follows a measure of quantity, it indicates an approximation of that quantity. It translates as 'about', 'more or less' or 'approximately'. It is synonym of くらい and ぐらい.

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Amount + ほど

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9年間ほど

Kyuu nen kan hodo

About 9 years

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In this sentence, ほど has the same meaning as くらい.

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ほど〜ない: not like that

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When ほど is used in a sentence conjugated in the negative, its meaning will change to 'not so much... that', 'it doesn't go so far that' or 'it isn't so much that'.

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今日は昨日ほど寒くない。

Kyou wa kinou hodo samukunai.

Today is not as cold as yesterday.

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In this sentence, ほど follows 昨日 to indicate that 昨日 (yesterday) was really cold, and that 今日 (today) is not as cold as yesterday.

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It can also be used to indicate that A doesn't do as much as B.

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あんたは俺ほど勉強しない。

Anta wa ore hodo benkyou shinai.

You do not study as much as me.

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にもほどがある: there is a limit to how much

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Another expression that uses ほど is にもほどがある, which can be translated as 'there is a limit to how much'. It is composed of に, which is the direction particle, も, which means 'too' or 'also', ほど, and がある, which is 'there is'.

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This expression means that the allowed maximum limit to perform certain actions has been reached.

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ばかばかしいにもほどがある。

Bakabakashii ni mo hodo ga aru.

There is a limit to how stupid it can be.

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Other examples:

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試験は、思ったほど難しくなかった。

Shiken wa, omotta hodo muzukashikunakatta.

The exam was not as difficult as I thought.

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あと10分ほどで着きます。

Ato juppun hodo de tsukimasu.

He will arrive in about 10 minutes.

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外はそれほど寒くない。

Soto wa sore hodo samukunai.

It is not as cold outside.