ほど
🃏 Flashcard
ほど
hodo
Tap to reveal usage
degree; extent; bounds; upper limit
N3
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N3
Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast
Reading
hodo
Post ID
50840
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
degree; extent; bounds; upper limit
📖 How to use it
ほど indicates the degree or extent of something, often implying a limit or upper bound.
Attaches to
Attaches to the plain form of verbs (dictionary form, past tense), い-adjectives (plain form), な-adjective stem + な, or nouns + の.
ほど is used to express that something is to a certain degree or extent. It often appears in comparisons like 'AはBほど...' meaning 'A is not as ... as B' when used with negative sentences. It can also mean 'to the extent that' or 'so much that', indicating the degree that causes a result. For example, '泣きたいほど嬉しい' means 'so happy I could cry'. This usage is common in both speech and writing.
今日は昨日ほど寒くない。
Kyou wa kinou hodo samukunai.
It's not as cold today as it was yesterday.
彼女は驚くほど速く走る。
Kanojo wa odoroku hodo hayaku hashiru.
She runs so fast it's surprising.
この本は読めば読むほど面白い。
Kono hon wa yomeba yomu hodo omoshiroi.
The more you read this book, the more interesting it gets.
Not くらい/ぐらい
くらい expresses approximate degree or extent without the sense of a limit, and is often used for approximate amounts. ほど implies a more explicit upper bound or degree of extremity.
Register
ほど is neutral and used in both spoken and written Japanese, but in casual speech, くらい is often preferred for approximations.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
ほど
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat ほど three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using ほど. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N3 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern ほど mean?
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Degree; extent; bounds; upper limit
What JLPT level is ほど?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N3 — Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use ほど in a sentence?
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Attach ほど (hodo) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is ほど formal or casual Japanese?
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ほど is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.
How can I remember ほど long-term?
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Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.